Bengaluru woman shares how much one should earn to live in the city comfortably

A woman from Bengaluru said people earning under Rs 1 lakh a month should avoid moving to the city, citing steep home and rent costs.Bengaluru woman shares how much one should earn to live in the city comfortably (Photos: @unfiltered_atreyee/Instagram)Bengaluru,Oct 7, 2026 16:58 ISTA woman living in Bengaluru has sparked a debate over the city’s cost of living after saying people earning less than 1 lakh a month should think twice before moving there.Instagram user Atreyee shared a video explaining why she believes Bengaluru has become too expensive for middle-class earners, particularly when it comes to buying a home and paying rent.“If you don't earn a minimum, minimum Rs 1 lakh monthly, then please don't come to Bengaluru,” she said, acknowledging that her advice might sound controversial.She went on to discuss the dream of owning a home, saying that property prices in Bengaluru could make homeownership difficult for many middle-class families. She claimed that houses in the city start at around Rs 2 crore, while properties in better localities and housing societies could cost between Rs 3 crore and Rs 4 crore. Atreyee also highlighted the city’s rental costs, claiming that a basic 2BHK apartment in a housing society could cost around Rs 40,000 to Rs 45,000 a month.She said even those choosing to rent rather than buy would not necessarily find housing significantly cheaper, with individual houses outside gated societies also costing at least Rs 30,000 a month, according to her. Based on these expenses, Atreyee argued that Bengaluru may not be financially comfortable for middle-class earners and said people earning around Rs 3 lakh to Rs 4 lakh a month would be better placed to manage the city’s cost of living.The video was captioned, “Don’t come to Bangalore if you’re not earning atleast Rs 1 lakh monthly.”Watch the video here:Her comments prompted a debate over whether a Rs 1 lakh salary should really be considered the minimum for moving to Bengaluru. Some users suggested that people could work in the city while buying property elsewhere or in areas farther from Bengaluru, noting that high property prices are not unique to the city.Others pushed back on the advice altogether, arguing that young professionals should not be discouraged from moving to Bengaluru simply because they are not earning Rs 3 lakh a month.One user said people should focus on building their skills and growing their careers rather than expecting to immediately reach a high salary or buy a house.- Ends