Living Large or Just Getting By? The Truth About ₹70 Lakh Salaries in India

Sarthak Ahuja, a Gurgaon-based investment banker, recently went viral for sharing how an annual income of ₹70 lakh doesn’t guarantee financial comfort or dignity in India’s metropolitan cities. Despite being a high salary by all standards, Ahuja detailed the crushing costs of urban living that reduce disposable income significantly.

He breaks down the numbers: after taxes, ₹50 lakh remains, roughly ₹4.1 lakh a month. Yet, hefty home and car loan EMIs, international school fees, domestic help, and other lifestyle costs consume most of this. This leaves very little for savings or retirement funds.

Ahuja highlights three key factors eroding middle-class stability: exploding urban inflation, skyrocketing real estate and vehicle prices, and lifestyle inflation fueled by social media exposure. The cost of owning a home can be 10–15 times the household’s annual income, with Mumbai exceeding 30 times.

The post is a wake-up call on financial planning in India, showing how many professionals struggle in an expensive urban economy despite seemingly large paychecks.

Key Highlights:

₹70 lakh gross salary reduced by ₹20 lakh taxes, leaving ₹50 lakh disposable.​

High EMIs for home (₹2 crore) and car loans strain monthly incomes.​

Rising costs in schooling, domestic help, and living expenses leave little for savings.​

Urban inflation and lifestyle pressures push even high earners into financial squeeze.​

Owning property in metros requires incomes far beyond traditional salary multipliers.​

This analysis exposes why the “₹70 lakh salary” can feel like a middle-class struggle in India’s costly metro lifestyle.

Sources: Business Today, Hindustan Times, Indian Express, LinkedIn viral post by Sarthak Ahuja, Economic Times