Despite earning Rs 1 lakh a month and having Rs 15 lakh in savings, a Bengaluru-based salaried professional says owning a home in the city feels increasingly unattainable a sentiment that is resonating strongly with the city’s middle class.
In a widely discussed Reddit post, the buyer said that even after following the traditional path of education, employment and disciplined savings, the financial math of homeownership simply does not add up anymore. Rising apartment prices, high down payments, registration and stamp duty charges, and long-term EMIs are pushing homeownership further out of reach for salaried buyers. According to the post, even a modest apartment requires a down payment large enough to wipe out years of savings, followed by EMIs that consume a majority of monthly income. This leaves little room for household expenses, emergencies, or family obligations. “Owning a home still feels very far away,” the user wrote. Several Redditors echoed this concern, pointing out that rent-versus-buy calculations increasingly favour renting in Bengaluru’s current market. One user broke down the numbers: while a decent 2BHK may cost around Rs 50,000 a month in rent, the EMI for a similar apartment often touches Rs 80,000, excluding the initial down payment. Buyers also face the added burden of paying both rent and EMI simultaneously until possession is handed over.
At 35, with a child, the user decided to postpone buying a home, citing the psychological and financial pressure of being locked into a 20-year loan. “Even with prepayments, it’s still 7-10 years of constant pressure,” the Redditor noted. Job insecurity has further reinforced caution among salaried buyers. One corporate employee said avoiding a home loan provided peace of mind after witnessing layoffs and company shutdowns. Others highlighted fears around delayed projects, developer defaults and real estate scams as reasons for staying away from purchases for now. Redditors noted that dual-income households earning Rs 4-6 lakh per month are far better positioned to manage down payments and EMIs. In contrast, single-income earners at the ₹1 lakh level are increasingly priced out of preferred neighbourhoods or forced to make major compromises on size, location and amenities. The affordability pressure intensified through 2025. According to a NoBroker report, nearly 42% of buyers seeking homes priced below Rs 1 crore have stepped back from purchases, even as demand in this segment rose 13% year-on-year. The core issue, analysts say, is supply. As land prices across Bengaluru continue to climb, developers are increasingly focusing on premium and luxury housing, where margins are higher. This has steadily reduced the availability of sub-Rs 1 crore homes, particularly in central and well-connected areas preferred by salaried professionals. Saurabh Garg, Chief Business Officer at NoBroker, said budget-conscious buyers are being edged out as developers deprioritise affordable housing. Homes priced above Rs 1 crore remain available, but buyers are taking longer to commit amid slower job growth and economic uncertainty. Affordable Grade A housing, experts say, is now largely limited to peripheral corridors such as Devanahalli, Kanakapura Road, and Hoskote, where prices range from Rs 7,000 to Rs 10,000 per sq ft.
However, these areas come with trade-offs longer commutes, limited social infrastructure and uncertain near-term appreciation. For Bengaluru’s middle class, the dream of homeownership is no longer just about income it’s about navigating a market where affordability, location and financial security are increasingly difficult to align.
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Middle-class homeownership slips out of reach as Bengaluru housing costs soar
