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A Redditor says earning Rs 1.4 lakh in Bengaluru felt less rewarding than making Rs 40,000 in Udaipur, thanks to lower expenses, family support and a slower pace of life.
The post sparked a debate on city living.
A Reddit post has started a discussion about whether a bigger salary always leads to a better life. The user behind the post compared their experience of earning Rs 1.4 lakh a month in Bengaluru with earning around Rs 40,000 in their hometown, Udaipur.
While the difference in income was huge, the Redditor said they actually felt more financially comfortable after moving back home. Their story led many people to share their own views on city living, expenses and work-life balance.
A High Salary Did Not Feel Enough
The post was shared with the title, “Why Rs 40k in my hometown felt richer than Rs 1.4L in Bangalore”. The user explained that they used to earn around Rs 1.4 lakh per month in Bengaluru. On paper, it seemed like an excellent salary. However, by the end of each month, it often did not feel that way.
“A few years back I was working in Bangalore and earning around Rs 1.4L/month in hand. Honestly, on paper it sounded amazing. But by month end, it rarely felt like six figures. Using Bangalore and my hometown Udaipur here just as an example of Tier 1 vs Tier 3 lifestyle/expense differences,” the user wrote.
They then shared a breakdown of their monthly expenses. According to the post, Rs 30,000 went towards rent for a one-bedroom apartment. Groceries and daily essentials cost around Rs 6,000, while maid services and laundry added another Rs 3,000. Internet and electricity bills came to roughly Rs 3,000.
Food delivery, transport and social outings also took a significant share of the income. The user spent about Rs 7,000 on Swiggy and Zomato, Rs 5,000 on commuting and Rs 8,000 on weekend activities and meeting friends.
Small Expenses Added Up Quickly
Apart from regular bills, the Redditor pointed out that many smaller purchases quietly increased monthly spending. “And then there are the invisible spends like amazon orders, quick commerce apps, random coffees, convenience spending, impulse buys,” the user said.
They explained that life in a large city often encourages people to pay for convenience because of busy schedules and mental exhaustion.
“The funny part is, even after earning Rs 1.4L, a huge chunk quietly disappeared into just existing in a Tier 1 city. Yes, I was still saving money but life constantly felt rushed and expensive. You slowly start paying for convenience because you’re too mentally exhausted otherwise,” the post revealed.
At the same time, the user acknowledged that Bengaluru helped them grow professionally. They credited the city for providing better career opportunities, exposure, networking and independence.
Moving Home Changed Daily Life
The Redditor later moved back to Udaipur, where their income dropped to around Rs 40,000 a month. Despite earning much less, they said life felt easier and more comfortable.
“When I moved back to Udaipur, initially I was earning much less, around Rs 40k-ish. And the weird part is I genuinely started feeling richer here!” they wrote.
The user explained that living near family reduced several expenses. There was no pressure to pay high rent, home-cooked meals were readily available and daily life felt less stressful. They also enjoyed spending time with pets, having slower mornings and avoiding unnecessary spending.
According to the post, having more free time and better mental peace naturally made it easier to save money.
Reddit Users Share Similar Experiences
The post sparked a discussion among Reddit users, many of whom related to the experience.
A user commented, “This is the privilege of having your own home and having a family who takes care of you – the unpaid labour of cooking and cleaning. You should account for this and then do the math.”
Another wrote, “There’ll always be some monetary benefits for living in T3 over a T1.”
A person shared, “I moved from Tier 1 city to my village and I am not going back to any of the cities in India even. Next I will only go abroad if any opportunity comes. It was my best decision to switch from office working hours to remote. It saves me a lot of time which I can spend with friends and family here and lots of money without doing any budgeting.”
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