Bengaluru CEO says fresher spends Rs 350 daily on commute

Sanket Sheth, founder and CEO of a Bengaluru company, posted on LinkedIn that a fresher working at his firm spends about Rs 350 per day on commuting to the office. The employee lives near Lalbagh, while the office is in HSR Layout. Using a combination of public transport and auto-rickshaws costs Rs 350 each working day, amounting to Rs 7,000, 8,000 a month. Sheth said the employee's parents were not comfortable with him riding a scooter due to traffic and road conditions, and public transport alone takes nearly two hours each way.

Sheth wrote that a 22-year-old starting their first job should not have to calculate whether they can afford to go to work. He warned that high commuting costs could push young workers toward remote jobs, roles that do not require office attendance, or other cities. He said Bengaluru's appeal has been built on the ambition of thousands of young people arriving each year, and that getting to opportunity must remain affordable for the city to stay a place of opportunity.

The post drew mixed reactions on LinkedIn. Some users agreed that Bengaluru's costs are high for freshers, while others said every city has similar problems and that Bengaluru is being singled out. One user noted that with a starting salary of Rs 25,000, 30,000, a fresher from another city spends nearly half on rent and food, leaving little to save. Another suggested leaving early to avoid spending on auto-rickshaws.