Where does a 22-year-old's salary go in Noida? Software engineer's expense breakdown sparks debate

At a time when conversations about salaries, rent, savings, and the rising cost of living regularly dominate social media, a young software engineer from Noida has sparked a fresh discussion with a simple breakdown of his monthly finances.

The 22-year-old shared an Instagram video explaining how much he spends in a month while living independently in Noida. What caught the attention of many viewers was not just his expenses but also the amount he says he is able to save and invest after covering all his regular costs.

The post quickly gained traction online, with users heading to the comments section to compare their own spending habits and savings goals.

Where does his money go every month?

In the video, Priyanshu said his total monthly expenses come to around Rs 36,000.

His biggest expense is housing. He lives in a three-bedroom apartment with flatmates and pays Rs 15,000 as his share of the rent.

He also spends between Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 on electricity every month, depending on how much he uses the air conditioner.

Office meals help reduce food expenses

Food takes up a smaller share of his budget because several meals are available at his workplace.
Watch the video here:

According to Priyanshu, breakfast, lunch, and snacks are provided by the office. While dinner is also available there, he usually prefers ordering food.

Between online food orders and grocery purchases, he spends roughly Rs 8,000 per month.

Fitness spending is also part of the budget

The software engineer said he spends around Rs 5,000 every month on protein powder, oats, and other health supplements.

His gym costs remain low because he uses the gym facility available in his residential society, which costs him Rs 500 per month.

Money set aside for outings and travel

Apart from essentials, Priyanshu also budgets for social activities.

He said he spends around Rs 5,000 every month on outings and spending time with friends.

For transportation, he relies on a motorcycle and spends approximately Rs 2,000 on petrol every month.

His entertainment expenses are minimal. He said his only subscription is YouTube Premium, which costs him Rs 90 per month.

Still able to save Rs 20,000

After accounting for all his monthly expenses, Priyanshu said he is able to save and invest Rs 20,000 every month.

His breakdown soon became a talking point online, with many users discussing whether they could manage a similar budget.

Social media reacts

The video attracted thousands of views and generated several comments from users.

One user wrote, “As a 22-year-old myself, living with family makes me wonder how I'm spending more than you.”

Another user commented, “Nice saving, brother.”

A third user added, “Managing money nicely.”

Disclaimer: The information in this article is based on claims made in a social media post. The Times of India has not independently verified these claims.We have reached out to the individual featured in the video for comment and will update the story if a response is received.


Thumb image: Instagram