Latest news with #DLFPhase5
Indian Express
4 days ago
- Business
- Indian Express
Gurugram man says he needs Rs 7.5 lakh a month ‘just to breathe', the Internet reacts: ‘Mumbai is better'
A LinkedIn post sharing the hidden financial pressure of living a luxury life in Gurugram has taken the Internet by storm. Shared by Vaibhav J, a resident of one of the city's upscale neighbourhoods, the post is a candid breakdown of what it truly costs to 'just exist' in such an elite setting. 'I own a house in Gurgaon, India. Translation: I need ₹7.5 lakh/month just to breathe,' Vaibhav wrote. He went on to share details of his monthly expenses, explaining how the cost of living extends far beyond just housing. 'Here's what you really signed up for: ₹2.08 lakh EMI for a ₹3 crore house. ₹12,000 per month maintenance for the fountain. ₹60,000 car EMI—because you can't roll up in a Swift. ₹65,000 per month for IB school for kids. ₹30,000 per month for 'foreign trip proof-of-life'. ₹30,000 monthly for domestic staff—cook, maid, driver. ₹20,000 for club nights and dinners you don't even enjoy. ₹12,000 for grooming and dressing 'DLF Phase 5 ready'. ₹10,000-plus on random purchases. ₹15,000 for birthday gifts and wedding envelopes—a 'fake smiles tax',' he wrote. The expenses add up to a staggering Rs 5 lakh per month, and Vaibhav further breaks it down what that means in pre-tax income terms. 'Now factor in income tax at 30 percent. To spend ₹5 lakh a month, you need to earn ₹7.5 lakh (₹90 lakh/year pre-tax). We had neither done savings nor bought insurance. And I haven't even eaten yet.' Concluding the post, he wrote, 'That's not top one percent income—that's top 0.1 percent burn rate.' See the post here: The post quickly gained traction, prompting several social media users to compare Gurugram with Mumbai and Bengaluru. 'Mumbai still better,' a user wrote. 'FP&A bloke alert, lots of lavish spending found,' another user commented. 'Over a decade ago I was in DLF Phase 2 near JMD arcade and then moved to Phase-5 near Amex. Things weren't tht expensive back then,' a third user noted.
India.com
6 days ago
- Lifestyle
- India.com
Luxury Or Trap? Gurugram Mans Rs 7.5 Lakh/Month Bill For Rs 3 Crore Flat Goes Viral
A LinkedIn post by Gurugram dweller Vaibhav J, stating he requires "Rs 7.5 lakh/month just to breathe" in his Rs 3 crore apartment, has gone viral, starting fierce wars online over the real cost of high-end living in one of India's most expensive cities. Vaibhav's expense breakup shows a Rs 5 lakh monthly outgo to maintain his luxury lifestyle in DLF Phase 5, such as a Rs 2.08 lakh EMI on his residence, Rs 60,000 car EMI, Rs 65,000 on his kids' IB school fees, Rs 30,000 on salary for staff, and Rs 12,000 for personal grooming to be "DLF Phase 5 ready." Social commitments amount to Rs 20,000 on club nights and dinner parties, Rs 15,000 on gift-giving ("fake smiles tax"), and Rs 30,000 on yearly foreign travel, while maintenance alone of a home fountain costs Rs 12,000 per month. With income tax, he estimates a pre-tax income of ₹90 lakh a year is needed to "breathe" in this upscale area. The post has sparked a frenzy of reactions on social media. Some users empathized, with one noting, "Surviving in Gurugram costs upwards of Rs 3 lakh/month without EMIs." Others criticised it as a flaunt of privilege, with a comment reading, "This is sensationalised storytelling. A-list celebrity expenses would dwarf Rs 7.5 lakh." Another user remarked, "You're both lucky and unlucky to own a Rs 3 crore home in Gurugram." Vaibhav's post indicated the stress of keeping up appearances in city India's high-end social circles, where a Rs 3 crore house represents success but requires constant expenditure. As one netizen succinctly put it, "Looking rich in Gurugram costs more than being rich," which captures the conflict between desire and economic reality in contemporary India's luxury locations.
Mint
15-06-2025
- Business
- Mint
Gurugram man reveals ₹7.5 lakh monthly cost of luxury life in Linkedin post, sparks debate
A LinkedIn post revealing the steep cost of maintaining a lavish lifestyle in one of Gurugram's most upscale neighbourhoods has gone viral, sparking wide discussion online. Vaibhav J, a resident of a posh area in Gurugram, shared a candid breakdown of his monthly expenses, highlighting the financial strain that comes with living in such a high-end locality. He opened his post with a striking admission that quickly caught people's attention: 'I own a house in Gurgaon, India. Translation: I need ₹ 7.5 lakh/month just to breathe.' Vaibhav detailed his monthly outgoings, listing everything from home and car EMIs to school fees, domestic staff wages, travel costs and lifestyle expenses. 'Here's what you really signed up for: ₹ 2.08 lakh EMI for a ₹ 3 crore house. ₹ 12,000 per month maintenance for the fountain. ₹ 60,000 car EMI – because you can't roll up in a Swift. ₹ 65,000 per month for IB school for kids. ₹ 30,000 per month for 'foreign trip proof-of-life'. ₹ 30,000 monthly for domestic staff – cook, maid, driver. ₹ 20,000 for club nights and dinners you don't even enjoy. ₹ 12,000 for grooming and dressing 'DLF Phase 5 ready'. ₹ 10,000-plus on random purchases. ₹ 15,000 for birthday gifts and wedding envelopes – a 'fake smiles tax'.' Adding up to around ₹ 5 lakh a month, he pointed out the post-tax reality: 'Now factor in income tax at 30 percent. To spend ₹ 5 lakh a month, you need to earn ₹ 7.5 lakh ( ₹ 90 lakh/year pre-tax). We had neither done savings nor bought insurance. And I haven't even eaten yet. That's not top one percent income – that's top 0.1 percent burn rate.' The post has drawn mixed responses online. While some sympathised with the pressure of maintaining appearances in elite circles, others criticised the spending choices.
Time of India
15-06-2025
- Lifestyle
- Time of India
Bought a ₹3 crore flat in Gurgaon, now 'need ₹7.5 lakh/month just to breathe': Man's viral post sparks internet frenzy
In a viral LinkedIn post, Gurugram resident Vaibhav J revealed it costs him ₹7.5 lakh per month to maintain a luxury lifestyle in DLF Phase 5. Detailing expenses from house EMIs to club nights, he sparked debate online. Some called it a reality check; others dismissed it as melodrama over self-imposed costs of urban status. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads The Cost of Status Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Reactions: Relatable, Ridiculous or Revealing? The Fine Print of Financial Aspiration When people imagine luxury living, they often think of gleaming towers, imported SUVs, and weekend getaways abroad. But a recent viral post on LinkedIn by Gurugram resident Vaibhav J has peeled back the velvet curtain to reveal what it truly costs to 'breathe' in one of India's most elite neighbourhoods. His now widely discussed statement reads, 'I own a house in Gurgaon, India. Translation: I need ₹7.5 lakh/month just to breathe.'This provocative claim has triggered an avalanche of reactions online. But Vaibhav backs his assertion with cold, hard numbers. Shared through a detailed monthly expense list, he explains how his high-end lifestyle amounts to a staggering ₹5 lakh per month in outflows. Factor in income tax, and one would need to earn a minimum of ₹7.5 lakh every month—or ₹90 lakh per year pre-tax—just to sustain this way of to Vaibhav's breakdown, a ₹2.08 lakh EMI for a ₹3 crore house is just the beginning. Then comes ₹60,000 for a car EMI—because as he bluntly puts it, 'you can't roll up in a Swift.' Add ₹65,000 for an IB school education for the kids, ₹30,000 for staff salaries (cook, maid, driver), and ₹12,000 to look 'DLF Phase 5 ready'—which means personal grooming and designer also ₹20,000 allocated to socialising—club nights and dinners one may not even enjoy, and ₹15,000 for gifting obligations that Vaibhav calls the 'fake smiles tax.' On top of that, there's a ₹30,000 buffer for annual foreign trips and a ₹12,000 monthly bill just for the home fountain's maintenance.'And yeah, I haven't eaten yet,' he concludes sardonically, pointing out how even basic needs feel like an afterthought in such a post has drawn mixed responses from netizens—ranging from empathetic nods to sharp sarcasm. One user wrote, 'Reality hits hard,' while another questioned the framing: 'It's incredible how you've turned your lifestyle choices into problems of society.' Some called it an exaggerated portrayal of voluntary luxuries: 'This is sensationalised storytelling. If you start listing everything A-list celebrities spend on, even ₹7.5L won't suffice.'Others defended the post as an honest reflection of a new-age middle-class reality in urban India. One user noted, 'Even without EMIs, surviving in Gurugram costs upwards of ₹3 lakh per month.'Vaibhav's account shines a light on an emerging dilemma in India's urban elite: the difference between aspirational success and financial sustainability. Owning a house worth ₹3 crore in Gurugram might symbolize having "arrived", but if that arrival is coupled with relentless monthly expenses, it raises questions about what 'success' really looks one commenter wryly noted, 'You're unluckily lucky you got something in ₹3 crore in Gurugram.'Whether it's a wake-up call, a personal rant, or a cautionary tale disguised as lifestyle math, Vaibhav's post has forced many to re-evaluate the real cost of appearing successful in India's glitzy urban enclaves. After all, as his post suggests, it's not just about having money—it's about what you burn through to look like you do.
Mint
15-06-2025
- Business
- Mint
Gurugram man reveals ₹7.5 lakh monthly cost of luxury life in Linkedin post, sparks debate
A LinkedIn post revealing the steep cost of maintaining a lavish lifestyle in one of Gurugram's most upscale neighbourhoods has gone viral, sparking wide discussion online. Vaibhav J, a resident of a posh area in Gurugram, shared a candid breakdown of his monthly expenses, highlighting the financial strain that comes with living in such a high-end locality. He opened his post with a striking admission that quickly caught people's attention: 'I own a house in Gurgaon, India. Translation: I need ₹ 7.5 lakh/month just to breathe.' Vaibhav detailed his monthly outgoings, listing everything from home and car EMIs to school fees, domestic staff wages, travel costs and lifestyle expenses. 'Here's what you really signed up for: ₹ 2.08 lakh EMI for a ₹ 3 crore house. ₹ 12,000 per month maintenance for the fountain. ₹ 60,000 car EMI – because you can't roll up in a Swift. ₹ 65,000 per month for IB school for kids. ₹ 30,000 per month for 'foreign trip proof-of-life'. ₹ 30,000 monthly for domestic staff – cook, maid, driver. ₹ 20,000 for club nights and dinners you don't even enjoy. ₹ 12,000 for grooming and dressing 'DLF Phase 5 ready'. ₹ 10,000-plus on random purchases. ₹ 15,000 for birthday gifts and wedding envelopes – a 'fake smiles tax'.' Adding up to around ₹ 5 lakh a month, he pointed out the post-tax reality: 'Now factor in income tax at 30 percent. To spend ₹ 5 lakh a month, you need to earn ₹ 7.5 lakh ( ₹ 90 lakh/year pre-tax). We had neither done savings nor bought insurance. And I haven't even eaten yet. That's not top one percent income – that's top 0.1 percent burn rate.' The post has drawn mixed responses online. While some sympathised with the pressure of maintaining appearances in elite circles, others criticised the spending choices. 'For those with fixed income in that range, income tax isn't just 30 percent. There's a surcharge, so it's about a third of your income. You'd need at least ₹ 1.2 crore CTC to support this lifestyle,' commented one LinkedIn user.
