Startup Originals Team
A Russian woman living in Bengaluru recently grabbed headlines by revealing that she pays her domestic help ₹45,000 per month – a sum many believe is higher than what fresh tech employees at big IT firms earn. Her post has ignited strong reactions online, questioning India’s pay norms, dignity of domestic work, and evolving cost of living in cities.
Who Is She – and Why the Attention?
The woman, identified as Iuliia (Yulia) Aslamova, shared her philosophy and breakdown of monthly expenses in a viral Instagram post. She lives in Bengaluru with her family and, in sharing her expenses, aimed to shed light on her approach to fairness, respect and accountability.
Her post struck a nerve partly because the headline number ₹45,000 a month for house help starkly contrasts with typical wages for domestic workers in India. Netizens pointed out that this figure is often higher than starting salaries at major tech companies.
How She Arrived at ₹45,000:
Aslamova says her decision is rooted in respect and structure, rather than indulgence. She follows some professional practices in her household:
- She runs interviews when hiring to find people with the “right mindset.”
- She introduced Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) to measure and reward performance.
- She gives annual salary hikes.
- She also shared that she supports her staff’s development – for example, her domestic help is being trained to get a driving license and will eventually drive her child to classes.
- In her post, she wrote: “Let’s pay well … compared to our daughter’s safety, happiness, and-most importantly-the mindset of the person.”
She claims no one ever resigned from working with her unless she ended the employment.
Her Broader Monthly Expense Breakdown:
Besides the house help, Aslamova shared a full view of her family’s monthly costs. Her estimates for a family of three in Bengaluru are:
| Expense Category | Monthly Cost (INR) |
|---|---|
| Rent | 1,25,000 |
| School fees | 30,000 |
| Food & household items | 75,000 |
| House help (multiple staff) | 45,000 |
| Health & fitness | 30,000 |
| Petrol / transport | 5,000 |
She suggests that in current times, ₹2.5 lakh per month is a baseline needed for a family of three to “live decently” in Bengaluru.
She also remarks that when she first moved to Bengaluru about 11 years ago, things were much cheaper a 2 BHK in HSR Layout rented for ₹25,000 and cab rides cost ₹700.
Internet Reactions & Criticism:
Her post has received overwhelmingly mixed responses:
- Many expressed shock at the ₹45,000 figure for domestic help, saying it’s disproportionate or “overpaying.”
- Some questioned whether her lifestyle is representative: one commenter said, “I’ve lived in Bengaluru 20+ years and never spent even half that in a month.”
- Others defended her, arguing that the rising cost of living in metro cities justifies higher living expenses.
Some people pointed out that while her total expenses seem extreme, they may reflect her personal standards and willingness to invest in dignity and care.
Why This Story Resonates:
- Questions wage norms – The ₹45,000 figure challenges assumptions about what is “fair” pay for domestic work in India.
- Dignity at work – Her approach suggests domestic help should be treated with respect, structure, and growth opportunities.
- Rising cost of living – Her full expense breakdown shines light on how expensive life in big Indian cities has become.
- Cultural contrast – She compares life in Bengaluru today to European cities and to how India used to be when she first moved here.
