How much life in Bengaluru really costs? Russian woman breaks down her family budget

A Russian woman living in Bengaluru has sparked intense online debate after revealing she pays Rs 45,000 monthly for her house help, alongside other living expenses that highlight the rising cost of living in India’s technology hub.

Yulia Aslamova, who has lived in Bengaluru for over a decade, shared a detailed breakdown of her family’s monthly expenses on Instagram, giving insight into why she believes such a salary is justified.

Yulia’s post, which has garnered over 300,000 views, includes a video titled “How Much Life In Bengaluru Really Costs.” She listed her expenses as rent at Rs 1,25,000, school fees for her child at Rs 30,000, food and household items at Rs 75,000, house help at Rs 45,000, health and fitness at Rs 30,000 and petrol at Rs 5,000. She clarified that the Rs 45,000 paid for domestic help covers multiple staff members, not a single individual.

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A post shared by Iuliia Aslamova (@yulia_bangalore)

Reflecting on her experience, Yulia explained that when she first moved to Bengaluru 11 years ago for work, living costs were far more affordable. “I still remember the lovely 2 BHK (semi-furnished but new, fresh) in a gated community around HSR with all facilities could be rented for Rs 25,000. And the Meru cabs to the airport were around Rs 700,” she wrote. She attributed the lower costs back then to the strong currency of her home country, Russia, which made prices seem reasonable by comparison.

In her detailed Instagram post explaining her decision to pay such a high salary, Yulia emphasised that household help in India often are not treated professionally. She stated, “Most people say — ‘they just run away.’ I disagree: think of other people’s jobs the same way you think of your own, regardless of designation.”

Highlighting her employer philosophy, she added, “My biggest pride and honor in life is that there hasn’t been a single person who resigned from me until I let them go.” She also shared a year-by-year approach to vetting and nurturing a strong, long-term working relationship with her nanny, stating, “If you treat people badly, karma will reach you.”

Despite the criticism her spending has attracted online, Yulia remains positive about her lifestyle and the opportunities India presents. She said, “The bare minimum for the family of 3 to live decently okay in Bengaluru is nothing less than Rs 2.5 lakh. I heard that the cost of living in Gurgaon and Mumbai is even higher. And also I do not complain, as I strongly believe — work harder and party harder. I love making money, spending it, buying more life in my life, experiencing life and growing further. And I'm super thankful to the universe that I'm living in India in 2025, the country with endless opportunities.”

Netizens were divided on her claims. Some accused her of overpaying for house help, warning it could cause issues for locals, while others pointed out lifestyle differences as the main factor behind differing expenses. One user remarked, “Living in Bangalore for 20+ years I have never spent even half of what’s quoted here for in a single month,” while another cautioned about inflating local salary expectations.

Yulia’s candid breakdown has laid bare the sharp rise in Bengaluru’s cost of living over the last decade, now comparable to some European cities such as Spain, Portugal and Greece, according to her observations. Her post has sparked important conversations about wages, employer-employee relations and the rising affordability challenges faced by middle-class families in India’s booming urban centres.