A candid post on Reddit has gone viral after a user described an unexpected lifestyle upgrade after moving from Mumbai to Delhi NCR – reigniting the familiar debate about the cost of living in India’s biggest cities.
Posting on the TellDelhi subreddit, the user said they had recently moved from Mumbai to Delhi NCR and were surprised at how much their salary had stretched. User, bachelor earning around ₹1.4 million per month, that’s shared in Mumbai, almost ₹40,000 went towards rent for a ‘decent’ 1BHK – an expense that left little sense of comfort despite the price.
“Massive lifestyle upgrade after moving to Delhi from Mumbai that I didn’t expect,” the post read.
According to the user, the same budget in Delhi NCR now brings significantly better housing. “I find great options 1BHK v ₹20-25K which are newer, much more spacious, in better company and noticeably cleaner,” the post noted, adding that the overall value for money felt like a clear upgrade to me.
In addition to housing, the user emphasized everyday conveniences that contributed to the improvement in the quality of life. Wider roads, easier commuting and more accessible services – from domestic help to healthcare – were cited as key differences. Public transport was also excellent. “Metro is also significantly better and can take me anywhere in Delhi,” a user wrote in contrast to Mumbai’s commute-heavy routine.
The financial impact of this move proved equally significant. While savings in Mumbai floated around ₹40,000-50,000 per month, the user claimed that this number has now gone up to almost ₹75,000 – no compromise on comfort. “Overall, this move has really improved both my lifestyle and my savings,” he concluded, urging others who have made a similar move to consider.
The post has struck a chord on the Internet, especially among young professionals who are struggling with skyrocketing rents in metro cities. While many echoed similar experiences with Delhi NCR offering more space at a lower cost, others pointed out that factors like pollution, distance and workplace still influence whether such a move makes sense.
One user wrote: “Mumbai is overrun with people who have generational wealth and get 1 lakh as pocket money from home despite earning.”
“If you get rid of the air pollution and violence and crime in general, Delhi would actually be a very good place to live,” wrote another user.
“Yes I totally agree, after living in Delhi the NCR rentals in Mumbai are unbelievable especially for how small they are. I currently live in a 1 RK which is probably double the size of my 1 BHK in Mumbai and costs 20k less,” wrote a third user.
(This report is based on user-generated content from social media. Livemint has not independently verified and does not endorse these claims.)
