Mumbai auto driver says he earns Rs 2,500 daily after all expenses: ‘Rs 75,000 monthly kama rahe hai’

Mumbai auto driver’s daily earnings surprises passenger. (Image: uvichar_/ Instagram)

Mumbai is often called the city of dreams, a place where people arrive hoping to build a better future. The city is known for its high costs, long working hours and constant rush, but it is also seen as a place where opportunities can appear in unexpected ways. But how much can someone really earn from a job many people often overlook?

A recent video from Mumbai has sparked these questions online after an auto-rickshaw driver spoke about how much he earns in a day. In the clip, a man discusses the cost of living in Mumbai with the auto driver. He explains that he had just been talking about how expensive the city has become.

“So meri abhi bhaiya se baat hori thi, mai bol raha tha ki Mumbai sehar bada mehnga hai. Toh wo kehte hai ki mehnga par yaha par paisa itna hai, barasata hai – bas pakadne wale ki dikkat hai. (I was just talking to this brother and saying that Mumbai is very expensive. He replied that yes it is costly, but money also ‘rains’ here — the only problem is finding someone who can catch it).”

During the conversation, the auto driver shares that he earns around Rs 2,500 per day on average. He adds that this amount is what remains after covering his expenses. The figure clearly surprises the man speaking to him. Reacting to the amount, he compares it with what he earned when he first started working.

The man adds, “Rs 2500 bhai! Mai nhi kamata tha B.Tech ke bad jab pehli naukri lagi thi (Brother, I wasn’t earning this much even after my B.Tech when I got my first job).”

He then quickly calculates the possible monthly income and points out what it could amount to. He explains, “Rs 75,000 nikal kar bhaiya kama rahe hai. Ghar baithe rehna hai ya Mumbai mein auto chalani hai? Mai toh kehra hu yahi ajao, auto chala lo badhiya hai… roz networking karoge. Tum ek cubical mein baithe ho…far better than that (Brother is earning around Rs 75,000 monthly.  Do you want to sit at home or drive an auto in Mumbai? I’m saying just come here and drive an auto – it’s great. You’ll do networking every day. You’re sitting in a cubicle…this is far better than that).”

The video also includes an overlay message that questions how society looks at different professions. The text reads, “In India, Rs 30K job is considered respectable. An auto driver earning Rs 75K isn’t. Strange definition of success.”

Since being shared online, the video has received nearly one million views and sparked a wide range of reactions from social media users. One user jokingly asked, “Bhaiyaa ke pass team member ki vacancy hai kya? (Does brother have a vacancy for a team member?)”

Another wrote, “Maa… autowaali banna hai mujhe! (Mom… I want to become an auto driver!).”

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Some users said that such earnings may not be unusual in large cities where drivers can get passengers throughout the day. One wrote, “City mai auto wale sach mai kamate hai itna maybe is se jyada (Auto drivers in big cities really do earn this much, maybe even more)” someone else remarked.

Another person added a humorous take on balancing different jobs, “Ab hui na baat. Corporate job alag karunga aur auto alag chalaunga. Isko moonlighting consider karenge kya? (Now that’s interesting. I’ll keep my corporate job and drive a separate car. Will this be considered moonlighting)?”

However, not everyone focused only on the income mentioned in the video. Some users pointed out that comparing a salaried job with driving an auto is not always simple. One user wrote, “True, but it’s not just about the amount. An auto driver may earn more some months, but he’s on the streets all day heat, traffic, uncertainty, no fixed hours. A 20-30k salaried job usually comes with stability, routine, and a bit more comfort. Different lives, different trade-offs. Money alone doesn’t tell the full story.”

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.