A Bengaluru-based couple has shared their monthly expenses of nearly ₹1.3 lakh while living in India's IT capital, sparking intense debate about urban living costs. According to reports from Mint and The Economic Times, Radhika and Ekansh, who work as full-time product managers and create content on the side, posted a viral video detailing their spending patterns. The couple clarified that this amount excludes holidays, air travel, and luxury spending, focusing only on their regular monthly costs. As Ekansh stated in the viral video, "Seriously, Bangalore is a place where you can earn well and still feel broke by the end of the month." The couple mentioned that even with stable high-paying jobs, they often end the month with little or no savings, highlighting the financial strain of maintaining a comfortable lifestyle in the city.
Rent takes the largest share of their monthly budget at ₹56,000 for their apartment, as reported by Mint and The Economic Times. The couple described this as "Bangalore rent is like a second EMI" with Ekansh joking about the high cost of living in the city. Additional housing costs include ₹10,000 for domestic help and cooking assistance, which they described as "the best expense" since both work full-time. Their grocery bill comes to nearly ₹15,000 each month, while utilities including electricity and internet services add another ₹15,000 to their monthly spending. The couple's revelation that this figure excludes travel, vacations, and flight expenses would further increase their cost of living in Bengaluru.
Transportation costs account for ₹6,000 per month due to commute expenses, according to Mint and The Economic Times reports. The couple allocates close to ₹10,000 for dining out and food delivery orders. Streaming services and subscriptions, including Netflix and Amazon Prime, cost them approximately ₹3,000 per month. They further keep aside nearly ₹15,000 for shopping, personal needs and unexpected purchases. The couple's detailed breakdown shows how ₹1.3 lakh can quickly accumulate through basic necessities and lifestyle choices in Bengaluru.
The expense breakdown quickly gained traction online, amassing nearly one million views within a day according to Mint and The Economic Times. The video crossed one million views within a day and the comments section quickly turned into a full-blown Bengaluru cost-of-living debate. Social media users flooded the comments section with differing opinions on whether the figures reflected Bengaluru's soaring living costs or the couple's lifestyle choices. One user commented that high rent depends on locality, while another wrote that such spending is unnecessary for families with children. However, several users defended the couple, arguing that maintaining a comfortable lifestyle in Bengaluru often comes at a high price. What made the discussion particularly relatable was how familiar the situation felt to many young professionals living in metro cities.
The couple's experience reflects broader concerns about urban living costs in Bengaluru, as reported by Mint and The Economic Times. One commenter noted that maintaining the same lifestyle as in other cities like Kolkata at ₹50K is challenging in Bengaluru. Another user added that the people criticizing the video clearly don't understand the cost of living comfortably in Bengaluru. The viral video has sparked a debate about whether the figures represent typical living costs or lifestyle choices in the city, with many young professionals relating to the situation. As one user commented, "Because somewhere between rent, groceries, subscriptions, deliveries, commuting, and random 'content'" the couple's experience reflects the reality of living in India's largest IT hub. The internet discussion highlighted how "sometimes your salary looks great on paper... until Bengaluru starts deducting its share." Some social media users suggested that choosing a more affordable locality could reduce costs significantly, while others argued that Bengaluru's rising living expenses reflect the reality of metro city life in India.
