Gurgaon Cost of Living in 2025: Expat Lifestyle Goes Viral

Gurgaon Cost of Living: A Russian woman in Gurgaon has gone viral by breaking down her costs of living in India, which includes an astounding ₹1.2 lakh in rent for a one-bedroom flat. Her claims have sparked a lot of conversation online, and it’s one of the trending news stories of the day.

The Viral Video on “Basic Living Costs”

Viktoriia Kovan from Russia, posted a video on Instagram with a summary of her monthly expenses to live in Gurgaon (Gurugram). The video started with caption: ‘People say it is very cheap to live in India… Also this is my basic living expenses in Gurugram.’

She claims this is what she spends monthly every month on:

• ₹1,20,000 for a one-bedroom apartment
• ₹1,000 for an Uber Black
• ₹15,000 on electricity
• ₹30,000 on shopping
• ₹20,000 on prescription drugs
• ₹40,000 on groceries

She said living comfortably in India involved a “well-hidden deep pocket”, which Many people would argue is not the case with a low cost of living.

Reactions on Social Media: Skepticism and Condemnation

The video quickly became talked about on many sites, as users weighed in disbelief of her spending habits.

One user commented, “₹1,20,000 for an apartment!!? Do you live in heaven or something?? “Need a room tour NOW.”

Kovan confirmed that she lives in a 1BHK apartment, and that her assertions were accurate, not exaggerated.

Another person referenced her lifestyle, and said: “may as well just get an Uber instead of a black car?” Find a cheaper rental if the price is too high? They all seem to be conscious choices as opposed to the norm.

Kovan, however, was adamant: “I have no plans to cut down on my spending; I’m just saying what it is.”

Discussion of “Essentials” vs “Excess” Spending

Several online commenters argued that her spending reflects an excess lifestyle as opposed to the “essentials” pricing in India. One user said: “None of this is ‘essential.'” “Deciding to live/expend as you want, ma’am.”
Kovan defended her stance by saying, “I specifically said `my basic expenses.’ “It relates to my time in India.”

The price of medication also caught someone’s attention. When someone asked: “medicine 20,000?, What? “What do you have? Kovan replied, “Air pollution.”

Lifestyle Choices Spark Larger Conversation

This viral video has started a bigger conversation about lifestyle choices, costs of living in Indian cities, and people’s spending habits dictate their perspective on what is affordable. While numerous commenters pointed out that lots of Indians survive on much less, some people also commented that expats or people who have specific taste often pay more for comfort and convenience.

What began as a personal video about monthly expenses has made its way to trending news today, igniting conversations around affordability, lifestyle, and people’s opinions on the cost of living in India. Viktoriia Kovan’s experience in living in Gurgaon, whether construed as excessive or just a lifestyle choice, has definitely created a buzz on social media—also capturing that the terms of “cheap” and “expensive” are usually subjective.