Blog | 'I Lost 10 Kilos': Indian Student On Falling Rupee And The Reality Of Life Abroad

The King's College London campus

According to the latest data from the Office of National Statistics, UK, in the year ending December 2025, Indians accounted for the largest number of non-EU nationals immigrating to the UK. Around 89,000 Indian students moved to the UK, and around 40,000 for work. South Asians, especially British Indians and Indians, form the largest diaspora of non-whites in Britain; Indians are also the highest among those emigrating from the country. Around 51,000 Indian students and around 21,000 professionals went back to India.

I am among the 89,000 who came to London last year, but I know several people who are among the 51,000 who moved back. With a falling rupee and stricter immigration rules, a slow job market, the UK is becoming less attractive, but it remains a popular choice. 

Across the Atlantic, the situation is as bad as in the UK. The rupee is at its lowest against the US dollar and keeps breaking its record every day. Coupled with the war in West Asia, Trump's tariff rules, conservative immigration policies, and a slow job market, Indian students are facing a tough time - probably worse because higher education costs more in the US than in the UK.

'Meal Deals and Chocolate Bars To The Rescue'

I never imagined I could go from writing articles on defence to pouring pints of Ciders and Guinness for a living. Every month, the rupee kept falling, and I started losing money on currency conversion to fund my monthly expenses. I chose part-time work at events to sustain myself. From pouring drinks at Twickenham Stadium and street parties to waiting tables at a restaurant, I earned pounds to buy groceries, meals, hang out with friends and live a little. 

A snapshot of my expenses

The first thing I did after landing in London was to find the cheapest route from my house to the campus, and the cheapest food options. The five-pound meal deals from Greggs and Tesco, surprise food baskets from 'Too Good To Go' and chocolate bars were saviours when I was tempted to spend a tenner on pizza. I learnt the hard way how to resist the temptation for fancy meals.

What feels particularly frustrating is seeing people online casually defend the weakening of the rupee against the dollar or pound as something that is simply "good for the economy". I am not an economist, and I understand that currencies move for complex reasons tied to trade, exports, and global markets. But what often gets ignored is the human side of currency depreciation - how it directly affects the lives of thousands of Indians studying, working, or living abroad.

Even a small fall in the rupee changes daily life in ways that statistics cannot fully capture. Tuition fees become more expensive overnight, rent feels heavier, and ordinary expenses like transport or groceries suddenly require constant calculation. An article in The Economist argued that the weakening rupee reflects deeper structural and global pressures. Events like the American bombing campaign in Iran disrupted oil flows and affected countries like India that rely heavily on imports, putting additional pressure on the currency. RBI Governor Sanjay Malhotra said that a modest depreciation against the dollar is normal for a growing economy.

Perhaps that is true at the macroeconomic level. But from the perspective of an Indian abroad, a "modest depreciation" does not feel modest at all. It quietly reshapes everyday choices, mental well-being, and the ability to simply live comfortably in another country.

'It's Tough, But I Am Not Alone'

During one of my tube rides back home, a friend from Texas was talking about how she loses $4 every time she converts the currency. I told her I lose Rs 128 every time I do that, and she felt bad for me. Another friend from Italy, who is doing her PhD, is experiencing the same thing, but she said one more thing - whenever it feels heavy, just go for a walk, and if you see a student, you'll realise that you are not alone. I guess that is what makes London, or any other city in the UK, cosmopolitan. You go through things, and you grow with them.

Over the last eight months in London, I have lost nearly 10 kilos - not because I consciously tried to, but because every pound saved started to matter as the rupee kept slipping. To avoid spending on the tube, I began experiencing the city on foot instead.

I walked along the Thames to Westminster, crossed St Paul's Cathedral just to catch a cheaper bus from Aldgate, and often took night buses across Tower Bridge rather than paying for faster routes. Somewhere between saving money and stretching every pound, the city slowly became mine.

A walk back home from Westminster during a rainy evening in January.

Back in Delhi, I had the privilege of living with family, earning a stable salary, and travelling comfortably in my own car. London, on the other hand, taught me what it feels like to live in one of the world's most expensive cities when you are constantly budgeting. Strangely, however, it also made me experience the city more intimately than I probably would have otherwise.

I am one of the many Indians abroad. Life here is tough; it breaks you, sometimes forces you to sleep on an empty stomach, makes you appreciate the little things in life, and grounds you in experiences you cannot imagine. I never imagined a falling rupee against the pound would teach me so much.

(Divyam Sharma was a journalist and is currently studying Terrorism, Security and Society at King's College London, with a specialisation in wargaming and OSINT.)

Disclaimer: These are the personal opinions of the author