India, March 31 -- A Bengaluru-based software engineer, Ray, took to social media to express his frustration over how rent hikes are exceeding salary increments. Despite receiving a 7.5% raise at work, his landlord increased the rent by 10%, leading him to worry about affordability in the long run.

Sharing his thoughts on X, he posted, "The salary hike I received was 7.5%, while my landlord raised the rent by 10%. At this rate, one day my rent might surpass my salary."

His concern resonated widely, with many users discussing the financial strain on urban professionals. One user described the situation as "the modern urban scam: Salary growth crawls, rent hikes sprint." Others pointed out how this is a growing issue in major cities, with...