2 weeks ago
Woman Living Between India And Sweden Says India Feels Costlier
A woman named Jyoti lives part of the year in India and part of the year in Sweden.
She pays more taxes in Sweden than she ever paid in India.
But she says everyday life in India often feels more expensive and tiring.
In Sweden, taxes pay for things like healthcare, schools, buses, parks and libraries.
In India, families often still pay extra for private doctors, private schools, security, transport and even clean water or power backup.
That means even with lower taxes, life in India can cost more.
Jyoti also noticed that Indian city malls are packed and restaurants have waiting lists, with people spending 1,000 to 3,000 on one outing.
She thinks the real question is not how much tax people pay.
She thinks what matters is what people get back in return for their taxes.
Jyoti, a business owner and influencer who splits her time between India and Sweden, says she pays higher taxes in Sweden but finds everyday life in India more expensive and tiring.
She cited that Sweden collects about 41 per cent of its GDP in tax revenue, while India collects around 18 to 20 per cent.
She said Swedish taxes fund healthcare, schools, public transport, parks, libraries and social services, while in India families often pay separately for private healthcare, private education, security, transport and utilities.
Jyoti observed that despite complaints about the cost of living, malls in Indian cities are packed, restaurants have waiting lists, and people easily spend 1,000 to 3,000 on a single outing.
She concluded that the amount of tax paid matters less than the value citizens receive in return.
- Who
- Jyoti, a business owner and influencer who splits her time between India and Sweden.
- What
- She argued that everyday life in India feels more expensive and exhausting despite lower overall taxation, and that the real comparison is what citizens get in return for their taxes.
- Where
- India and Sweden.
- When
- The article was published August 14, 2026, and is based on her repeated visits of about two months a year to India.
- Why
- Because in India families often pay separately for private healthcare, private education, security, transport and utilities even after paying taxes, while Swedish taxes fund such public services.
Key facts
- Sweden tax revenue as share of GDP
- About 41 per cent
- India tax revenue as share of GDP
- Around 18 to 20 per cent
- Time Jyoti spends in India each year
- About two months
- Swedish public services funded by taxes
- Healthcare, schools, public transport, parks, libraries, social services
- Private costs common in India
- Private healthcare, private education, security, transport, water purification, power backup
- Average spend on a single outing in Indian cities
- 1,000 to 3,000
- Taxes paid in India mentioned
- GST, fuel taxes, tolls, property taxes, income tax
- Published by
- News18, August 14, 2026
Quotes
Jyoti
Business owner and influencer who splits time between India and Sweden
“I pay higher taxes in Sweden than I ever did in India. Yet, every time I return to India, I leave with one question. Why does life feel so much more expensive and exhausting?”
news18.com
“Living between India and Sweden has completely changed how I think about taxes, spending and quality of life.”
news18.com
Sources
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