New Delhi, July 22 -- When Divya Saini graduated with an engineering degree in 2017, she never imagined that just four years later she would be living in Seattle and working for a top tech firm.

Starting her career at Amazon India through campus placement, she made rapid strides, eventually moving to the company's US office in July 2021.

"The role gave me a wider canvas to grow and contribute," said the 26-year-old software engineer.

Yet, the move also brought a whirlwind of lifestyle shifts-most notably, financial ones.

"The cost of living on the West Coast is much higher than in other parts of the US," she says. Though salaries are slightly adjusted for location, the pay doesn't always match the hike in expenses.

Saini shares her e...