Is Rs 20 Lakh Enough To Survive In A Metro City? IIT Graduate Ignites Debate With His Post

Living in metropolitan cities is a dream for many, as it has plenty of job opportunities and improved quality of life. However, this lifestyle comes with a hefty price tag, as the cost of living in such cities is higher. Recently, an alumnus of the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kharagpur sparked discussion on social media by sharing a detailed breakdown of expenses for a four-member family from a metropolitan city in India. Pritesh Kakani’s calculation indicated that a family’s yearly expenses could reach Rs 20 lakh, excluding luxury expenses.

Soon after his post went viral, it garnered mixed reactions. While some agreed with the valuation and called it realistic, others argued that Rs 20 lakh per year is an exaggerated figure.

Kakani’s list featured various categories such as rent, food, travel, healthcare, education and grooming. At the top of the list is the monthly rent of Rs 35,000 or Rs 4.2 lakh annually, followed by food expenses, which is Rs 10,000. Dining out costs are estimated at Rs 4,000, while vacation expense is Rs 1.5 Lakh.

Petrol expenses are calculated to be Rs 5,350, with medical costs set at Rs 8,000 or Rs 96,000 for the whole year. The combined cost of electricity and gas is Rs 1,500, while local travel costs can reach up to Rs 2,000 per month. School expenses are the highest, Rs 4 Lakh for the year. Sharing the list, he wrote, “Family of 4 Expense in Metro city in India is 20 lakh per year. No luxury expense added.”

One user expressed concern about the accuracy of the expense, particularly the cost of the car at Rs 2 lakhs and food at Rs 1.2 lakhs seemed questionable.

Another criticized certain expenses, such as the cost of an Asia trip, a dog and car EMIs.

A user highlighted that a single family’s wedding could majorly impact the mentioned budget.

An individual provided the reason behind the high cost of a car and explained that a loan, maintenance and monthly instalments could justify the expense.

One more questioned the necessity of owning a dog and a car, they feel that such expenses should be avoided if a person doesn’t own a house.

Since IIT Kharagpur alumni Pritesh Kakani shared the expanse list on X, it has gone viral and garnered over 1 million views.