A cheaper home can look like an easy way to cut monthly expenses. But the real cost of living somewhere is not always limited to the rent. Travel, fuel and the hours spent getting to work can also change the picture.Ayan Chakravarty, who shared his experience on Instagram, found this out after changing where he lived in Gurgaon. His decision gave him a bigger home and lower rent, but his daily routine changed in a way he had not fully considered.
Why he moved farther away
Chakravarty said he moved to Gurgaon in 2023 and initially lived near his workplace. He later decided to move because the rent was high and the house was in poor condition.His new home was bigger, and the move brought down his rent by around ₹20,000 a month.“If you have ever thought that living farther away from the office and saving money on rent would save you a lot of money, think again, because I did exactly that,” Chakravarty said.
The commute took three hours
The new location meant a much longer journey to work. Chakravarty said he travelled around 60 km every day, spending about three hours on the road.“Travelling 60 km a day was costing me three hours every day. Five days a week, 52 weeks a year, that comes to 780 hours annually. Almost an entire month of my life every year was being spent commuting,” he said.He also said the routine meant waking up and leaving earlier, leaving less time for himself and his family.
Fuel costs changed the savings
The move also affected his daily travel expenses.Chakravarty said his fuel spending rose from around ₹200 to ₹600 a day. He calculated that this added nearly ₹9,000 to his monthly expenses.“So, my savings were now only ₹11,000 a month, and that was before factoring in parking, maintenance and tolls,” he said.
‘Selling 32 days of my life’
ID@undefined Caption not available.ID@undefined Caption not available.While calculating the impact of his decision, Chakravarty focused on the time he was spending on the road.“I thought I was saving ₹20,000 a month on rent, but what I was actually doing was selling 32 days of my life every year to save that money.”He said living farther away can still work for some people, but the decision should involve more than a comparison of two rent amounts.“Money goes out of your bank account, but time goes out of your life, and you do not get that back,” he said.
Users find the experience relatable
The post prompted reactions from social media users, with several people relating to the trade-off between housing costs and commuting.One user wrote, “Time is more valuable than rent savings.”Another said, “Three hours daily is too much.”“This calculation is eye-opening,” a third user commented.Another added, “This is so relatable.”Disclaimer: The information in this article is based on a social media post. The Times of India does not independently verify the claims made in the post.Thumb image: Instagram
