Bengaluru CA shares monthly expenses of family of 2. ‘Which Bengaluru you live in’, asks internet

Bengaluru’s cost of living debate has gone viral after CA Meenal Goel shared her family’s monthly expenses online, revealing a total of Rs 82,000 for two people. From rent and groceries to househelp and entertainment, her breakdown has sparked intense discussion about lifestyle choices, affordability, and what “living in Bengaluru” really looks like, with netizens chiming in to compare their own budgets and highlight the city’s wide spectrum of costs and lifestyles.

CA's monthly breakdown

Meenal outlined her family’s typical monthly expenses, starting with Rs 37,000 for a 2BHK rent. Food and groceries accounted for Rs 15,000, transportation Rs 5,000, utilities Rs 4,000, and househelp another Rs 4,000. Entertainment and miscellaneous spending added Rs 17,000, bringing the total monthly outflow to Rs 82,000, or nearly Rs 10 lakh per year. She clarified that the figures were for a family of two.

Netizens share their perspectives

Responses flooded social media, highlighting the contrast between different parts of the city and lifestyle choices. Some pointed out that living in areas like south-central Bengaluru could cut rent and utilities significantly, while others noted that disciplined spending and strategic investments can make even higher expenses manageable. One said, "We are a family of 4. Don't know which Bangalore you live in." Discussions also focused on personal priorities, with entertainment and eating out being key points of contention.


The conversation underscored how diverse Bengaluru’s living costs can be. Factors like location, lifestyle, family size, and personal choices create a vast range of monthly expenses. While Meenal’s breakdown represents a mid-to-upper lifestyle standard, netizens’ comparisons illustrated that many residents manage comfortably on far less, reflecting the city’s unique mix of premium and budget-friendly living.