A tech professional from Bengaluru has sparked a conversation online by challenging the idea that earning ₹50 lakh a year now qualifies as “middle class” in metro cities. Shahjad Khan, Director at Prosperr.io, argues that the issue isn’t with cost-to-company (CTC) packages but with lifestyle choices. “It’s not a CTC issue. It’s a lifestyle disorder,” he said. According to Khan, many people in big cities spend on luxury items—like Gucci belts, the latest iPhones, upscale apartments, or European vacations—not out of necessity, but to project status or feel important.
Taking to LinkedIn, the techie shared, “50 Lakh CTC is the new middle class. Bro please, it’s not a CTC issue. It’s a lifestyle disorder. You need: Gucci belts for validation, Every new iPhone for dopamine, Brigade/Prestige flats for status, Europe trips for Instagram flex, Rs 3L/year international school for your infant who still prefers cartoons.”
“This isn’t a money problem. It’s an ‘identity crisis.’ I know folks in Bengaluru earning Rs 70K to 1 L per month, living happily. I know folks in Bengaluru earning Rs 3- 5L/month crying daily who are constantly burnt out, broke and bitter. Your expenses are not middle-class. They are ‘insecure class.’ Make more money, perhaps do whatever it takes to make crazy money. But don’t cry ‘middle class’ just because you’re chasing a lifestyle 4x your paycheck,” Shahjad Khan added.
With the post, the techie claims he isn’t blaming people for liking luxury or buying expensive things like Gucci items, iPhones or taking European trips. What he’s really against is people spending beyond their limits just to look rich. He feels this kind of spending is fake and puts pressure on people to live on EMIs just to impress others. And if anyone feels hurt by this, he hints that maybe it’s a sign they needed to hear it.
Reacting to the post, a user wrote, “Well said, it’s just the bad financial planning that is causing problems.”
Another shared, “The constant access to what other people are doing is giving us continuous comparison to others’ lifestyles. Everyone, including me, never feels satisfied because there is always someone living a dream life that you want. We all need to work on feeling content with what we have without compromising on growth.”
“People running in a race that they don’t even know where it started and where the hell it will end,” a comment read.
An individual stated, “EMIs aren’t just payments, they’re shackles. You’re not owning the lifestyle, it’s owning you. Luxury should be a reward, not a trap. Don’t be a slave to monthly illusions. EMIs make you a slave.”
One more added, “The lifestyle disorder you describe is very real. It’s an identity crisis, not just a money problem.”
During last year’s budget announcement, the Finance Minister stated that individuals earning up to ₹12 lakh annually wouldn’t have to pay income tax under the new regime. The move generated excitement online, but it also sparked debate. One user pointed out that ₹12 lakh is still an aspirational salary for many non-IT professionals, even after years of experience. They argued that IT employees earning ₹24 lakh or more should stop referring to themselves as “lower middle class.” Another user chimed in, claiming that in today’s economy, unless someone earns ₹60 lakh or more annually, they can’t be considered truly wealthy.