Mumbai-Based Investment Banker Reveals Spending Rs 1.3 Lakh A Month Just To Survive In The City

Mumbai is often described as the city where careers are built, a place where high-paying jobs and fast-paced lifestyles attract professionals from across the country.

In a now-viral post by a Mumbai-based investment banker, he revealed that he spends nearly Rs 1.3 lakh monthly just on basic living expenses, which has now become the latest talking point online.

Yash Verma, who works in investment banking and lives in Worli, recently shared a detailed monthly expense breakdown on social media, revealing that he spends close to Rs 1.3 lakh every month simply to maintain a routine working lifestyle in Mumbai.

According to Verma, the largest chunk of his spending goes toward rent and maintenance. He pays nearly Rs 60,000 each month to live in Worli,

one of Mumbai’s most expensive neighbourhoods, primarily because it allows him to stay close to his office.

Explaining the decision, Verma wrote, “In IB [Investment Banking], your time is your only asset. This is Worli – one of Mumbai’s most expensive neighbourhoods. But when you’re billing 80-hour weeks, living 5 minutes from office isn’t a luxury. It’s a survival decision.”

Beyond rent, his monthly expenses include Rs 5,000 for a cook and maid who help with breakfast and lunch. Since he often returns home late from work, dinner usually comes through food delivery apps, pushing his monthly food delivery expenses to nearly Rs 15,000.

Transportation is another significant cost. Instead of owning a car, Verma spends around Rs 10,000 every month on cabs, saying it saves time and helps him avoid the hassle of parking in Mumbai.

He also spends approximately Rs 12,000 on groceries and electricity. Referring to Mumbai’s utility expenses, he remarked, “Mumbai electricity bills alone will humble you.”

Apart from daily living costs, Verma allocates Rs 10,000 for social outings and another Rs 12,000 on monthly flights to Delhi to visit his family.

What caught the internet’s attention was that the Rs 1.3 lakh figure did not include vacations, luxury shopping or extravagant spending. The amount, according to Verma, only covered a functional lifestyle needed to keep up with the demands of his profession.

Summing up his experience, he wrote, “Mumbai is conservatively 1.5x more expensive than Delhi for the same lifestyle. IB pays well. Mumbai takes it back quietly.”

The post quickly triggered reactions online, with many users relating to the rising costs of living in Mumbai while others questioned certain expenses.

“Gosh I’m spending way too much for living in Khar and without a view anywhere close to this. You gotta tell me how to find a flat like this in Worli,” commented one user.

“How much is your salary?” asked another.

“Curious about how an IB profile gives you enough time to travel to delhi every month😂” wrote another social media user.

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A post shared by Yash Verma | Interviews & Career Expert (@yashverma_ib)

Another person asked, “How much do you save ??” To this, Verma replied, “A decent amount 🤞🏻🧿”

One user also questioned his commuting expenses, writing, “So, though you live 5 mins from office your cab commute costs 10k a month for 44 journeys max!”