In Bengaluru, a monthly budget of Rs 1.73 lakh may sound extraordinary to some young professionals, while for another household, even earning Rs 25,000 a month can mean carefully balancing rent, food and transport. That contrast has drawn attention after a Bengaluru couple, Shubhi and her husband, shared a breakdown of their household expenses on social media. Both are senior software engineers, and their monthly spending reportedly comes to around Rs 1.7 lakh. The figure includes everyday costs such as rent and groceries, but one category stands out: travel.The couple spends approximately Rs 9 lakh a year on trips. Averaged across 12 months, that comes to Rs 75,000 a month. It is a striking amount, especially when viewed alongside the starting salaries offered to many entry-level employees in the IT sector. Their account is not a picture of every Bengaluru household. Instead, it offers a glimpse of how differently two people working in the same city can experience its cost of living.
Where does Rs 1.73 lakh go every month?
The couple’s largest fixed expense is their home. They pay Rs 60,000 towards rent and maintenance, a figure that reflects their choice of locality and housing society. Groceries come next, at around Rs 13,000 to Rs 14,000 a month. Shubhi explained that a significant part of this budget goes towards high-protein food items such as whey protein, Greek yoghurt and paneer. These regular purchases can make a noticeable difference to the grocery bill.Household help costs another Rs 8,000, covering a cook and a maid. The couple also sets aside around Rs 10,000 for weekend outings. Petrol and cab rides account for approximately Rs 3,500, while shopping and miscellaneous expenses come to around Rs 3,000.Then comes travel, which changes the overall picture. The couple says it has been travelling together for the past two years and has tracked the cost of its trips. Based on the amount spent over that period, its average travel expenditure works out to roughly Rs 75,000 a month. Taken together, these categories bring the monthly spending to approximately Rs 1.72 lakh to Rs 1.74 lakh, depending on the grocery bill. That makes the reported figure of around Rs 1.73 lakh a reasonable estimate.
Their approach to money: Tracking, without keeping score
Along with the expense breakdown, Shubhi shared how the couple manages its finances. They track their spending but do not maintain a running account of who owes whom. Their explanation was simple: they consider themselves permanent roommates, not flatmates. The couple also offered a practical suggestion for people who want to understand where their money goes. An elaborate budgeting system is not necessary, Shubhi said. A phone’s Notes app or a basic Excel sheet can be enough to begin tracking expenses.For those who prefer dedicated tools, she mentioned apps such as Money Manager, Monefy, Wallet and Spendee, which offer free versions. Their travel budget, in particular, is based on actual spending over two years rather than a rough monthly guess. This distinction matters because holiday expenses are often uneven. One month may involve no trip, while another may include flights, accommodation and several days of spending. Averaging the annual cost makes it easier to compare travel with regular monthly bills.
What the same city looks like on a fresher’s salary
The contrast becomes clearer when the couple’s budget is placed alongside entry-level salaries in the IT industry. TCS lists a minimum annual CTC of Rs 3.4 lakh for its Ninja fresher category, while Infosys recruitment material for Systems Engineer Trainees in 2025 listed a package of Rs 3.6 lakh per annum. These are examples of specific entry-level roles, not salaries earned by every fresher or every IT employee. At those CTC levels, the annual package works out to roughly Rs 28,000 to Rs 30,000 a month before accounting for deductions and the difference between CTC and take-home pay. The amount credited to an employee’s bank account can be lower and varies with the salary structure.Now consider the couple’s expenses. Their Rs 60,000 rent and maintenance bill is more than twice the monthly CTC equivalent of these entry-level packages. Their average travel spending of Rs 75,000 is higher still. Even the combined cost of groceries and household help, at around Rs 21,000 to Rs 22,000, can consume a substantial share of a fresher’s monthly take-home salary. Housing costs add another layer to this comparison. According to Magicbricks’ Q1 2026 rental data, the average monthly rent for a two-bedroom home in Bengaluru’s popular localities was around Rs 40,900. However, rents differ considerably across neighbourhoods, property types and housing societies.
One Bengaluru, many financial realities
The couple’s account is a personal spending disclosure shared on social media. Their salaries have not been made public, and the figures have not been independently audited. It would therefore be misleading to treat their lifestyle as representative of all senior software engineers or to assume that every fresher earns the same amount. But the comparison highlights an important difference in financial capacity. For one household, travel can be planned as a regular part of the annual budget, with Rs 75,000 set aside each month on average. For another, a similar amount may represent several months of income.Both households may be navigating the same city’s rent, traffic, food prices and everyday expenses. Yet their choices, priorities and room for savings can look very different. Shubhi’s account also offers a reminder that understanding spending is not only about how much a person earns. It is about knowing where the money goes and deciding what matters most. For the couple, travel is clearly a major priority. For a young professional just starting out, paying rent and building savings may come first.
