A 26-year-old software engineer living in Hyderabad has shared a detailed breakdown of her monthly expenses, revealing that she spends approximately ₹35,700 on basic necessities. From paying ₹21,446 as her share of rent to spending ₹6,000 on groceries, her budget has prompted contrasting reactions online. However, she has a warning for viewers: “Do not get inspired, I don’t recommend.”
Hyderabad Software Engineer Shares Her Monthly Expenses
The cost of living in major Indian cities remains a frequent topic of discussion, especially among young professionals managing rent, groceries, transport and household bills.
A 26-year-old software engineer from Hyderabad has added to that conversation by sharing her personal monthly spending in a social media video.
The woman, whose name was not provided in the supplied report, explained how much she spends to maintain her current lifestyle in the city.
“I’m a 26-year-old software engineer living in Hyderabad and here’s how much I spend monthly to live comfortably,” she said in the video, according to the supplied account.
Her calculation includes housing expenses, utilities, domestic help, petrol and groceries.
After adding the costs, she arrived at a monthly total of ₹35,687.
However, she clarified that this amount represents only her basic, non-negotiable spending.
It does not include several discretionary expenses, such as shopping and food orders.
₹21,446 Rent for a Shared 3BHK Apartment
Housing accounts for the largest portion of the software engineer’s monthly expenses.
According to her video, she lives in a three-bedroom apartment with two flatmates.
The total monthly rent for the property is ₹64,338.
Divided equally among the three occupants, her individual rent contribution is ₹21,446.
She also pays ₹2,000 towards monthly maintenance.
Together, these two expenses bring her housing cost to ₹23,446 per month.
This means that rent and maintenance alone account for approximately two-thirds of her stated essential monthly budget.
Her example illustrates how housing can become a major financial commitment even when young professionals share accommodation.
However, the cost of renting an apartment in Hyderabad varies considerably depending on location, property size, facilities and individual housing arrangements.
Her rent should therefore be viewed as a personal example rather than the average cost of a shared apartment in the city.
Cook and Maid Expenses Add ₹3,833 Monthly
The software engineer also pays for domestic help, sharing the cost with her flatmates.
According to the expense breakdown, her monthly contribution towards the cook’s salary is ₹2,500.
She pays another ₹1,333 towards the maid.
Together, these services cost her ₹3,833 every month.
“We split the cook and maid salary too,” she explained.
For working professionals with demanding schedules, domestic help can reduce the time spent on cooking and household cleaning.
However, whether these services are essential depends on an individual’s working hours, preferences and financial priorities.
Some people may choose to handle these tasks themselves to reduce expenses, while others may value the time saved.
Electricity, Wi-Fi, Gas and Water Costs
Beyond rent and domestic help, the woman also listed her share of several household bills.
Her monthly contribution towards piped gas is ₹150, while Wi-Fi costs ₹275.
She also pays ₹183 for a rented reverse-osmosis water purifier.
Her electricity expenses are approximately ₹1,000 per month during the period described in the video.
However, she explained that electricity bills can rise during warmer months.
“It’s around ₹1,000 for my share right now because it’s winters. Summers is a different story,” she said.
The combined total of these four utility expenses is ₹1,608 per month.
Her comments highlight the importance of accounting for seasonal differences when estimating a monthly budget.
Electricity use may increase when residents depend more heavily on fans, air conditioning or other cooling appliances.
Hyderabad Software Engineer Spends ₹6,000 on Groceries
Groceries represent another significant part of the woman’s expenses.
She reported spending approximately ₹6,000 each month on food supplies.
Explaining the figure, she said:
“I’m a vegetarian and protein is costly.”
Her remark reflects her personal food-shopping choices and the cost of the ingredients she prefers.
A vegetarian diet can include protein-rich foods such as lentils, beans, dairy products, soy-based products, nuts and seeds.
The total cost varies depending on the items purchased, quantities, brands and shopping habits.
The woman’s grocery budget should not be interpreted as the minimum required for a nutritious vegetarian diet.
Rather, it describes her own reported spending on groceries.
Just ₹800 for Petrol Every Month
Compared with housing and groceries, the woman’s transport spending is relatively modest.
She owns a two-wheeler and spends approximately ₹800 per month on petrol.
Her video did not provide details about the distance she travels, her office location or how frequently she uses the vehicle.
It also did not establish whether she has additional transport expenses, such as occasional cab or public-transport fares.
The reported ₹800 figure therefore represents only the petrol expense she included in her monthly calculation.
Transport budgets can differ substantially depending on commute length, workplace arrangements and vehicle use.
Full Monthly Expense Breakdown: Where Does ₹35,687 Go?
Here is the detailed spending breakdown shared by the Hyderabad-based software engineer.
| Expense | Monthly amount |
|---|---|
| Rent (share of 3BHK) | ₹21,446 |
| Apartment maintenance | ₹2,000 |
| Cook | ₹2,500 |
| Maid | ₹1,333 |
| Piped gas | ₹150 |
| Wi-Fi | ₹275 |
| RO water purifier rental | ₹183 |
| Electricity | ₹1,000 |
| Two-wheeler petrol | ₹800 |
| Groceries | ₹6,000 |
| Total | ₹35,687 |
The calculation matches the total stated in the supplied account.
The largest category is accommodation, followed by groceries and domestic help.
However, the budget is not a complete record of everything she spends.
‘Do Not Get Inspired, I Don’t Recommend,’ She Warns
One of the most notable parts of the video came towards the end, when the woman discouraged viewers from treating her spending habits as a recommendation.
“Do not get inspired, I don’t recommend,” she said.
Her caution is important because the ₹35,687 total does not represent her entire monthly expenditure.
According to the supplied report, shopping and food orders are among her major additional expenses.
She also referred to a separate social media reel discussing her spending through Swiggy.
However, the exact amount she spends on food delivery and shopping was not included in this particular breakdown.
As a result, her total monthly outflow could be higher than the essential-expense figure she presented.
The video also did not disclose her salary or savings.
Without those figures, it is not possible to determine what percentage of her income is being spent or whether the budget is financially sustainable for her.
Social Media Users React to Her Hyderabad Living Costs
The expense breakdown prompted different responses from social media users.
Some expressed surprise at how much the woman spends on necessities.
One commenter wrote:
“Thank God I have my own house.”
Another remarked:
“You are spending a lot.”
A third commenter compared her monthly spending with their own earnings, saying:
“Your monthly experience equals my one-month salary, dude.”
Other users appeared to find the breakdown relatable.
One person thanked the software engineer for sharing the figures, explaining that it helped them show their parents that spending around ₹30,000 a month in Hyderabad was not necessarily unusual in their own experience.
These comments reflect individual reactions rather than a representative measure of living costs across the city.
The original video and comment thread have not been independently reviewed.
Is ₹35,700 Enough to Live Comfortably in Hyderabad?
The software engineer described her spending as the cost of living comfortably in Hyderabad.
However, there is no universal figure that determines a comfortable monthly budget.
Living expenses depend on housing preferences, neighbourhood, family size, commuting needs, lifestyle and income.
Someone renting a room in a shared apartment may spend much less than a person living alone in a larger property.
Similarly, an individual who cooks at home and does not hire domestic help may have different recurring expenses.
The woman’s budget is particularly influenced by her rental accommodation, which accounts for a substantial share of her spending.
It also excludes discretionary purchases and other potential costs.
Therefore, ₹35,687 should not be presented as a citywide benchmark or a guaranteed amount required to live comfortably.
It is one person’s account of her own monthly necessities.
What Young Professionals Can Learn From the Expense Breakdown
Although the woman discouraged viewers from copying her spending, the video offers a useful example of organising a monthly budget.
Separating fixed expenses from flexible spending can help identify which costs are difficult to reduce.
Rent, maintenance and regular household commitments tend to be predictable.
Groceries, electricity and petrol may vary from month to month.
Shopping, restaurant meals and food delivery generally require separate planning.
For a more complete financial picture, a monthly budget should also consider savings, insurance, medical costs, subscriptions, debt repayments and unexpected expenses where applicable.
The woman’s video did not establish whether all these categories apply to her.
Nevertheless, the distinction between essential spending and additional purchases is useful for anyone examining their own finances.
Hyderabad Living Costs Spark a Wider Conversation
The 26-year-old software engineer’s video highlights the financial decisions that young professionals often face while living in metropolitan cities.
Her monthly rent makes up the largest part of her budget, while groceries, domestic help and utilities account for most of the remaining expenses.
The discussion also illustrates how the same amount can appear affordable to one person and substantial to another.
Without knowing the woman’s income, savings goals or complete monthly spending, there is no reliable basis for judging whether her budget is excessive.
For viewers, the most useful takeaway is not to copy the ₹35,687 figure.
It is to understand where their own money goes and evaluate whether their expenses match their income, responsibilities and financial goals.
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