Mumbai chef earns ₹ 1.05 lakh per month, plans first trip to Thailand as employer compares finances with MBA friends

A Mumbai man’s account of his cook’s monthly earnings ₹1.05 lakh has sparked a debate about income, financial security and conventional measures of professional success. The chef reportedly earns assignments in multiple households and catering to film crews during night shoots. She is now planning her first international vacation with friends, with Thailand as the destination.

In a LinkedIn post, Manuraaj Garg compared the chef’s financial situation with some of his MBA friends. He highlighted how multiple sources of income, a limited commute and relatively low expenses shaped the chef’s approach to money.

How does a chef from Mumbai earn ₹1.05 million per month?

Garg described the chef’s earnings from various tasks. The cook charges ₹18,000 for preparing meals twice a day at Garg’s home. He earns more ₹16,500 from a flat in the same building and ₹38,000 from a larger family nearby for cooking and managing kitchen work.

The chef also works on set on Friday nights, preparing food for the crew during the night shoot.

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“He’s on set on Friday night – feeding the unit with a night shoot, dal-chawal at 1am while the hero repeats: ₹7,500 per night,” said Garg.

Garg added that the cook’s wife is earning ₹45,000 per month, bringing their total household income to around the level ₹1.5 million.

Comparing these earnings with the financial realities of some of his MBA friends, Garg said higher salaries do not necessarily translate into equivalent disposable income once taxes, equivalent monthly installments (EMIs) and childcare expenses are factored in.

“What’s really left before the month is often his number — no paper.”

No Form 16 or CTC: Garg on Chef’s Income Model

Garg also pointed out the difference between chefs’ earnings and the formal employment structures that govern salaried professionals.

“His money never met the system. No Form 16, no TDS, no CTC breakdown, no ‘variable component’. Not because he was hiding – the system was just never built to see him,” he said, adding that what the chef earns he keeps.

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The cook’s work is spread among four employers, all within a radius of two kilometers. According to Garg, this arrangement allows him to diversify his income rather than depending on a single employer. Losing one task would only affect part of his earnings.

Garg also said that the chef regularly receives inquiries from potential employers who are willing to pay more for reliable services. He contrasted this with the experience of some of his IIT-educated friends who sometimes find it difficult to get responses from employers even after completing several rounds of interviews.

Another difference, Garg noted, is the chef’s approach to spending. They don’t face the same pressure to maintain expensive lifestyles or meet societal expectations about cars, schooling, and appearance.

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“His financial advisor is one sentence: ‘You’re crazy, it’s very expensive.’ My friends’ financial advisor is also one sentence, ‘Chalo yaar, let’s do it,'” Garg wrote.

A chef from Mumbai buys the latest iPhone Pro on EMI and plans a holiday in Thailand

Despite his rather cautious approach to spending, the chef has an indulgence: the latest iPhone Pro, which he bought from EMI. Garg said he otherwise avoids unnecessary spending and is careful with his spending.

The 34-year-old is now preparing for his first international holiday with friends. The planned trip to Thailand will also mark his first flight and first passport.

Garg recalled sharing travel tips with the chef, including recommendations to visit Maya Bay, sample street food and rent a scooter. Their conversation, he said, briefly went beyond an employer-employee relationship as they exchanged travel stories and vacation plans.

“For ten minutes nobody was anybody’s employer – just two boys talking about Thailand,” he wrote, adding that his wife eventually asked them to return to their work.

At the end of his paper, Garg questioned conventional ways of measuring financial well-being.

“He’s not poor. He’s not rich. He’s something our charts don’t have a column for: a man whose math still works,” he said.

Through the account, Garg highlighted how multiple sources of income, manageable expenses, and personal expenses can affect an individual’s financial situation beyond the conventional scales of salary and job title.