For many young professionals, an income of one hundred thousand rupees per month is still considered a significant achievement. However, the situation changes when this amount actually hits the bank account. Rent, monthly installments (EMI), groceries, transport, bills, and family responsibilities consume most of the income, leaving significantly less for savings than expected.
This problem is felt particularly acutely by those living alone in cities, as necessary monthly expenses can be quite high. Thus, even if a salary of 100 thousand rupees looks impressive on paper, by the end of the month, the entire amount does not turn into savings or financial comfort.
The discussion on this topic gained momentum after an employee aged 25 shared his experience on Reddit, detailing various aspects of life at this income level.
In his post, the young man stated that even after receiving one hundred thousand rupees in his account, he only has twenty thousand rupees left at the end of the month after covering all expenses. Despite a relatively good salary, he managed to save only 1.2 lakh rupees over six months.
The employee specified where these funds go. He indicated that he spends 25,000 rupees on a car loan, 25,000 rupees on rent, and 6,000 rupees on insurance. Additionally, 10,000 rupees goes to food, while 5,000 rupees and 3,000 rupees are spent on petrol and utilities (electricity and water), respectively.
However, family obligations were a more serious issue. In the post, he mentioned that his father had a debt of 8 lakh rupees, and he wanted to help repay it but could not due to low savings. Now, another worry troubles him: limited savings mean he won't have enough funds to cover expenses if he loses his job.
Amnit Kur Sahra, founder of Catalyse, notes that a salary of 100 thousand rupees does not provide a complete picture of financial well-being for young professionals. She emphasized that housing costs are rising, and daily expenses such as food, transport, and entertainment are also constantly increasing. The rise in prices in healthcare and education sectors puts additional pressure on people.
The employee continued in his post, explaining that this pressure intensifies when young people leave their parents' home and start managing their finances independently. Ashish Dhawan, Managing Partner at NGS Global India, noted the significant difference between receiving 100 thousand rupees while living with parents and receiving the same amount while living alone in a big city.
Dhawan added that although 100 thousand rupees looks like a lot on paper, by the end of the month, it remains the salary level of a middle-class person. Rent, groceries, transportation costs, electricity and water bills, insurance, and other necessary expenditures quickly reduce the remaining amount after receiving the salary.
He also stated that young professionals do not necessarily spend money thoughtlessly. In fact, the cost of maintaining a professional lifestyle in cities has increased, and along with people's needs, their expectations have also grown. Now, salaries are expected not only to cover basic needs but also to finance investments, medical insurance, parental support, travel, fitness, gadgets, and other things.
Financial status also influences employees' career expectations. Sahra said that young professionals now strive not only for a high salary. They also value work flexibility, promotion opportunities, chances to learn new things, mental health, and a stable future. All these factors have become decisive when choosing a job and understanding the value of a career.
Dhawan agreed that flexibility, work-life balance, career growth, learning opportunities, and a good manager increase the value of a job, even if it is not directly reflected in the payslip. Consequently, companies should not rely solely on salary increases to retain employees; good benefits, growth prospects, learning opportunities, and work flexibility also determine the significance of the job for staff.
For many young Indians, financial success today is not just about achieving a certain fixed salary. For them, it is also related to the ability to handle unexpected expenses, support family, and have enough savings to change jobs or take a career break if necessary, to avoid immediate financial difficulties. Dhawan also noted that financial security now means having options—that is, the ability to cope with any emergency, take a vacation, or make career decisions without taking on large debt, which can be as important as a high income.
Thus, a salary of 100 thousand rupees reflects only part of the financial situation. If a young professional lives with family, a large portion of their salary may remain. However, if they are responsible for rent, EMI, and family expenses, much less money may be left from such a salary by the end of the month.