' ₹21,000 rent, ₹10,000 on commuting: Bengaluru woman breaks down ₹1 lakh monthly expenses
The Bengaluru woman shared a breakdown of her monthly expenditure, revealing that she spends approximately ₹1 lakh every month.
From salaries and savings to rent and daily expenses, social media users have increasingly been sharing detailed glimpses of what it costs to live independently in India's major cities. Bengaluru, in particular, has become a frequent talking point, with young professionals posting their monthly budgets and sparking debates over the city's cost of living. Now, a Bengaluru-based woman has shared a breakdown of her monthly expenditure, revealing that she spends approximately ₹1 lakh every month.

In an Instagram post, Ishita Chaudhary described herself as a "corporate girlie working at Rubrik" and shared a category-wise breakdown of her expenses under the title, "Budget Breakdown: Living in Bengaluru."
According to the breakdown, ₹21,000 goes towards rent for a 3BHK, including maintenance. She listed another ₹500 for furniture, ₹500 for an air purifier and ₹500 for Wi-Fi.
She revealed that her household expenses include ₹7,000 on groceries, ₹2,000 for a cook who prepares lunch and dinner, and another ₹2,000 for a maid handling cleaning and washing.
She also spends ₹3,000 on Zomato/Swiggy, ₹5,000 on eating out, ₹5,000 on hobbies and activities, and ₹10,000 on city commuting. These expenses bring the total to around ₹56,500 a month.
The remaining expenses are largely lifestyle-related. She listed ₹15,000 for shopping, ₹20,000 for travelling and trips, ₹5,000 on parlour visits and ₹3,000 on sports, taking her overall monthly expenditure to approximately ₹1 lakh.
She also said that she does not spend separately on commuting to the office, weekday lunches or breakfast at work, gym expenses or snacks at the office, listing each of these as zero.
(Also Read: Rude couple mistakes 26-year-old Bengaluru flat owner for blue-collar worker due to ‘clothes, complexion’)
Social media reactions
The spending breakdown prompted several humorous reactions from users, with some focusing on how little might be left for savings.
"Savings: 500/- Living on the edge," one user jokingly commented.
"Itne mein mera do ghar chal jayega," another wrote.
"Adopt me," a third user commented.
ABOUT THE AUTHORBhavya SukhejaBhavya Sukheja is a Senior Content Producer at Hindustan Times with over 6 years of experience in digital journalism. She specialises in covering stories that reflect everyday human experiences, with a focus on viral videos, social media trends, and human-interest features that inform readers while sparking meaningful conversations. She loves chasing page views and finding stories that tug at readers’ heartstrings. Known for her strong news sense, Bhavya has a keen ability to spot emerging trends and craft angles that transform viral moments into impactful narratives. Her coverage spans pop culture, entertainment, global affairs, and the internet’s most talked-about topics, helping readers better understand the context behind what is trending online. Before joining Hindustan Times, Bhavya worked with Republic World and NDTV, where she developed her skills in real-time reporting and digital storytelling. Working in fast-paced newsrooms helped her build an editorial approach that prioritises accuracy, clarity, and audience engagement. Bhavya is driven by a curiosity about how people communicate and connect in the digital age. She is particularly interested in stories that highlight cultural shifts, shared emotions, and the evolving nature of online conversations. When she is not tracking trends or producing stories, Bhavya enjoys unplugging and spending time with her cat.Read More

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