India, Feb. 3 -- Having lived in Delhi, Mumbai, Pune, and Bengaluru, a Deloitte manager with 11 years of experience is now calling Hyderabad home. For her, the city offers the best quality of life in the country, even as she manages a substantial monthly budget that includes Rs.50,000 for rent and Rs.30,000 for her children's education. In a conversation with HT.com, the consulting professional opened up about balancing a high-stakes career with the rising costs of living in one of India's top tech hubs.

Komal Jha, who works as an Engagement Manager at Deloitte Consulting, originally hails from Bhagalpur in Bihar. She moved to Hyderabad for her job and has been living in the city for the past 9 years. She resides in a 3BHK house with her...