Techie Says High Salaries Don't Guarantee Wealth in Bengaluru

A technology professional has argued that earning an annual salary of ₹50 lakh may still not be enough to accumulate substantial wealth in Bengaluru because of the city’s high living and property costs. Anmol Agarwal shared an Instagram video outlining how taxes, rent, transport and routine expenses could significantly reduce a high-income employee’s savings.

For his calculation, Agarwal assumed that the entire ₹50-lakh compensation package was fixed base salary, although he acknowledged that such an arrangement was uncommon. He estimated that income tax and Employees’ Provident Fund contributions could reduce annual take-home pay by nearly ₹15 lakh, leaving approximately ₹35 lakh a year, or close to ₹3 lakh each month.

Agarwal estimated that renting a two-bedroom apartment could cost between ₹60,000 and ₹70,000 monthly. He allocated another ₹10,000 each for a domestic helper and cook, with groceries, fitness memberships, shopping and travel adding further pressure. According to his calculations, these expenses could push total monthly spending to between ₹1.2 lakh and ₹1.3 lakh.

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Purchasing and maintaining a car could add approximately ₹50,000 to the monthly budget, he said, describing that figure as a conservative estimate. Costs could rise further for families with children, potentially leaving about ₹1 lakh a month for investments and long-term wealth creation. His calculation, however, reflects personal assumptions and could vary significantly depending on an individual’s lifestyle, family size and financial choices.

Agarwal also highlighted Bengaluru’s expensive housing market, claiming that a property currently valued at about ₹3 crore could eventually cost between ₹6 crore and ₹7 crore. He argued that even disciplined investors might struggle to purchase a home until later in their careers, particularly if they face layoffs or employment disruption associated with technological change.

As an alternative, Agarwal suggested securing remote employment or building a business while living in a Tier-3 city, where everyday expenses and property prices may be comparatively lower. He also cited the price of coffee, which he said could reach ₹250 to ₹350 in parts of Bengaluru, to illustrate his broader argument that a high salary does not automatically translate into wealth when living costs remain elevated.

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