NRI enquires on Reddit if Rs.1.25 crore is enough to buy a house in India. Here is what people suggested

A 29-year-old non-resident Indian (NRI) has turned to Reddit for advice on relocating to India, asking whether ₹1.25 crore would be sufficient to settle comfortably and which city would be the most affordable. The Reddit post, titled “Is 1.25 cr enough to settle in India? Which city would be the cheapest to live in?” highlights the concern of the user over potential job loss in the UK and thinking of returning to India.

As per information, the Redditor, who previously lived in NCR/Bengaluru before moving to the UK, is considering various Indian cities. However, he opines that major metros like Bangalore, Gurgaon, Delhi, and Mumbai are too expensive. He is open to relocating to cities in the Hindi belt, such as Noida, Lucknow, Patna, Jamshedpur, or Raipur, provided they can secure a remote or local IT job.

“I’m okay with the Hindi belt (Noida, Lucknow, Patna, Jamshedpur, Raipur, etc.) as long as I can do a remote/local IT job.

Is 1.25 CR enough to settle in India? Which city would be the cheapest to live in?
byu/Witty-Feedback-5051 inpersonalfinanceindia

Bangalore/Gurgaon/Delhi/Mumbai are too expensive,” the Redditor wrote. He further questioned, “Is 1.25 cr enough to settle in the Hindi belt? Could I buy a place and still have money left over?”

Diverse suggestions from Reddit users

Based on the query, Reddit users largely avoided recommending expensive cities like Bengaluru or Mumbai, favoring Tier II cities instead. Suggestions included Pune, Lucknow, Goa, and Kolkata.

“Pune is the best bet for you. Go for renting; it’s still cheaper. There are many IT companies too, and labor is cheap for household work,” one user advised.

Other users proposed a more adventurous lifestyle, suggesting, “Get a small 1 BHK in Rishikesh. When it’s too cold in December, move to Goa and rent an apartment for 1 or 2 months. During the monsoon, go to Leh and stay there. On weekends, rent a bike and explore Ladakh.”

Vadodara in Gujarat was also recommended for its affordability. “A 2 BHK costs around 25-30 lakh to buy and 10-15K to rent. It’s close to Mumbai and Ahmedabad, with good safety, healthcare services, roads, and electricity,” noted one user.

Supporters of Kolkata highlighted its value for money. “In South Kolkata, you can find 1-2 BHK flats on the 10th-30th floor for under 25K. Overall, food is really cheap,” a Redditor commented.

Here are insights from Real Estate agents:

In Mumbai, famous for its high real estate prices, ₹1 crore can only secure a compact 1 BHK apartment of around 400 square feet in suburbs like Dahisar and Mulund, or a studio apartment of 250-350 square feet.

In contrast, ₹1 crore offers more substantial options in other cities. In Bengaluru, it can purchase a Grade A 1 BHK or 2 BHK unit ranging from 600 to 1,200 square feet in areas such as Electronic City and Whitefield.

Delhi-NCR provides a 1,000-square-foot 2 BHK in emerging Noida sectors or a 1,350-square-foot 3 BHK in Greater Noida for the same budget.

Kolkata offers the most space for ₹1 crore, with possibilities including a 2,000-square-foot 4 BHK in the northern part of the city or a 1,500-square-foot 3 BHK in South Kolkata.

As the Redditor weighs their options, the varied recommendations and real estate insights highlight the diverse living possibilities across India’s cities.