Bengaluru’s commute is shaped by congestion in a densely built-up urban environment, while Hyderabad’s relatively planned infrastructure results in comparable travel times across different spatial patterns. | Photo credit: FILE PHOTO
Amid a recurring high-profile rivalry between the political leadership of Hyderabad (Telangana) and Bengaluru, largely focused on attracting investment and often highlighting traffic congestion in Bengaluru, the report revealed that the average commuting times to the office in the two cities are almost identical, despite differences in infrastructure and urban planning.
According to the WeAreCity 2026 data report released on Wednesday by UnboxingBLR in Bengaluru, the average one-way commute in Bengaluru is 59 minutes and Hyderabad is 58 minutes, highlighting that the daily travel burden in India’s two fastest-growing technology hubs is almost equal. The findings come even as Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy recently criticized traffic congestion in Bengaluru and Chennai and pointed out the problems of urban development.
The report notes that while commute times are similar, the underlying factors differ significantly. Bengaluru’s commute is shaped by congestion in a densely built-up urban environment, while Hyderabad’s relatively planned infrastructure results in comparable travel times across different spatial patterns. This distinction, the report suggests, offers important lessons for urban planners and policy makers.
A comparative analysis of office commuting patterns in Bengaluru and Hyderabad in the report shows that tech professionals in both cities spend almost the same amount of time commuting to work, despite differences in speed and distance.
Commute time the same
Data from MoveInSync shows that the average one-way commute is about 59 minutes in Bengaluru and 58 minutes in Hyderabad, suggesting a similar overall travel burden. However, commuters to Hyderabad tend to travel faster, with an average speed of 23 kmph compared to Bengaluru’s 19 kmph. This is offset by longer travel distances in Hyderabad, averaging 22 km per trip compared to 18 km in Bengaluru. The findings highlighted that while Hyderabad benefits from relatively better traffic flow and speed, longer distances equalize commuting times, resulting in almost identical travel times between the two cities.
Bengaluru leads start-ups, Hyderabad emerges as GCC hub
The findings are part of a wider comparative analysis called ‘A Tale of Two Cities’, which examines how Bengaluru and Hyderabad are emerging as dominant economic engines that increasingly threaten Delhi NCR and Mumbai. Together, the two cities accounted for more than half of the Class A office space added in India over the past five years and nearly 50% of new domestic flights in recent years.
The report highlighted that by 2024-25, one in four new companies registered in India’s major cities had their headquarters in either Bengaluru or Hyderabad, underscoring their growing influence in the country’s economic landscape.
Despite their similarities in commuting times and economic dynamics, the two cities exhibit distinct characteristics. Bengaluru continues to lead as India’s startup capital with higher levels of innovation, financial activity and participation in financial markets. In contrast, Hyderabad is rapidly strengthening its position as a Global Capability Center (GCC), supported by strong infrastructure development and rising housing and retail credit growth, the report said.
Bengaluru leads jobs, Hyderabad excels in population
In addition to economic indicators, the report assessed trends in vitality and the labor force. Hyderabad ranks better in liveability, especially in terms of infrastructure provision and perception of safety, especially among women. However, Bengaluru tops the workforce attraction index, driven by its dominance in tech jobs and early career opportunities.
Both cities outperform Delhi and Mumbai in entry-level recruitment across sectors such as IT, manufacturing, pharma and BFSI, indicating a shift in where India’s young workforce is gravitating, the report said.
Published – 25 March 2026 21:08 IST
