Living, Working, and Retiring Across Countries: Insights from Akshat Shrivastava

Akshat Shrivastava, the Founder of Wisdom Hatch, has shared his experiences from living for a year each in India, UAE, Singapore, and Thailand. He offered a straightforward comparison of the realities regarding living, working, and retiring in these nations in a viral post on X (formerly known as Twitter).

In his post, Shrivastava indicated that he has spent substantial time in four countries: India, UAE, Singapore, and Thailand. He highlighted India as an excellent choice for retirement due to its affordable cost of living. He suggested states like Kerala or Goa for those ready to retire, stating, “You can manage comfortably with 75K-1.25L INR.”

I have lived (at least for a year) across 4 countries in my life: India, UAE, Singapore and Thailand. 1) India is a great place to retire: the cost of living is low. If you are done working, pick a state like Kerala or Goa. Retire. You can survive very well with 75K-1.25L… — Akshat Shrivastava (@Akshat_World) June 23, 2025

India: Retirement Haven but Wealth Creation Challenges

Despite India being ideal for retirement, Shrivastava pointed out its pitfalls in wealth generation. He expressed concerns regarding high operational taxes and restrictive regulations that impede business planning. He stated that India seems to inhibit innovation and offers little appreciation for diligent, honest individuals.

UAE: Land of Wealth with High Living Costs

In contrast, the UAE emerges as a prime location for wealth accumulation, featuring no taxes on operational income or capital gains. Shrivastava praised the government’s supportive attitude towards its residents; however, he noted that the elevated cost of living presents difficulties for those with lower earnings.

Thailand: A Balanced Option for Retirement and Digital Nomads

According to Shrivastava, Thailand represents a balanced solution. It is less corrupt than India, boasts better infrastructure, and is suitable for retirement or digital nomads. Nonetheless, he highlighted challenges such as language barriers which complicate establishing a viable income stream.

Singapore: High Costs and Opportunities for Business

Shrivastava described Singapore as a territory of “honest and straightforward” individuals, albeit it comes with the steepest living expenses and complicated visa requirements. He indicated that significant wealth is necessary to relocate there but acknowledged its attractiveness as a business hub.

To summarise his insights, Shrivastava suggested that young Indians should consider the UAE for better opportunities while recommending India or Thailand for retirement.

Shrivastava’s observations ignited a conversation online, with one respondent presenting a contrasting view: “India isn’t perfect, but it’s the land of asymmetric upside… The next Google, Netflix, Tesla will rise from a 1B+ Bharat market.”

Another commenter remarked, “Well-articulated! Totally agree — India is peaceful to retire but punishing for wealth creation. UAE is a dream for builders with 0% tax, while Singapore offers structure but at a premium. Thailand strikes a balance for lifestyle.”