A software engineer who left his ₹18 LPA job in Pune for a lucrative ₹25 LPA role in Bengaluru is now expressing deep regret over his decision. His story, shared by marketing expert Ishan Arora in a viral LinkedIn post, has reopened discussions on whether metro cities genuinely offer a better standard of living compared to tier-2 hubs.

After spending a year in India’s tech capital, the professional voiced frustration over soaring rent, steep security deposits, overpriced daily needs, and the city’s chaotic traffic mess. Despite securing a 40% hike, he admitted feeling financially strained. “Pune felt far more livable. Here, ₹25 LPA doesn’t stretch far,” he lamented in conversation with Arora.

He highlighted how house rentals in Bengaluru are alarmingly high, with landlords demanding deposits equivalent to 3-4 months’ rent. Daily commuting costs, coupled with long hours stuck in congestion, further dented his earnings. Nostalgically, he recalled Pune’s affordable treats like ₹15 vada pavs, which are hard to come by in Bengaluru’s pricey environment.

This account resonates with countless professionals grappling with the dilemma—metro cities promising higher paychecks, but at the expense of quality of life. Cities like Pune, Hyderabad, and Ahmedabad are increasingly favored, offering better savings potential and more manageable living conditions compared to metros like Bengaluru, Mumbai, or Delhi.

The post triggered a wave of online debates on whether hefty salaries truly compensate for metro cities’ escalating costs and decaying infrastructure.