A candid post by Rikki Agarwal, Co-Founder and CBO of Blink Digital, is gaining major traction on LinkedIn after he opened up about his decision to move out of Mumbai — not for lower taxes, career shifts, or global opportunities, but simply to live better.
After spending his entire adult life in India’s financial capital and building multiple companies there, Agarwal revealed that turning 40 pushed him to reassess the everyday cost of living in a megacity. For him, the balance between career success and personal well-being had tipped too far.
“India Has Everything I Need to Build a Business. Nothing I Need to Live Well.”
Reflecting on his journey, Agarwal wrote that he grew up in Sikkim and moved to Mumbai for engineering. The city, he said, shaped his career, gave him his company, and built his identity as an entrepreneur. But over time, the same city that elevated him no longer supported the life he wanted to live.
He shared that while India offers unmatched opportunities for growth and entrepreneurship, the quality of life had become harder to justify.
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Add Hunterfly on GoogleAgarwal has now shifted to Bangkok, a move he says he contemplated for nearly five years.
What Changed After Moving to Bangkok?
Although his daily routine hasn’t shifted much — “Gym. Office. Home.” — the quality of basic life has transformed, he noted.
He listed the differences he experiences every day:
- Air he can breathe without checking AQI
- Food that is genuinely fresh
- Sleep uninterrupted by late-night traffic
- Infrastructure that works consistently
- Money that improves quality of life instead of compensating for broken systems
According to Agarwal, the move wasn’t about leaving India behind but choosing an environment that doesn’t penalize him for seeking a healthier, simpler lifestyle.
A Question That Sparked a Nationwide Debate
Agarwal wrapped up his post by asking:
“If you had the chance to leave Mumbai for a better lifestyle, would you?”
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Add Hunterfly on GoogleThe question ignited a heated conversation among young professionals on LinkedIn. Many agreed that deteriorating air quality, chronic congestion, urban stress, and unreliable infrastructure are making them rethink metro-city living.
Some users called the post “relatable,” while others argued that India’s cities demand reform, not abandonment.
Reflecting a Wider Trend Among India’s Workforce
Agarwal’s story mirrors a growing sentiment among India’s urban workforce:
While metros offer unmatched professional opportunities, they may no longer guarantee a fulfilling or sustainable life.
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Add Hunterfly on GoogleWith rising concerns about work-life balance, mental well-being, and environmental health, more professionals appear to be exploring alternative cities — whether within India or abroad.
As the debate continues, Agarwal’s post is pushing a broader question into the spotlight:
What does a truly livable city look like — and at what point does ambition give way to the need for well-being?
