Earning Rs 1 lakh but still feel poor? Finance analyst reveals the trap making you feel 'not enough'

How much salary is enough to lead a comfortable lifestyle? Depending upon the city and every individual's monthly expense, the salary can range from Rs 1 lakh and onwards. In a Tier 2 or Tier 3 city, it can cover your everyday expenses and still leave room for travelling, supporting family and investments. But for many people, that same income can suddenly feel inadequate after a quick scroll through social media. Delhi-based finance analyst Surbhi Chaudhary highlighted this contrast in a post on X, arguing that constant exposure to other people’s wealth can distort our idea of what a financially good life actually looks like.

Rs 1 lakh can still mean a comfortable life

According to Chaudhary, earning Rs 1 lakh a month outside India’s biggest metros can provide considerable financial flexibility. She said a person earning that amount can “drive a good car”, enjoy dinner outings, take a three-day trip, support their family and still “invest every month”.

In her view, the combination means people can “actually enjoy life” without constantly feeling financially stretched. The perception can change, however, once social media enters the picture.

Internet can make a good salary feel inadequate

Citing the kind of posts people regularly encounter online, Chaudhary pointed out that one person may be earning Rs 5 lakh, another may have purchased a Rs 2 crore house, while someone else appears to be travelling every month. Against that backdrop, she said, “suddenly your Rs 1 lakh feels like nothing.”

But the finance analyst urged people to remember that social media rarely provides the full financial context behind these lifestyles. She noted that the person earning Rs 5 lakh could be part of a family business. A house could have already been in the family. Someone appearing financially comfortable could also have access to “family wealth”.

Comparing everyday life with someone else’s highlights

Citing what she believes is the bigger problem, Chaudhary said people often compare their ordinary, everyday lives with the most polished moments others choose to share online.“We compare our everyday life with someone else’s best moments,” she wrote. According to her, repeatedly making this comparison can cause people to overlook their own financial progress and the comforts they already have. “And slowly forget how much we already have,” she added.

‘Maybe we have just forgotten what enough feels like’

Citing the pressure to earn more and keep up with increasingly expensive lifestyles, Chaudhary questioned whether income is always the real issue. “Maybe the problem isn’t that we’re earning too little,” she wrote. Instead, she suggested that constant exposure to other people’s perceived wealth could be changing people’s definition of financial sufficiency. “Maybe we have just forgotten what enough feels like,” she concluded.

Internet reacts

A user wrote, "Comparison kills happiness. Celebrate your own 'enough'". One user suggested, "How about living in Tier 2/3 city, earning 1 lakh and uninstalling social media apps?" One questioned, "Which Tier-2/3 city pays u Rs Lakh ? Except Bangalore, Hyderabad, Mumbai, Pune, Gurgaon, Chennai, Kolkata and few other top cities, none of the others( Tier -2/3/4 ) pays u that well". Surbhi responded by sharing, "True. The salary depends heavily on the industry, role and experience, not just the city. But for someone already earning ₹1 lakh remotely or through a high-paying role, a Tier 2/3 city can offer a very different cost-of-living equation."