LONDON, U.K. — After nearly a decade of living in London, Indian entrepreneur and vlogger Pallavi Chhibber has announced that she and her family are moving out of the UK. In an Instagram video shared on August 29, Chhibber detailed the multi-faceted reasons for her decision, citing the rising cost of living, “insane” taxes, and a lack of long-term growth opportunities as key factors.
“The main reason is that me and my husband feel London has become a city more for survival, not for growth,” Chhibber stated in the video. She explained that she and her family do not see sufficient long-term opportunities for themselves in the UK.
The Cost of Living Crisis and High Taxes A major part of her reasoning centered on the UK’s ongoing cost of living crisis. She described London as “obnoxiously expensive” and gave a personal example of her family’s recent dining experience at a restaurant, where the bill for a few dishes came to £80 (over ₹8,500).
Chhibber also criticized the tax system, stating that they pay 42% in direct tax, and after accounting for indirect taxes, their total tax burden is close to 50% of their salary. UK income tax rates for 2025/26 confirm that the higher rate of 40% applies to taxable income between £50,271 and £125,140, and the additional rate of 45% applies to income above £125,140. With the addition of National Insurance Contributions (NICs), the combined rate can indeed be quite high for many earners. Chhibber noted in the comments that she paid these taxes for a decade while holding an Indian passport.
Future Prospects Beyond the financial issues, Chhibber expressed concern for her children’s future, stating that she did not foresee great job prospects for them in the country due to a “shrinking” job market. The job market in the UK, particularly for new graduates and young people, has faced challenges in recent years, with a competitive landscape and economic stagnation concerns.
Her video has sparked a mixed reaction from viewers. While some commenters supported her decision, noting the economic struggles and high cost of living, others were critical, suggesting that comparing currencies after a long period of living abroad was unfair or that the problems she highlighted were universal.