Bengaluru man breaks down why Rs 12 LPA salary feels like just Rs 4 LPA

A Bengaluru-based professional said in an Instagram video that the city can make a Rs 12 lakh salary feel far smaller because of rent, travel and leisure costs.An Instagram video about Bengaluru's cafe culture has gone viral. (Photos: thezeroquotient/Instagram)Bengaluru,Oct 1, 2026 17:08 ISTA Rs 12 lakh annual salary may sound comfortable on paper, but in Bengaluru, one professional says it can feel considerably smaller once rent, travel, food and entertainment enter the picture. Product manager and content creator Shivank Goel has sparked a discussion about the city’s cost of living, arguing that even earning Rs 1 lakh a month can be challenging if you want to enjoy the lifestyle Bengaluru offers.“If your salary is less than 1 lakh, you shouldn't come to Bangalore,” Shivank said in an Instagram video, pointing to what he sees as the city’s expensive version of fun. According to him, everything from going out for coffee to pursuing a hobby can quickly turn into another expense.“Because the definition of fun here is overspending and cafe culture. Every event is ticketed, and every hobby is a subscription,” he said. Shivank’s biggest complaint is that spending in Bengaluru does not necessarily stop with the monthly bills. He said the city’s commercialised lifestyle means that simply stepping out can come with a price tag.Housing, he argued, is one of the biggest financial pressures. He pointed to security deposits of around Rs 2 lakh as an expense that tenants have come to accept as normal. Then there is getting around the city. Goel said even relatively short cab journeys can cost hundreds of rupees, while Bengaluru’s traffic can turn those rides into lengthy affairs.“Paying a Rs 2 lakh security deposit is normal without anyone questioning it, as is paying Rs 600 for a 5 km cab ride where you spend an hour stuck in traffic.”His conclusion was stark: “The city is so commercialised that a 12 LPA salary feels like 4 LPA, and stepping out of your home is just one long bill.”Watch the video here:Even finding free entertainment, he suggested, can have a catch. While Cubbon Park is free to enter, Goel pointed out that reaching it can take several hours for people living far away.His take has since triggered a broader discussion online, with some users agreeing that Bengaluru’s rent, commuting costs and lifestyle expenses can quickly eat into a salary.Others, however, felt the experience depends heavily on where someone lives and how they choose to spend. One user pointed to demand and supply as factors behind the city’s prices, while another said Bengaluru has plenty of affordable alternatives, including community groups, free workshops, meet-ups and festivals.Shivank Goel’s video, therefore, has opened up a familiar urban question: is Bengaluru genuinely becoming unaffordable, or does enjoying the city simply depend on choosing where, and how, to spend?For salaried professionals, the answer may ultimately come down to the gap between what looks good on a payslip and what actually remains after the city has had its share.- Ends