Lured by a bigger paycheck, a techie leaves Pune for Bengaluru — only to be hit by soaring rents, traffic chaos, and higher living costs. His story sparks a debate on lifestyle vs salary on LinkedIn.
March 23, 2025: Bengaluru — A corporate professional who left Pune for a higher-paying job in Bengaluru now says the move wasn’t worth it. Despite receiving a 40% salary hike—from ₹18 LPA (lakhs per annum) to ₹25 LPA—he claims he’s saving less and living worse.
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His story, shared by a friend in a viral LinkedIn post, reflects a growing sentiment among professionals who are reconsidering life in India’s most expensive tech hub.
“I shouldn’t have switched cities,” the man reportedly told his friend, adding, “Pune was way better. ₹25 LPA feels like nothing in Bengaluru.”
The man cited sky-high rent, hefty security deposits, traffic woes, and commute expenses as the reasons for his regret. “Landlords here ask for 3-4 months’ deposit. Traffic is a nightmare. It’s not just about the money—it’s about the lifestyle,” he added.
He even missed Pune’s iconic ₹15 vada pav, saying that despite the smaller paycheck there, “life and savings were better.”
A City Divided?
The post triggered a wave of reactions from other users on LinkedIn:
🔹 Pro-Pune:
“Totally relate to this. Pune has a chill vibe, affordable cost of living, and great weather. Bengaluru’s high cost of living just eats into your hike.”
🔹 Pro-Bengaluru:
“I earn way less but manage fine. It’s all about money management. Don’t blame the city for it.”
🔹 Middle Ground:
“Calling ₹25 LPA ‘peanuts’ is a bit much. Yes, it’s expensive, but plenty of people live comfortably on less. Maybe better budgeting would help.”
🔹 Mumbai vs Bengaluru:
“Bengaluru is worse than Mumbai in terms of living expenses—except rent. Everything else is costlier here.”
This isn’t the first time someone has voiced regret over relocating to Bengaluru. In an earlier case, a professional from Noida made a similar post, calling the city “dirty, disorganized, with bad roads and the worst traffic.”
🧭 The Bigger Question
The post ends with a thought-provoking question:
Would you choose a metro city for more money, or a tier-2 city for better living?
🏷️ Tags:
#BengaluruLife, #PuneVsBangalore, #CostOfLiving, #CorporateLifeIndia, #LinkedInStories, #LifestyleVsSalary, #TechLifeIndia, #WorkLifeBalance,