India

Gurgaon Worker Weighs ₹25,000 Rent Increase Against Four‑Hour Daily Commute

By TOI Lifestyle Desk

A Gurgaon employee earns ₹1.5 lakh per month but spends about four hours each day commuting to and from his office. He has found a flat closer to work that would cost an extra ₹25,000 per month. His wife worries that the higher rent would reduce the family’s savings, while he questions whether the money saved is worth the daily exhaustion. Dr Sunny Garg (@drsunnygarg) discussed the scenario in an Instagram video, using it to illustrate a common dilemma for professionals in the National Capital Region: pay more to live nearer to work or endure long commutes. Garg noted the man’s commute takes two hours each way, totaling four hours of traffic daily. He highlighted that while the additional rent is a fixed monthly expense, the cost of time spent in traffic—fatigue, lost family time, and health impacts—is harder to quantify. Garg acknowledged that ₹25,000 is a significant amount and not all families can afford it, and suggested exploring alternatives such as hybrid work, flexible hours, carpooling, or staying near the office for part of the week. He asked viewers how they would handle the situation. The video sparked comments from social media users. Some agreed that time could be treated as money and that the commute’s cost should be considered. Others pointed out additional travel expenses, such as fuel, and noted that some people travel long distances to save money. A few commenters emphasized that moving houses involves more than commute time, including school, safety, and community factors. One user preferred to save the ₹25,000, arguing that no one is paid for the time spent scrolling on a phone during the commute. The discussion underscores that the decision to move closer to work is rarely about rent alone; it involves weighing financial costs against time, family life, and personal well-being. Garg’s question leaves viewers with no single answer: how much is four hours of daily travel worth, and what is a family willing or able to pay to reclaim that time?