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Bangalore, India Typical monthly wage for a programmer / designer: $600 to $1000. (This varies a lot, so there is no actual upper/lower limit) My expenses:

by niyazpk 16y ago

Bangalore, India Typical monthly wage for a programmer / designer: $600 to $1000. (This varies a lot, so there is no actual upper/lower limit) My expenses: Apartment Rent + Utilities: $80 Internet (1 Mbps): $23 Food: $135 Transport (Bike): $20 Books: $75 Contrast this with RealGeek's comment to get an idea on how different the expenses could be, depending on the person and the spending nature. Also keep in mind that I am not married. I expect the expenses to shoot out of the ceiling after marriage. :) EDIT: Less than 6 months ago I was trying to get a startup up and running and I was living off my savings. The lifestyle then was entirely different and the expenses were around one half of those given above.

RealGeek 16y ago
Most of our expenses are similar, but apartment rent. How in Banglore did you get an apartment for $80? Its a steal :) How much is your electricity bill? Do you use air condition and computer?
- niyazpk 16y ago
  The place I stay is relatively small and I would say that the rent is just right. My electricity bill comes around 300-400 INR ($7-9). I don't have an AC - you don't need it in Bangalore. I have a laptop and an extra monitor. My Airtel DigitalTV is connected to the monitor so I don't have a separate TV.
  - ido 16y ago
    I don't have an AC - you don't need it in Bangalore. As a westerner that spent about 2 months in India I have to say - although Bangalore's weather is mild in Indian terms, >30c weather (normal for high summer in Bangalore) is well within "requires AC" limits for Europeans :) Also, if you don't absolutely require high speed internet or being around other high-tech folks there are much cheaper (and IMO nicer) places in India than Bangalore. E.g. in Dharamsala, which is still expensive by Indian standards, you can lead a fairly lavish lifestyle for the prices niyazpk's quoted (and a lot less, too). Hope you like dialup internet tho ;)
    - RealGeek 16y ago
      Most Indians live without AC, and even without electricity in 40c+ weather.
      - ido 16y ago
        Most Indians also live on <$1/day (nominal) in pretty terrible conditions. I know it's possible but I don't want to bare the inconvenience for what is, for me, not a significant amount of money.
      - FraaJad 16y ago
        they use a ceiling/pedestal fan to circulate the air. ACs are too expensive to own and operate.
    - rjurney 16y ago
      There is pretty good GPRS cellular internets (and I hear faster now) in Benaulim, and presumably other beaches in Goa. It was like $10 a month and all you can eat. :)
freemanindia 16y ago
I'm also in central Bangalore (Richmond Town). Rent $400 - 2 bedroom shared between 4 people meals $100 electricity $50 internet $50 for two airtel 4mbps connections (I run a hacker space) tranport $50 - travel by rickshaw is cheap tho I just bought a nano (car) for $4500 so, if I were being frugal my burn rate would be about $300. As it turns out, I probably blow that much again on alcohol and fancy restaurants.

by niyazpk 16y ago

RealGeek 16y ago

Most of our expenses are similar, but apartment rent. How in Banglore did you get an apartment for $80? Its a steal :) How much is your electricity bill? Do you use air condition and computer?

niyazpk 16y ago
The place I stay is relatively small and I would say that the rent is just right. My electricity bill comes around 300-400 INR ($7-9). I don't have an AC - you don't need it in Bangalore. I have a laptop and an extra monitor. My Airtel DigitalTV is connected to the monitor so I don't have a separate TV.
- ido 16y ago
  I don't have an AC - you don't need it in Bangalore. As a westerner that spent about 2 months in India I have to say - although Bangalore's weather is mild in Indian terms, >30c weather (normal for high summer in Bangalore) is well within "requires AC" limits for Europeans :) Also, if you don't absolutely require high speed internet or being around other high-tech folks there are much cheaper (and IMO nicer) places in India than Bangalore. E.g. in Dharamsala, which is still expensive by Indian standards, you can lead a fairly lavish lifestyle for the prices niyazpk's quoted (and a lot less, too). Hope you like dialup internet tho ;)
  - RealGeek 16y ago
    Most Indians live without AC, and even without electricity in 40c+ weather.
    - ido 16y ago
      Most Indians also live on <$1/day (nominal) in pretty terrible conditions. I know it's possible but I don't want to bare the inconvenience for what is, for me, not a significant amount of money.
    - FraaJad 16y ago
      they use a ceiling/pedestal fan to circulate the air. ACs are too expensive to own and operate.
  - rjurney 16y ago
    There is pretty good GPRS cellular internets (and I hear faster now) in Benaulim, and presumably other beaches in Goa. It was like $10 a month and all you can eat. :)

freemanindia 16y ago

I'm also in central Bangalore (Richmond Town). Rent $400 - 2 bedroom shared between 4 people meals $100 electricity $50 internet $50 for two airtel 4mbps connections (I run a hacker space) tranport $50 - travel by rickshaw is cheap tho I just bought a nano (car) for $4500 so, if I were being frugal my burn rate would be about $300. As it turns out, I probably blow that much again on alcohol and fancy restaurants.