A Bengaluru-based content creator has revealed how much she and her husband spend a month raising their 10-month-old baby – and the staggering total has left some stunned. A woman who runs a parenting Instagram page dedicated to her child has detailed her expenses in a video that has garnered massive attention and attracted a flood of likes and comments.
“Total monthly expenses as a couple living in Bengaluru with our 10-month-old,” she wrote in the video before detailing the numbers.
Her transparency about finances — from rent and EMIs to nanny and vaccination costs — has sparked a debate among urban couples about the real cost of raising a child in a metro like Bengaluru.
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According to its breakdown, housing accounts for the largest part of their expenses. The family currently lives in a 3+1 apartment in a closed complex, where they pay ₹Rent 54,000 and around ₹9000 for maintenance. Electricity costs approx ₹3000, Wi-Fi ₹1,000 and about gas for cooking ₹600 for a refill that lasts for approximately one and a half months.
Apart from the rent, the couple also pays a home loan EMI ₹1 lakh every month. In response to questions from followers, she clarified the reason why both apply.
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“Many of you are asking and asking in the comments why both rent and home loan EMI?” she said. “Right now we live in a three-bedroom flat in a closed society where we pay monthly rent and maintenance. However, we also have our own flat booked which is under construction and we don’t own it yet. That’s why we are paying home loan EMIs.”
Babysitting and household help
The post also shed light on the costs of managing work and parenthood. The couple employs a maid to clean, mop and wash dishes ₹3700 per month. They have two cooks – one charging ₹4000 for breakfast and lunch and additional charge ₹3500 for dinner. So the total cost of a maid and two cooks is ₹11,200 per month.
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The biggest expense in this category is the babysitter, who is paid ₹20,000 for a nine-hour shift. Her duties include massaging the baby, bathing, washing, preparing food, washing the baby’s dishes and putting them to sleep.
Food, travel and medical care
Monthly grocery expenses are around ₹10,000 while milk from a premium subscription brand costs ₹6,000. Fruits and vegetables add another ₹5 thousand to the account.
The couple also factor in lifestyle and travel. Purchases make up approx ₹5000 per month. The flights – made about three times a year, including visits to their hometown – average ₹9000 per month. Stays and visits to resorts cost around ₹5,000, trips to the cinema and extra food ₹5,000 while the gifts and celebrations are coming ₹3000. Commuting to office and nearby walks add approx ₹4000.
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Medical costs, including vaccinations for the child, visits to the doctor, sudden illnesses and half-yearly full-body examinations, amount to approx. ₹3000 per month.
Viewers seemed stunned by the couple’s monthly expenses, with several asking about their sources of income.
One user wrote: “Thank god we live in Ahmedabad.”
Another commented: “Just wondering how much you make per month?”
The content creator replied, “Hey, we both make six figure salaries. I’m a strategy consultant while he’s a group manager. I’ll share earnings vs. expenses vs. savings soon. Thanks for asking.”
A third user added: “I lived in Bangalore for 10 years. Much cheaper compared to Mumbai.”
(Disclaimer: This report is based on user generated content from social media. Livemint has not independently verified and does not endorse these claims.)