Latest news with #Dambre
NDTV
06-05-2025
- Business
- NDTV
"Cost Of Living In India Getting Expensive": IIT Alum's Tweet Sparks Debate Online
Quick Take Summary is AI generated, newsroom reviewed. Rising costs in India are impacting daily life across various cities. Concerns are voiced about affordability for lower and middle-income families. Basic groceries are reported to have significantly increased in price. Is daily life in India quietly becoming unaffordable? A tweet by IIT Bombay alum Monali Dambre has struck a chord with thousands online, as she voiced concerns over rising costs, not just in metros, but even in smaller towns. Taking to X, Ms Dambre wrote, "I'm slowly coming to terms with the fact that the cost of living in India is getting expensive-even in smaller, tier-3 cities. And honestly, I'm starting to feel genuinely worried about how the lower and middle class are managing to survive... or how they're going to survive in the next few years." She admitted she wasn't sure if she was overthinking it, but noted that something about the rising prices feels "off." Even in Bengaluru, she pointed out, her grocery bills for basic items have started to feel unusually steep. "Just basic fruits, veggies, and daily essentials- and it still feels like things have got expensive than they should have," she added. I'm slowly coming to terms with the fact that the cost of living in India is getting really expensive—even in smaller, tier-3 cities. And honestly, I'm starting to feel genuinely worried about how the lower and middle class are managing to survive… or how they're going to… — Monali (@monali_dambre) May 3, 2025 The tweet has sparked a wider debate about inflation, stagnating wages, and the growing pressure on India's middle and lower-income groups, many of whom are now forced to cut corners just to manage their monthly budgets. "Inflation is just around 5-6 %. Believe in Data," a user wrote. Another user wrote, "While I agree with rising costs in metros, surprisingly I have also found that fruits, veggies, milk products in tier 2 or 3 towns are cheaper and most often of better quality. I have seen this personally in multiple Western states. The produce is fresher and healthier. Millets are also much cheaper than wheat grains that we have got used to eating." "In Bengaluru, the cost of living with 2 kids will easily cross 2 lpa for a really average life. I think the GST is hiking prices of everything," the third user commented. "Not dramatic at all. Something is off. Every day, life is getting harder for people who aren't even asking for much. I feel it too. Delivery apps have their convenience charges. By the end, it's like paying double just to get things at home. And sure, you can walk to your local sabziwala and save a bit, but even that doesn't feel affordable anymore. I have no complaints about the rising prices. But about the mismatch between how much life costs and how little most people are making. That gap is growing, and no one's talking about it," the fourth user wrote.
Indian Express
05-05-2025
- Business
- Indian Express
Is cost of living in Indian cities going out of control? Bengaluru-based IITian triggers discussion, netizens agree
Urban hubs like Bengaluru, Mumbai, and Delhi have experienced a sharp rise in housing rents, fuel prices, utility bills, and everyday essentials in recent years. Several affected people continue to flag the inflation on social media. Recently, an IIT Bombay graduate living in Bengaluru raised alarm over the rising cost of living in India. Monali Dambre, in her X post, mentioned that her grocery bills in Bengaluru are getting 'unusually high.' 'I'm slowly coming to terms with the fact that the cost of living in India is getting really expensive—even in smaller, tier-3 cities. And honestly, I'm starting to feel genuinely worried about how the lower and middle class are managing to survive… or how they're going to survive in the next few years,' Dambre wrote on X. 'Even in Bangalore, my grocery bills (which include only absolute staples—nothing fancy or luxurious) are starting to feel unusually high. Just basic fruits, veggies, and daily essentials—and it still feels like thing have got expensive than they should have,' she added. See the post here: I'm slowly coming to terms with the fact that the cost of living in India is getting really expensive—even in smaller, tier-3 cities. And honestly, I'm starting to feel genuinely worried about how the lower and middle class are managing to survive… or how they're going to… — Monali (@monali_dambre) May 3, 2025 Dambre's observation quickly gained traction, racking up over four lakh views. Several social media users agreed with her, sharing their personal struggles living in an urban setup. 'Earn to living cost ratio is really bad in poor countries like India. Rent, medical, transportation, education, food everything is many times more expensive than developed countries when you compare with earning there,' a user wrote. 'Yes the inflation on food and groceries is way too high. In general cost of living has increased bar above the usual 5-6% annual year on year limit,' another user commented. 'In Bengaluru the cost of living with 2 kids will easily cross 2 lpa for a really average life. I think the GST is hiking prices of everything,' a third user reacted. Retail inflation in India dropped to a seven-month low of 3.61 per cent in February, down from 4.26 per cent in January, driven largely by a significant decline in food prices, according to provisional data released by the National Statistics Office (NSO) in March. Food inflation, as measured by the Consumer Food Price Index (CFPI), eased to 3.7 per cent—its lowest level since May 2023, when it stood at 3.19 per cent. The Consumer Price Index (CPI), which tracks overall retail inflation, showed a broad decline across both rural and urban areas. In rural regions, inflation fell to 3.79 per cent in February from 4.59 per cent the previous month, while in urban areas, it dropped to 3.32 per cent, down from 3.87 per cent in January.
