‘Poverty Line in Bengaluru Starts at 50 LPA’: Viral Post Sparks Debate on Sky-High Tech Salaries
Bengaluru, November 2025 — A viral post on X (formerly Twitter) claiming that the “poverty line in Bengaluru starts at 50 lakh per annum (LPA)” has set off a lively debate over the skyrocketing salaries in India’s tech capital.
The tongue-in-cheek post, originally shared by an IT professional, quickly drew reactions from software engineers, startup enthusiasts, economists, and social media users, sparking conversations about the widening gap between standard living costs and compensation expectations in Bengaluru.
While some joked that earning less than 50 LPA makes one “technically poor” in the city, economists and industry experts weighed in with a more serious perspective. They pointed out that while top-tier tech roles in product companies, unicorn startups, and AI firms do offer six-figure salaries, the majority of Bengaluru’s IT workforce earns far less, highlighting the stark disparity within the sector.
“This is more of a social media exaggeration, but it reflects a real trend: high compensation for niche tech roles versus the average industry salaries,” said a Bengaluru-based economist. “The city’s cost of living is high, but not everyone needs 50 LPA to sustain a comfortable life.”
The viral post also sparked memes and lighthearted commentary, emphasizing the cultural perception that Bengaluru has become a city of hyper-ambitious salaries, where traditional benchmarks of wealth and poverty are being humorously redefined.
Bottom Line:
The debate over Bengaluru’s tech salaries continues, blending humor with real concerns about income inequality, cost of living, and expectations in India’s booming IT sector. While 50 LPA might be a tongue-in-cheek benchmark for “poverty” in social media circles, it underscores the challenges of navigating the city’s high-stakes tech economy.
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