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‘Life after passing out from IIT’: Techie shares cost of living alone in Pune, breaks down monthly budget and expenses
ET Online | April 30, 2026 8:19 PM CST

Synopsis

An IIT graduate and software engineer in Pune, Akash Varude, shared his monthly expenses, revealing rent as the largest cost at ₹24,000 for his 1BHK apartment. His detailed breakdown also includes groceries, utilities, subscriptions, lifestyle spending, and a significant ₹20,000 monthly investment in SIPs, highlighting his strong focus on savings.

Image courtsey Instagram: @akash.seees
An IIT graduate and software engineer recently shared a detailed breakdown of his monthly expenses while living alone in Pune. The 26-year-old, Akash Varude, revealed that rent forms the largest part of his spending, costing ₹24,000 for a 1BHK apartment.

Rent Takes the Biggest Share

In his post, Varude highlighted that his rent is his “biggest expense,” amounting to ₹24,000 per month. Alongside this, he provided insights into his day-to-day spending, covering essentials like groceries, utilities, subscriptions, and lifestyle costs.


Breakdown of Monthly Expenses

His video begins with the text, “Life after passing out from IIT.” He then asks, “How much do I spend in a month as a 26-year-old software engineer living alone in Pune?” while giving viewers a quick tour of his flat.

He detailed the following monthly expenses:
  • ₹2,500 on gym membership
  • ₹900 on electricity and gas
  • ₹4,000 on software subscriptions and phone bills combined
  • Wi-Fi costs (covered by his company)
Varude also shared his regular lifestyle expenses: “On weekends, I do go out and visit some places, so that’s roughly around ₹5,000, another ₹3,000 goes into ordering food or eating outside. Since I cook my own meal, the groceries are ₹2,000,” he said.

For commuting, he relies on his bike: “I usually travel by my bike and that’s why I spend around ₹1,500 for petrol.”

He also allocates a monthly budget for shopping: “Then there is the shopping that includes the necessary things required for the home, clothes, or whatever I need for that month. I usually keep it around ₹10,000.”

Strong Focus on Savings and Investments

Apart from expenses, Varude emphasised his disciplined financial habits. He invests ₹20,000 every month in SIPs.

“Whatever is left after all of these, I don’t usually spend. Either it goes into saving or I reinvest it.”


Disclaimer: This article is based on a user-generated post on Instagram. ET.com has not independently verified the claims made in the post and does not vouch for their accuracy. The views expressed are those of the individual and do not necessarily reflect the views of ET.com. Reader discretion is advised.


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