Archive · 12 Aug 2026
Viral Post on Canada Degree Spend Sparks ROI Debate
A man on the internet named Harsh Gupta told a story about a family from India.
The family spent about 50 lakh rupees to send their son to study in Canada.
They took the money from savings they had kept in the bank for 15 years.
Now the son works in a city called Toronto and earns about 55,000 Canadian dollars each year.
But after he pays for rent, food, taxes and other things, he saves less money than he would working in a smaller Indian city.
Gupta says people should do the math before they decide to study far away.
He thinks studying in another country can be an expensive way to learn that life is not always better there.
His post made many people argue about whether studying abroad is worth it.
Some people agreed with him, while one person said they have no sympathy for people who make such choices.
The main idea is that going far away does not always mean making more money or saving more.
Instagram user Harsh Gupta, a self-described Wealth Advisor and Land Investor, posted about the financial return of studying abroad, sparking an online debate.
A family reportedly broke 15 years' worth of fixed deposits to fund their son's Master of Science (MS) degree in Canada, spending around Rs 50 lakh.
The son now earns CAD 55,000 a year in Toronto but, after rent, taxes and living costs, saves less than he would at a standard job in a mid-sized Indian city, according to the post.
Gupta highlighted the 'opportunity cost' of investing the Rs 50 lakh in India instead of spending it on overseas education.
The post claims foreign degrees are 'an expensive way to discover the grass wasn't greener, just further away,' drawing both agreement and ridicule from commenters.
- Who
- Instagram user Harsh Gupta, a self-described Wealth Advisor and Land Investor, whose post about a friend's family's experience drove the discussion.
- What
- A viral social media post questioning the financial return of studying abroad, citing a family that spent Rs 50 lakh on a son's MS degree in Canada.
- When
- The exact date is not stated; the post recently went viral.
- Where
- The post circulated on Instagram; the family's son studied and now works in Toronto, Canada, while the family is based in India.
- Why
- To argue that high rent, taxes and cost of living abroad can leave graduates saving less than they would with a standard job in India.
Overseas Education Dream
Financial Reality Check
Value of foreign degrees
Overseas Education Dream
Foreign degrees are sold as an escape and a path to better opportunities abroad.
Financial Reality Check
Foreign degrees are sometimes just an expensive way to discover the grass was not greener, only further away.
Earning versus saving abroad
Overseas Education Dream
Earning in dollars or CAD is seen as attractive and potentially life-changing.
Financial Reality Check
After rent, taxes and the cost of living, earning in dollars or CAD often leaves you saving less than a standard job back home.
Sympathy for students' decisions
Overseas Education Dream
Families make major sacrifices, like breaking 15 years of fixed deposits, to fund their children's education dreams.
Financial Reality Check
One commenter said they have 'no sympathy' for people who make what they called 'moronic decisions.'
- Post author
- Harsh Gupta (Wealth Advisor, Land Investor)
- Platform
- Education cost
- Around Rs 50 lakh
- Funding source
- 15 years' worth of fixed deposits broken by the family
- Degree pursued
- Master of Science (MS) in Canada
- Son's annual earnings
- CAD 55,000 in Toronto
- Main claim
- Savings after rent, taxes and living costs are lower than a standard job in a mid-sized Indian city
- Key concept
- Opportunity cost of investing Rs 50 lakh in India instead