Most budgets fail because they are built on guesses instead of real numbers. Here is a realistic 2026 monthly budget for a single working person in Delhi (1BHK / shared living, mid-range lifestyle).
Monthly budget breakdown
| Category | Typical spend |
|---|---|
| Rent (1BHK / shared) | ₹18,000 |
| Groceries & food | ₹8,000 |
| Transport / fuel | ₹3,000 |
| Utilities, phone & internet | ₹3,200 |
| Eating out & leisure | ₹5,500 |
| Total | ₹37,700 |
What salary do you need?
Keeping essentials near 50% of take-home implies a comfortable salary of about ₹75,400/month in Delhi — enough to spend, save 20% (₹15,080) and absorb surprises. On a tighter ₹49,000, it's doable with shared housing and disciplined food spending.
The two categories that decide everything
In Delhi, rent and food are 69% of the budget. Win those two — right locality, home-cooked weekdays — and the rest of the budget almost manages itself. Track every category for one full month before deciding your caps; real numbers beat city averages.
Expense Tracker: Income Manager keeps budgets, EMIs, SIP goals and daily spending on your phone. No account, no ads, no cloud.
