Monthly Expenses of a Young Tech Professional in Bengaluru

A young tech professional’s open discussion about her monthly expenses in Bengaluru has gained immense popularity on social media, igniting a broader conversation regarding the increasing cost of urban living and the lifestyle expectations in India’s technology centres.

Pooja Narula, a 24-year-old employee at Google, presented a video showcasing her total expenditure for February 2026, which amounted to ₹1.43 lakh. The video quickly attracted attention online, providing a clear insight into her ongoing costs as well as various one-off expenses that markedly raised her monthly total.

Breaking Down the Expenses

Narula elaborated that her regular monthly expenditure covers accommodation, domestic help, utility bills, and weekend leisure activities.

Her Fixed Costs Included:

• ₹22,400 for room rent
• ₹2,800 for maid and cooking services
• Approximately ₹2,000 for electricity and other household expenses

In addition to these vital expenses, lifestyle expenditures contributed further to her monthly budget. According to Narula, going out over the weekends in Bengaluru generally costs around ₹2,000 each week, resulting in a total of about ₹8,000 for the month.

One-Time Costs Pushed the Total Higher

Narula pointed out that February was not representative of her usual spending habits, as several irregular costs inflated her monthly total.

She allocated ₹16,000 for flight tickets to visit home and ₹2,000 for cab rides to the airport. Furthermore, moving to a new apartment incurred a cost of ₹3,000 for packers and movers, along with a ₹66,600 security deposit.

Her social engagements also played a role in the considerable spending, with ₹20,000 going towards dining and gifts for friends.

The video captured her remarking that miscellaneous dining and gift expenses added another ₹20,000 this month, bringing her total expenditure to ₹1.43 lakh.

Everything is Indeed Expensive

Recognising that the total might seem substantial, Narula clarified that much of her spending was due to one-off costs rather than regularly occurring monthly expenses.

Moreover, she expressed hope for lower spending in the upcoming month, stating that she would likely spend significantly less, but was unsure if that would be the case. Everything is indeed expensive, she noted.

The caption for her video read: “Calculated the total expense of February, and likely never endeavouring to do this activity again.”

Social Media Reactions Highlight Income Gap

The post quickly prompted an engaging discussion in the comments section, with many users reflecting on their own earnings and savings in relation to Narula’s spending.

One user commented, “Her monthly expenses equal my total savings for the year.” Another added, “At 24, my room rent alone is ₹22,000. I just swiped away from that reel.” A third noted, “My salary was about your room rent at that age.” Inquiries also arose, with one user directly asking, “Are you earning ₹2 lakhs a month?”

This viral video has reignited discussions about the cost of living in India’s tech hub, where rent, social outings, and moving expenses can create substantial monthly financial demands for young professionals.