An engineering student from the 2027 graduating batch has sparked a heated debate on Reddit about surviving in Mumbai on a modest salary. According to reports from NDTV Profit, the student received a job offer from QualityKiosk Technologies for the role of Digital Quality Engineer with an expected in-hand salary of ₹20,000 per month. The initial work location is in Navi Mumbai, with the company planning to shift employees to central or western Mumbai after the internship period. As reported by NDTV Profit, the student expressed concerns about whether the salary would be sufficient to cover monthly expenses while starting their career, stating they were prepared to make lifestyle adjustments for the first couple of years.
The discussion highlights the stark reality of Mumbai's high living costs, with India Today's March 2026 report indicating that estimated monthly expenses for a single person in Mumbai range from ₹30,000 to ₹60,000 excluding rent. According to NDTV Profit, the student sought advice from people living in Mumbai and Navi Mumbai, particularly those who had started their careers on similar salaries, to share their experiences. The user stated they were prepared to make lifestyle adjustments, including staying in shared paying guest accommodation, eating simple meals, using local trains, and avoiding unnecessary expenditure. As reported by NDTV Profit, these estimates cover general living expenses and do not represent the minimum amount required by someone following a particularly frugal lifestyle, illustrating the financial pressure that housing and everyday expenses can place on a young professional earning ₹20,000 per month.
Several Reddit users provided stark warnings about the financial challenges of living in Mumbai on such a modest salary. According to NDTV Profit, one user stated that ₹80,000 in-hand salary would be needed to lead a good lifestyle in Mumbai, warning that having more than half of salary going toward rent would be unsustainable. The user emphasized that survival on ₹20,000 was possible only with strict spending restrictions, while others suggested considering tier 2 cities for better affordability. As reported by NDTV Profit, one user wrote: "Please don't come in such less amount, try to stay somewhere in tier 2 city because you might feel, wow it's mumbai, it's known for struggles, I will also do and then reach to a point, I personally think you should have in hand 80k salary to come to mumbai to lead a good lifestyle not just barely living, at first you'll feel good but having a good lifestyle includes alot of things and if more than half of your salary is going in rent then improve your skills and reach to that point."
The student's primary concern was avoiding dependence on family for monthly expenses while saving enough to improve their skills and seek better opportunities. According to NDTV Profit, some commenters offered practical suggestions, including looking for accommodations close to the QualityKiosk Technologies office to reduce commuting costs. The discussion reflects the broader challenge many freshers face between accepting entry-level positions for professional experience and managing the financial pressures of relocating to major employment hubs. For the student, the eventual feasibility of the salary will depend on the cost of shared accommodation, whether meals are included, daily travel expenses and the location of the workplace after the internship period.
