A viral video by IIM Ahmedabad student Vivek Kundu detailing his ₹24,000 monthly budget has ignited a conversation about the true cost of living at premier B-schools. While social media users debated whether such high expenses are worth it for middle-class students, Kundu told Hindustantimes.com that this particular month sat at the higher end of his usual ₹15,000 to ₹25,000 range.
“IIM Ahmedabad student here. I try to keep my monthly expenses under ₹25,000 - sometimes I manage, sometimes I don’t. This month? ₹24,000,” Vivek Kundu wrote while sharing a video.
The clip captures snippets of his life as he explains his monthly budget. Kundu shared that he spent ₹14,000 on food. On top of that, he also spent almost ₹3,500 on Swiggy and DMart combined.
The student then revealed the amounts spent on stationery, haircuts, social life, transportation, sports, medicine, and subscriptions.
How did social media react?
An individual questioned, “24k*24 months (there will be Holidays but let's adjust them with the extra expenses on festivals) = 5,76,000rs. + Fees. Is it really worth it for a middle-class student?? I know it's worth it, but just asking from a middle-class student pov.” Another posted, “Happy to see that you are actually spending money and taking care of yourself.”
{{/usCountry}}An individual questioned, “24k*24 months (there will be Holidays but let's adjust them with the extra expenses on festivals) = 5,76,000rs. + Fees. Is it really worth it for a middle-class student?? I know it's worth it, but just asking from a middle-class student pov.” Another posted, “Happy to see that you are actually spending money and taking care of yourself.”
{{/usCountry}}A third commented, “ ₹25,000 a month is expensive.” A fourth wrote, “Why did you not opt for hostel mess food?”
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While talking about his spending habits, Kundu told Hindustantimes.com, “At first glance, the monthly expense may seem quite high, but the figures I shared are on the upper end and can certainly be reduced. For instance, opting for the mess subscription can reduce food expenses by around 50–60%. My D-Mart and Blinkit expenses were also unusually high because I had just returned from vacation and had to purchase several essentials, most of which were one-time expenses. A few other categories are discretionary as well, so with better planning, monthly expenses can comfortably be kept around ₹15,000.”
He continued, “Personally, my monthly expenses have been between the range of ₹15,000 and ₹25,000.”
He added, “As for financing, many students primarily rely on education loans. In addition, merit- and need-based scholarships, prize money from case competitions and other contests, summer internship stipends, and savings from previous work experience also help students manage the overall cost.”