‘I save Rs 75,000 a month’: Redditor surprised by affordable lifestyle after moving to Delhi

Moving to Delhi helps Redditor save half salary comfortably. (AI-generated representative image)

Moving to a new city often brings concerns about higher living costs, especially for those coming from smaller towns. For one professional from Assam, relocating to Delhi offered a clear lesson in how assumptions about metropolitan life can be misleading.

The redditor explained that their expectations of city life were quite different from reality. “Shifted from Assam to Delhi a few months ago and the lifestyle difference kinda surprised me,” they wrote.

They added that they had believed big cities would consume most of their salary, but the reality proved otherwise. They noted, “always thought metro cities would just eat up your salary”, yet they have been able to save around half of their monthly income of Rs1.4 lakh while living comfortably.

Finding housing in a city like Delhi can be a major concern for newcomers. The professional said their experience renting a flat was surprisingly manageable. “Compared to what I expected in a big city it actually feels comfortable…minus the AQI scare from time to time and the heat in March already hahaha,” they added.

Commuting is often one of the largest expenses in metropolitan cities. The user said Delhi’s public transport made moving around the city much easier than expected. “Coming from Assam I wasn’t used to something like this. You can literally reach anywhere without depending on cabs or autos all the time,” they wrote.

Beyond housing and transport, the redditor said other living costs were also reasonable. They explained, “Right now, I'm able to save around 70–75k a month while still living comfortably which I honestly didn’t expect when moving to Delhi.”

The post quickly drew responses from other residents who compared Delhi with other metropolitan cities. One commenter reflected on their own experience with saving money in Delhi. “Delhi is cheaper than Mumbai, Bangalore. I was earning 40k and still could save 15k. I was living in a PG so that saved decent chunk of my money,” they said.

Another commenter pointed out the relative affordability in terms of rent and daily expenses. “Delhi is cheaper than Mumbai and Bangalore and is actually on par with Pune in terms of cost of living. I think when you imagined big city prices you thought of Mumbai or Bangalore,” they wrote. One highlighted its convenience and reach across the city. “Delhi metro is one of the best public transport in India, I agree,” they said.

shifted from assam to delhi few months ago and ngl the lifestyle difference kinda surprised me by u/OldCharityy in delhi

Some discussed how personal spending habits influence savings. One user explained that controlling lifestyle inflation can make a significant difference. “Delhi is not that expensive compared to Mumbai, Bangalore as others have said. Compared to Guwahati (lived there for few years), public transport is much more easily available. Metro is literally everywhere. Your salary is decent if you don't let lifestyle inflation creep up (like buying latest clothes, getting a car or fancy bike, new iPhone every year, going to party every weekend, etc). People usually end up spending a lot in these things, but good that you're saving a big chunk,” they wrote.

Commenters agreed that a disciplined approach to spending allows newcomers to save more in Delhi. One user noted that living without dependents and keeping lifestyle choices in check can make city life financially comfortable. “Spending 70–75k a month without any dependents can get you a comfortable life in any city in India. I’m from the northeast and have spent time in both Delhi and Mumbai (Mumbai was a shocker after Delhi because of how expensive it was). I’m a big fan of the Delhi metro myself,” they said.

Disclaimer: This report is based on user-generated content shared on social media. Moneycontrol has not independently verified the claims and does not endorse them.