Google techie compares Faridabad and Bengaluru rents (Img: Dynamite News)
Bengaluru: A Google software engineer’s comparison of rents in Faridabad and Bengaluru has triggered a fresh discussion online over the rising cost of living in India’s tech capital.
Vaibhav Agarwal, who moved from Delhi-NCR to Bengaluru, shared his experience on X and said the relocation came as a “cultural shock”. Comparing the two cities, he said a decent 3BHK flat in a good society in Faridabad could be rented for around ₹20,000 to ₹25,000 per month, while a similar apartment in Bengaluru’s Mahadevpura area costs more than ₹80,000.
He added that maintenance charges in such Bengaluru societies could go up by another ₹10,000 to ₹15,000 per month.
Agarwal said the high demand and concentration of technology companies in Bengaluru explain the steep rents to some extent, but questioned whether the facilities and infrastructure justify the cost.
He praised Bengaluru’s tech parks and office campuses, calling them world-class, but said the contrast becomes clear the moment one steps outside. According to him, traffic congestion, broken roads and civic infrastructure struggling to keep pace with the city’s growth remain major issues.
Despite his criticism, Agarwal acknowledged Bengaluru’s strength as the “Silicon Valley of India”. He said the city deserves the title because of its people, talent and companies, but added that the infrastructure now needs to match the ecosystem it has built.
“The talent has already arrived. Now the city deserves infrastructure that matches it,” he wrote.
The post drew mixed reactions online. Some users said ₹80,000 rent was exaggerated, while others claimed rents in prime tech corridors were indeed very high. Several users also advised newcomers to explore older Bengaluru or metro-connected localities for cheaper housing options.
