The cost of living in a metro:How 25-year-old’s ₹2.4 lakh monthly budget sparks debate

How much does it cost to live in a big Indian city today? A viral video by a 25-year-old woman, Mishika Sharma in, in Gurgaon has started a big discussion about the high cost of living for young professionals. Sharma shared her monthly budget on social media platform, Instagram. She revealed that she spends about ₹2.4 lakh every month. This high number has surprised many people online and raised questions about lifestyle inflation. Let us look at where her money goes: The highest fixed cost is rent. Sharma pays ₹85,000 per month for her home. While some people found this shockingly high, others pointed out that such high rent is normal for premium societies in Gurgaon. Interestingly, her mother covers her grocery bills and domestic help. Her lifestyle choices also come with a big price tag. For fitness, she spends ₹32,000 a month. This includes ₹25,000 for coaching, ₹5,000 for the gym, and ₹2,000 for pool access. Her monthly utility bills, like electricity and Wi-Fi, cost between ₹14,000 and ₹17,000. She also spends ₹7,000 on digital subscriptions like Netflix, Prime, and iCloud. For food and eating out, she spends between ₹7,000 and ₹10,000. She also has large one-time expenses. For example, she recently bought an indoor trainer for ₹1.3 lakh and paid ₹40,000 to participate in a Half Ironman event. However, a major part of her monthly budget is actually savings. Sharma invests between ₹80,000 and ₹1 lakh every month. This budget has divided social media users. Some people wondered how a 25-year-old could earn enough to spend so much. Others argued that investments should not be counted as expenses” because that money is being saved for the future, not lost. This viral budget highlights a growing trend. For young professionals in India’s top cities, the cost of a premium lifestyle—including fitness, high-end rent, and regular investing—is rising fast. It shows that living comfortably in a metro city now requires a very high income. Monthly Expenses of Mishika Sharma in Gurugram