Online post triggers debate as NRI explores relocating from New Zealand with Shopify income and ₹1 crore savings
An NRI living in New Zealand has stirred a lively online discussion after revealing plans to permanently return to India and settle in his native village in Punjab. In a Reddit post, the 30-year-old said he had moved to New Zealand at 19 and has now saved around $200K NZD (approximately ₹1.03 crore) , reported livemint.com.
The Redditor wrote, “I been living in New Zealand since I was 19 and now 30. When I left India (2013) 1 crore seems like a big money. How about these days? Reason I am asking this question because I want to return back to India permanently. Have around $200K NZD in savings, will that be enough to survive in a Punjab village as I own house there. (sic)”
With a remote Shopify business, US stock holdings, and a home in Punjab, the NRI asked whether ₹1 crore is sufficient to start over in India—prompting mixed reactions from the internet.
He also shared that he runs a Shopify store generating an annual income of around $100K NZD, which he considers a remote business, and that he holds US stocks worth about $138K NZD
Reddit users offered a wide range of responses, with many highlighting lifestyle choices and financial planning. One comment said, “Depends on your lifestyle.” Another praised his online business: “Your sales are impressive.”
Some users were more cautious. “One crore is not retirement money. But if you plan to invest and generate passive income, it can be doable with a decent lifestyle,” one suggested. Others emphasized the importance of financial planning and taxation. “Check the tax situation before you transfer your savings,” one commenter warned. Another added, “It is a good amount of money, but you won’t be able to retire on it unless you supplement it with something else, like kheti (farming).”
While the NRI appears financially prepared on the surface, responses reflect the broader challenges of reverse migration—balancing aspirations of a simpler life in India with realistic assessments of wealth, taxes, and long-term stability.
