A Russian woman living in Bengaluru has gone viral after sharing her take on how steeply the cost of living has surged in India’s Silicon Valley. Drawing parallels with European cities, her post has sparked widespread discussion about what it truly takes to live comfortably in the city today. Yulia Aslamova, who moved to Bengaluru 11 years ago for a work project, recalled that the city was far more affordable back then. “Well, 11 years ago, when I came to Bengaluru for my work project, everything was very reasonable for me,” she wrote on Instagram. “Maybe because my own country’s currency was super strong, and I was dividing all prices by half.” She remembered renting a 2BHK apartment near HSR Layout for just Rs 25,000 and taking a Meru cab to the airport for Rs 700. Fast forward to 2025, and she says the city has become almost as costly as several European destinations. Yulia estimated that a family of three now needs at least Rs 2.5 lakh per month to maintain a comfortable lifestyle. “The bare minimum for the family of 3 to live decently ok in Blr is nothing less than 2.5 lakh. I heard that the cost of living in Gurgaon and Mumbai is even higher,” she added. Despite the rising prices, Yulia remains upbeat. “I do not complain, as I strongly believe, work harder and party harder. I love making money, spending it, buying more life in my life, experiencing life and growing further. And I’m super thankful to the universe that I’m living in India in 2025, the country with endless opportunities.” In a video, she broke down her family’s monthly expenses: Rent Rs 1,25,000, school Rs 30,000, food and household expenses Rs 75,000, house help Rs 45,000, health and fitness Rs 30,000, and petrol Rs 5,000. She later clarified that the Rs 45,000 spent on domestic help covers multiple staff members. Watch the video: View this post on Instagram A post shared by Iuliia Aslamova (@yulia_bangalore) The video, which has crossed 3 lakh views, drew a mix of reactions. One viewer noted, “It depends on the lifestyle. If 2.5 lakhs pm was the benchmark then the Salary Gross would have to be 45 lakhs p.a. That is not the norm as yet in Bengaluru and most MNCs don’t pay that even at the VP level.” Another commented, “That is indeed comparable and sometime even more expensive than what we pay here in The Netherlands… Here school is free and healthcare insurance is free up to 18 yrs of age. Not to mention the electric cars which are charged at home with solar panels. But gym 30,000? That’s crazy.” Other Instagram users were equally surprised, with one saying, “She is casually spending my whole year salary in one month,” while another pointed out, “Your expenses are definitely on the higher side than most Indians here do but I am sure the lifestyle you have is different as well. I agree Bengaluru has become very expensive over last decade, wondering if you ever considered buying a property here or if it's feasible for you given the strong rent that you are paying.”
