Bengaluru‘s rising rental costs have once again come under scrutiny after a Google software engineer revealed that she abandoned plans to move closer to her office because of the city’s expensive housing market.

Divya Porwal shared her experience on social media platform X, explaining that she had hoped to rent a home near her workplace to avoid spending hours in traffic every day.

High rents force change of plans

According to Porwal, she currently lives around 10 kilometres from her office and was searching for a one-bedroom apartment in a gated community with better security and amenities.

However, after exploring available options, she was taken aback by the rental prices.

“I saw the rents. ₹30,000–₹40,000 for a 1 BHK. I literally dropped the plan of shifting. I’ll continue spending two hours daily in traffic,” she wrote.

She also took a light-hearted swipe at Bengaluru’s infrastructure challenges, saying that since she was already paying significant taxes, she might as well spend some time on the roads.

Residents share similar experiences

The post quickly resonated with many Bengaluru residents, with several users sharing their own struggles with rising housing costs near major technology hubs.

Some reported seeing rents above ₹50,000 for two-bedroom apartments, while others pointed out that three-bedroom homes in premium neighbourhoods can command rents exceeding ₹1 lakh per month.

At the same time, some users argued that many renters focus only on a few popular localities near technology parks, pushing up demand and prices.

Balancing rent and commute

Others highlighted the hidden cost of long daily commutes. While high rents may discourage relocation, spending two hours in traffic each day can add up to more than 40 hours a month.

The discussion reflects a growing challenge for Bengaluru’s workforce as professionals weigh housing affordability against convenience and quality of life.

With demand continuing to rise in key technology corridors, rental affordability remains one of the city’s most widely debated urban issues