An Instagram video by a 22-year-old corporate professional from Bengaluru sparked an online debate, with many users considering how much it actually costs to live comfortably in India’s tech capital.
The video shared by Sanya – who posts under the handle @sanya.unfiltered – offers a clear overview of her monthly expenses as a young professional navigating life in the city. Titled ‘This is how much I spend in a month living in Bangalore’, the clip quickly gained attention for its honest approach and comparable numbers.
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In the video, Sanya explains that she recently started working in the corporate sector and lives in a shared three-room apartment with friends. By splitting major expenses, she says she is able to manage her budget while maintaining a reasonable lifestyle.
Watch the viral video here:
According to her breakdown, rent makes up the largest part of her monthly expenses. She pays ₹14,000 per month as her share of the rent. In addition, maintenance fees and water bills will come into play ₹1,700 per person every month.
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Food, she says, costs her approx ₹1500 per month. To manage daily meals, the household employs a maid who cooks and helps with basic chores. The total monthly salary of a maid is ₹9,000, which is divided among the three roommates, bringing Sanya’s share to ₹3000.
Furniture is another recurring expense. Since the apartment is not fully furnished, Sanya rents basic furniture that costs her approx ₹1000 every month. For commuting to and from work and other travel within the city, he has a budget of around ₹2000.
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He also saves money for various expenses, including weekend trips, social plans and small personal purchases. According to her, these costs add up roughly ₹5000 per month.
After adding up all the categories, Sanya reveals that her total monthly expenses are close ₹31,000. She notes that while this works for her current lifestyle, expenses can vary significantly depending on location, rent and personal habits.
The video quickly drew reactions from users across social media, many of whom shared their own experiences of living in Bengaluru. Some viewers felt that the cost of a shared facility in a big city was reasonable, while others suggested ways to reduce costs, especially for food and leisure.
One user wrote: “I live in the US and that’s a lot for one person in India. I’d say you should save more money in a savings account or some ETF.”
Another user wrote: “Some nuclear or joint families get together and spend so much.”
“Very realistic and correct breakdown of expenses. And no, you don’t spend too much. You have to see how much I spend in banglore videos,” wrote a third user.
“14,000 (rent) + 1,000 (power + electricity) + my roommate and I cook and clean so that’s 0 + 4-5,000 groceries. Total ~20,000 per month minimum,” wrote a fourth.
A fifth admitted, “I don’t even live in Bangalore, I don’t even pay rent, but I still spend so much that I have no idea where my money is going.”