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A Bengaluru techie’s claim that even ₹50 LPA may not make one wealthy has sparked debate online, with users questioning his expense estimates and sharing their own experiences
A ₹50 lakh salary sounds like a dream to many, but a Bengaluru techie believes it may not be enough to become truly wealthy in the city (Image-Instagram/@notaboringdeveloper)
A Bengaluru-based techie has sparked an online debate after claiming that earning ₹50 lakh per annum may still not be enough to build substantial wealth in the city. He cited high rents, rising living costs and soaring property prices, arguing that a hefty salary can quickly be eaten up by expenses.
In a video shared on Instagram, Anmol Agarwal attempted to break down what he described as the financial reality of earning a high salary while living in Bengaluru. His calculations, however, drew mixed reactions from social media users, with several questioning some of the expenses mentioned in his estimate.
“50 LPA, 70 LPA, no matter how much money you earn, I will prove to you in one minute that you can never become rich in Bangalore,” Agarwal said at the beginning of the video.
He acknowledged that receiving the entire ₹50 lakh as a base salary would itself be uncommon, but used that figure for his calculation. According to his estimate, after accounting for around ₹15 lakh in taxes and EPF contributions, an individual could be left with approximately ₹35 lakh a year, or close to ₹3 lakh per month.
Agarwal estimated that rent for a 2BHK apartment could cost between ₹60,000 and ₹70,000 per month. He then added expenses such as ₹10,000 each for a maid and cook, along with groceries, gym memberships, shopping and travel.
According to his calculation, these expenses could take monthly spending to around ₹1.2 lakh to ₹1.3 lakh.
“If you also decide to buy a car, assume another ₹50,000 a month, which I am actually keeping on the lower side,” he said.
He further argued that expenses could rise considerably for people with children, potentially leaving an individual with around ₹1 lakh a month for investments and wealth creation.
Agarwal also highlighted the city’s property prices, arguing that buying a home could remain out of reach even for people earning high salaries.
He claimed that a property currently priced at around ₹3 crore could eventually cost ₹6 crore to ₹7 crore. As a result, he suggested that even disciplined investing may not make it easy for a salaried professional to purchase a house until later in life.
“No matter how well you invest it, you may still struggle to buy a house until close to retirement,” he said.
His calculation, he noted, also assumes that the individual remains employed continuously and does not face disruptions caused by layoffs or AI-related changes in the technology industry.
As an alternative, Agarwal suggested working remotely or starting a business while living in a Tier-3 city, where the cost of living could be significantly lower.
“In cities like Bangalore, even a cup of coffee can cost ₹250, ₹300 or ₹350. When the cost of living is this high, no matter how much you earn, becoming genuinely wealthy can be extremely difficult,” he said.
The video was posted with the caption, “You can’t become rich in Banglore”.
Internet Divided
The post soon attracted attention, with users debating whether Agarwal’s estimates accurately represented the cost of living in Bengaluru.
One user highlighted the benefits of working remotely from Jaipur, writing: “Working remotely from jaipur since years. never been this happy and mentally sane. AQI
Another questioned the ₹10,000 gym expense and argued that building wealth ultimately depends on spending and investing habits: “10000 on a gym membership. Is this equinox ? If you want to be rich, it’s about living below your means and investing as much as you can.”
A third user said that earning more does not automatically translate into becoming wealthy and emphasised the importance of financial discipline: “Pure dunia me tm kitna bhi kama lo kabhi ameer ni ho paoge unless you learn to save, invest and spend properly. Read Psychology of Money,”
Another user directly challenged Agarwal’s estimates, particularly the rent and gym costs: “Dude I really think you need to take some math class or know ground realities in blr. 2 BHK rent – max 40k in good places… gym 2k max for indiranagar fancy gyms… i manage my entire expenses within 70k-80k.”
Another comment similarly questioned whether the figures reflected the reality for most Bengaluru residents: “Sooo wrong stats, brother. 😒kabhi jaake dekho…ki banglore mai kitne log 50LPA ke bina bhi jee rhe hai…”
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A team of writers at News18.com bring you stories on what’s creating the buzz on the Internet while exploring science, cricket, tech, gender, Bollywood, and culture.
August 09, 2026, 08:21 IST
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