'Need Rs 7.5 Lakh Monthly To Survive': Gurugram Man’s Viral Post Stirs Debate On Cost Of Living
A Gurugram techie’s satirical post claiming he needs Rs 7.5 lakh per month “just to breathe” has stirred a debate on the steep cost of urban living in India.
A LinkedIn post by a Gurugram-based consultant is going viral after it highlighted the exorbitant cost of living in metro cities. In the satirical post, the professional claimed that he needs a monthly income of Rs 7.5 lakh “just to breathe” in the city. Vaibhav J shared a candid post about the cost of living in Gurugram.
“I need Rs 7.5L per month just to breathe,” the post read, highlighting the steep expenses. His post humorously highlighted the financial commitments required to maintain his high-profile lifestyle in a city like Gurugram, which he did not describe as “luxurious.”
According to his LinkedIn post shared last week, the EMI for his flat comes at Rs 2.08 lakh and he has additional maintenance costs such as Rs 12,000 per month for things like a “fountain”.
The monthly car EMI is Rs 60,000 because “a Swift won’t do”. He has to keep up with exorbitant school fees, estimated at around Rs 65,000 per month, so the kids can have IB-level education. Further, he is setting aside Rs 30,000 per month for his foreign trips.
Staff like a cook, maid and driver cost Rs 30,000 in Gurugram because parenting here “needs a crew”, according to the viral LinkedIn post.
Similarly, Vaibhav listed other unnecessary expenses such as Rs 20,000 for dinners, which people “don’t even” enjoy.
“Rs 12,000 on grooming, clothes and looking "DLF Phase 5 ready." Rs 10,000 random crap you forgot you bought. Rs 15,000 per month on birthday gifts and wedding envelopes. Fake smiles tax,” the post read.
Vaibhav further said that these expenses amount to Rs 5 lakh per month. To sustain this post 30% taxes, one needs to earn Rs 7.5 lakh per month.
“And this doesn’t include savings or insurance. Nothing set aside for the future. No health or life cover,” he pointed.
“And yeah, I haven't eaten yet. That’s not the top 1% income. That's the top 0.1% burn rate,” he concluded his post.
As the post gained traction, some users joined Vaibhav’s satire, joking that this lifestyle isn’t complete without Himalayan mineral water.
“In India, nearly 20% of the population survives on just Rs 7,500 per month, covering food, basic needs, and even striving to educate their children. In villages, many live peacefully within their means, without panic or pretension,” a comment read, highlighting the contrasting modest lives in rural India.
While some users agreed that chasing excessive wealth is futile, others pointed out that living in Gurugram has become unnecessarily expensive, making it difficult to manage even with a high income.
