Bengaluru tech salaries are rising, then why are people giving up on buying homes? Viral post highlights a deeper issue

For years, Bengaluru has been known as the city where high-paying tech jobs created opportunities for young professionals. But a recent viral post on X has started another conversation, asking whether rising salaries are still enough when home prices continue to climb much faster. The discussion has struck a chord with many people who said owning a house in the city now feels more difficult than ever.

The post was shared by X user Shankar von Mysuru, who questioned whether Bengaluru is slowly becoming unaffordable for the very professionals driving its economy. His comments prompted hundreds of responses, with many users sharing similar experiences from Bengaluru as well as other cities across Karnataka.

Viral post says homeownership now feels out of reach

In the post, Shankar argued that buying a home in Bengaluru has become unrealistic for many middle-income professionals despite working in well-paying jobs.


He wrote, "Buying a home in Bengaluru in 2026 feels less like a goal and more like a fever dream. A decent 2BHK in any good locality now routinely starts at ₹1.4 to ₹1.8 crore, while homes under ₹1 crore have almost vanished from the core city. For most mid-level professionals, the monthly EMI alone sits between ₹80,000 and ₹1.1 lakh, a number that swallows a huge chunk of even a high-tech salary."

He further added, "This is the generation that earns more than their parents ever did, yet owning a house here feels more impossible than it did a decade ago. The gap between rising incomes and exploding property prices keeps widening, leaving many people stuck in the 'almost ready' phase year after year. Is Bengaluru quietly pricing out its own workforce, or is this simply the new normal we all have to accept? Be honest in the comments. Are you still planning to buy here, or have you already started looking at other cities?"

The post quickly gained attention, with many users saying they related to the concerns, while others debated whether the situation was as severe as it appeared.

Users say the problem extends beyond Bengaluru

Several commenters said soaring property prices are no longer limited to Bengaluru.

One user wrote, "You have not seen the situation in Mysuru. A simple 30×40 site is selling for ₹1.2 to ₹1.5 crore."

Another said, "It's become impossible to own a house or even a flat. I cannot describe how painful it is to find land or an independent house, even one that needs renovation. If Bengaluru doesn't expand towards the north and east, it will put even more pressure on public transport and infrastructure."

Another user explained that the rising costs had already changed their plans, writing, "One of the reasons we started constructing a house in our hometown."

Some users also raised concerns about infrastructure alongside rising prices. One comment read, "Many of these insanely priced flats of reputed builders don't even have decent Kaveri water supply. And very soon, Bengaluru will face ground water issues as well given the rate at which it is plundered by the real estate mafia. Tough choice!"

Another user expressed frustration over affordability, writing, "Impossible to buy a house in Bangalore with current salary and inflation. Thx to FM."

Buyers recall how prices have changed

Some people shared examples of how sharply land prices have increased in just a few years.

One user wrote, "This has been the new normal for the past four years. Every November and December, we used to go property hunting in BSK 6th Stage. In 2023, land was ₹8,000 per sq ft. In 2024, it was ₹10,000 to ₹11,000. In 2025, it reached ₹13,000 to ₹15,000. I finally bought it for ₹15,000 per sq ft in 2026, and now they're asking ₹16,000. The real tragedy is that my friend bought the same property in 2019 for ₹5,000 per sq ft."

Another commenter suggested the trend has spread to smaller cities as well, writing, "You are talking about Bengaluru? In the Tier 2 city of Mangaluru, flats now start at ₹3 crore. Flats worth ₹1 crore are considered basic and come with minimal amenities."

Not everyone agreed with the viral post

While many supported the original argument, some users said affordable homes can still be found if buyers are willing to consider resale properties.

One person commented, "I don't think you've researched this well. There are plenty of second-hand 2BHK flats available for as low as ₹1 crore through distress sales caused by job losses."