American content creator Kristen Fischer, now based in New Delhi, has gone viral for a video explaining why India feels far more affordable and value-rich for foreigners. Known for her candid and insightful content on life in India, Fischer uses her platform to explain complex ideas in relatable terms. In her latest post, she broke down the concept of Purchasing Power Parity (PPP)—a tool that compares the cost of living and currency values across countries. With clear examples, she showed how foreigners often feel they get “more for less” in India than in Western countries like the United States.
What is Purchasing Power Parity?
Fischer simplified PPP by comparing everyday expenses she said, “$10 in the US might get you a simple meal, but the equivalent of $10 (Rs 800) in India could buy you several meals.” That statement resonated with viewers. PPP essentially reflects how much goods and services one can buy with a unit of currency, once the local cost of living is factored in.
Why India Feels Value-Rich
According to Fischer, even routine services like haircuts reveal the stark difference in value in India, a haircut may cost Rs 100, while in the US, it could be around $40. That means you could get 34 haircuts in India for the price of one in the US these real-world comparisons struck a chord with global audiences, especially those who have lived in both places.
Income vs Cost of Living
She admitted that incomes in the U.S. are generally higher however, she quickly added that expenses there are proportionally higher too. “Sure, incomes are higher in the USA, but everything costs more there, too. And yes, I know incomes in India are much lower, but so are the costs of goods and services,” Fischer noted.
Internet Applauds the Perspective
Fischer’s honest take earned praise from viewer, one user commented, “Good. Very neatly explained that is the purchase power of India.” Another said, “So basically EARN in dollars and SPEND in rupees is best way to live life.” Many agreed that living in India allows for premium experiences at much lower costs. “We never bought anything premium in the US while in India we buy the best always,” one wrote.
Sharing the clip, Fischer added: “Too many responses about purchasing power made me make this video to explain it. Rupees in India stretch further than the relative dollars do in the USA.”
