A Bengaluru woman breaks down her household help expenses; spends ₹42,100 every month on household help; her annual bill crosses ₹5 lakh, and there is more

Bengaluru creator (Instagram)

For many families living in Bengaluru, the capital of Karnataka, managing a household is no longer just about paying rent or EMIs or paying electricity bills. There is a substantial expense that quietly adds to the monthly budget in the name of household help. It includes nannies, cooks, deep-cleaning services and more. And it’s not an insignificant amount for sure.A recent Instagram post by Bengaluru-based creator Sakshi Mehra (@sassy.sakshi), has caught people’s attention where she breaks down her monthly household expenses living in Bengaluru. Sharing a detailed breakdown, the woman revealed that the monthly bill comes to ₹42,100 which translates into ₹5,05,200 a year, just for domestic help.And this clearly does not include monthly ration, daily groceries, electricity and gas bill, laundry, repairs and more.How much does household help cost in BengaluruThe creator says she lives near Bellandur. Household help rates can differ depending on the locality, apartment and working hours, among other factors.The monthly breakup:

So for her, the biggest expense is childcare. The family pays ₹23,000 a month to a nanny who looks after their kid from 9 am to 7 pm. With a 10-hour daily arrangement, childcare alone accounts for more than half of the total budget.The cook takes ₹7,500 a month and prepares breakfast, lunch and dinner. The menu includes breakfast options such as poha, upma and oats; one vegetable dish and six rotis for lunch; and dal, another vegetable dish and three rotis for dinner.Regular household cleaning costs another ₹5,500 a month. Beyond this, the family spends ₹1,500 on monthly kitchen deep-cleaning and dusting service.Deep-cleaning of two bathrooms costs an additional ₹1,500, while washing the balcony once a month costs approximately ₹600.Dusting the car costs ₹1,500.Since all the regular household workers take Sundays off, the family either eats out or manages its meals themselves. For cleaning, they turn to online cleaning services, spending approximately ₹250 for a few hours of assistance which adds to around ₹1,000 a month.While alone these amounts may not appear extraordinary, when added together, they reveal how expensive it can be to outsource the services.Why childcare changes the household budget

Childcare cost (Canva)

One interesting aspect of the breakdown is the childcare which is ₹23,000 a month. For families with young children, this is often an essential expense rather than an optional convenience.A nanny working for 10 hours a day provides parents with the time and support needed to manage their professional responsibilities, household commitments and personal lives.The hidden cost of running a homeMehra’s post also brings attention to a larger conversation around the cost of domestic services in Bengaluru. Household help rates are not uniform across the city. The number of family members, size of the apartment, working hours, responsibilities and neighbourhood can all influence what a household pays.The issue has also featured in local conversations about domestic workers’ wages. In August 2024, The Times of India reported on disagreements between some resident welfare associations and domestic workers over salary rates in Bengaluru apartments, with rising living costs adding to the debate.Mehra’s calculation, however, does not represent the average household expenditure in Bengaluru. The post has also invited other Bengaluru residents, particularly mothers, to share how much they spend on household help and which neighbourhood they live in.Perhaps the most striking takeaway is that the ₹42,100 figure is not the cost of running the entire household. It is only the cost of getting help to run it. For families with young children, the calculation is also about more than money. It is about buying time, finding reliable support and making everyday life a little more manageable.