A post about the cost of living in Bengaluru has gone viral after a user claimed that his cousin, despite earning a monthly salary of Rs 1.5 lakh, is able to save only around Rs 15,000 to Rs 20,000 by the end of the month.
The story, shared on X by a user named @AlfinCodes, has triggered a wider discussion online about the realities of working and living in India’s major metropolitan cities.
In the post, the user described how his cousin had recently moved to Bengaluru for his first job as a software developer. Back home, friends and family believed he had “made it” after securing a tech job with a salary of Rs 1.5 lakh per month.
However, within six months of relocating to the city, the financial reality turned out to be quite different.
According to the post, the cousin is a computer science graduate who shifted to Bengaluru in search of better career opportunities. While the salary initially sounded impressive to people in his hometown, the high cost of living in the city significantly reduced how much he could actually save.
The user also shared a rough breakdown of the monthly expenses. Rent alone costs about Rs 36,000 for a small apartment located close to the office. On top of that, groceries take up around Rs 13,000 to Rs 15,000 each month.
Travel expenses, mainly on cabs and auto-rickshaws due to heavy traffic, add another Rs 6,000 to Rs 8,000.
Other everyday spending further increases the monthly outflow. The post mentioned that miscellaneous expenses, including ordering food online, coffee outings, and weekend activities, come to roughly Rs 10,000 to Rs 12,000.
Apart from these regular costs, the cousin also has to manage subscriptions, medical expenses, occasional unexpected bills, and sending money back home. After accounting for all of this, the user said that his cousin manages to save only around Rs 15,000 to Rs 20,000 a month.
The post noted that while a salary above Rs 1 lakh may sound substantial in smaller towns, living in a metro city like Bengaluru often means that such earnings simply mark the beginning of one’s financial journey rather than financial comfort.
The internet was, however, not convinced by the breakdown. Many users did the math themselves and questioned why the individual was spending on unnecessary sectors. Some also gave tips on how to save money.
Do you think Rs 1.5 lakh is enough monthly for Bengaluru?