By Startup Story Team
A LinkedIn post by Vaibhav J, a Gurgaon-based resident, recently went viral not because it boasted of success, but because it brutally exposed the reality of high-end urban living. Vaibhav lives in a ₹3 crore apartment in DLF Phase 5, one of the most luxurious areas in Gurgaon. But what seems like a dream from the outside comes with a heavy price tag, both financial and emotional. His post resonated with working professionals across India, shedding light on the often-ignored burden of maintaining a so-called “luxury lifestyle.”
The Apartment is Just the Beginning :
Vaibhav starts with his home a ₹3 crore apartment. The monthly EMI for this is ₹2.08 lakh. That alone consumes a large chunk of his income. And this is just the foundation. He goes on to explain how even the seemingly minor expenses stack up quickly. For example, maintaining the society’s fountain costs him ₹12,000 a month. It’s not about the fountain itself, but the silent pressure to conform to the standards of the elite neighborhood.
Status Comes at a Cost :
In DLF Phase 5, appearances matter. Driving a basic car would stand out and not in a good way. So Vaibhav pays ₹60,000 monthly for a premium car. He admits it’s not a matter of personal choice, but a necessity to avoid looking “less than” in his community.
Social outings cost him ₹20,000 per month not because he enjoys them, but because they’re expected. Similarly, grooming and wardrobe expenses come to ₹12,000. It’s the cost of “looking like you belong,” even if it doesn’t feel authentic.
The Family Expenses Are No Less :
His children study in an International Baccalaureate school, with monthly fees of ₹65,000. Add to this ₹30,000 for domestic help and another ₹30,000 for the unspoken rule of holidaying abroad or at least pretending to to maintain an image online.
Gifting, for weddings and birthdays, takes another ₹15,000 each month. Vaibhav wryly calls this the “fake smiles tax” money spent on social expectations rather than genuine joy or connection.
The Monthly Requirement: ₹5 Lakh Just to Stay Afloat :
When all these costs are added, the figure comes to about ₹5 lakh every month. And this is just what’s needed to maintain the lifestyle, not to save or invest. To bring home this amount post-tax, Vaibhav estimates he needs to earn at least ₹7.5 lakh per month. Considering India’s high tax slabs, that pushes his required CTC to nearly ₹1.2 crore annually.
In his own words, “And I haven’t even eaten yet.”
Reactions Online: Support, Criticism, and Reflection :
Vaibhav’s post hit home for many urban professionals. People called it a bold, honest take on the pressures of city life. They shared how they too feel trapped in a cycle of spending not because they want to, but because they’re expected to.
Yet, there were critics too. Some argued these choices were voluntary. “Just downgrade,” they said. But Vaibhav’s post wasn’t about complaining it was about revealing the psychological and social cost of trying to “fit in.” It wasn’t about poor financial planning, but about how society defines success.
The Bigger Picture: A Wake-Up Call :
At its core, this post is not just a breakdown of numbers. It’s a mirror to the modern urban mindset. We’re often chasing appearances, spending for validation, and forgetting to ask if the lifestyle is truly aligned with what makes us happy.
Vaibhav’s story urges us to reflect on our priorities, our financial choices, and what we define as “success.” It reminds us that peace of mind is often more valuable than a posh address, and that the pressure to impress can quietly erode our financial and emotional health.
