Viral post explains why 'Rs 70 lakh is the new middle class' in Gurgaon, Mumbai, or Bengaluru, and offers "practical advice"

A post on LinkedIn by a Gurgaon-based investment banker has gone viral for showing how even a high salary of Rs 70 lakh per year does not guarantee a comfortable life in metro cities like Gurugram, Mumbai or Bengaluru.

In his detailed breakdown, Sarthak Ahuja explained how rising costs, big loans, and lifestyle pressures leave little money at the end of the month, even for people with top salaries.

Where Does the Money Go?

According to Ahuja, a person earning Rs 70 lakh annually ends up paying about Rs 20 lakh in taxes. That leaves around Rs 4.1 lakh as take-home income each month.

Out of this:

• Rs 1.7 lakh goes towards a home loan EMI (for a Rs 3 crore flat)
• Rs 65,000 for a car loan
• Rs 50,000 for international school fees
• Rs 15,000 for domestic help

This leaves only about Rs 1 lakh for everything else, including groceries, fuel, electricity, medical bills, shopping, eating out, and even savings for holidays.

Why Even High Earners Feel Poor
Ahuja says there are three main reasons for this squeeze:

• High urban inflation in cities like Mumbai and Gurugram over the last few years
• Expensive homes and cars that don’t match income levels
• Aspirational lifestyles driven by what people see on social media

“By the end of the month, there’s nothing left,” he wrote, calling this situation the rise of the “new sub-middle class”, people who earn well but feel broke.

His Advice: Think Before You Buy a Home

Ahuja ended the post with practical advice: don’t rush into buying a house unless you truly need one. He also linked to his own website with advice on more affordable real estate choices.

His honest post struck a chord with many professionals across different fields, with thousands commenting about facing similar struggles.