Rs 6.75 crore to raise one child? Viral finance video sparks debate
Finance creator Udayan Adhye said raising a child in an Indian metro may cost Rs 6.75 crore. The claim triggered a broad online debate over education inflation and lifestyle choices.
The internet was not emotionally prepared for a finance creator casually claiming that raising one child in a metro city may require Rs 6.75 crore.
The discussion began after finance creator Udayan Adhye shared a detailed video on Instagram breaking down what he believes is the actual long-term cost of raising a child in urban India.
“You need Rs 6.75 crore to raise a child in a metro city in India, and if you don’t believe it, let me break down the exact math,” he says at the start of the video.
According to Adhye, the biggest factor driving the number upward is education inflation. He argued that while many child investment plans offer returns of only 5 to 6 per cent, education expenses are increasing at nearly double that pace.
“At that rate, costs double every six years,” he explained.
To illustrate the point, Adhye said that a four-year college programme costing Rs 20 lakh today could eventually cost between Rs 1.6 crore and Rs 2 crore by the time a newborn child turns 18.
But the estimate did not stop at college fees.
The advisor then listed the dozens of smaller but recurring expenses that slowly compound over two decades — school tuition, coaching classes, sports training, music lessons, gadgets, vacations, childcare, healthcare and general lifestyle spending across roughly 21 years.
“A post-graduation, if your child chooses to do one, is a separate cost,” he added, noting that many Indian families either depend on education loans or expect children to finance those degrees themselves.
In the caption of the post, Adhye wrote, “Raising a child in an Indian metro is no longer just an emotional decision. It is a serious financial goal.”
Watch the video here:
The internet, unsurprisingly, exploded with reactions.
Some users said the estimate felt realistic for upper-middle-class families in cities like Bengaluru, Mumbai and Delhi where private schooling and extracurricular activities already cost a fortune.
Others pushed back strongly, arguing that the calculation reflected a very privileged urban lifestyle. Many pointed out that government schools and simpler living choices can reduce costs dramatically.
“Thank god somebody said it in a practical way! Thank you,” said an Instagram user. “You actually don't. Like not even 40 per cent of that amount. If you exaggerate then yes obviously,” said another.
Still, whether people agreed with the exact number or not, the video clearly touched a nerve, because for many young Indians, raising a child increasingly feels tied as much to financial planning as emotional readiness.
The internet was not emotionally prepared for a finance creator casually claiming that raising one child in a metro city may require Rs 6.75 crore.
The discussion began after finance creator Udayan Adhye shared a detailed video on Instagram breaking down what he believes is the actual long-term cost of raising a child in urban India.
“You need Rs 6.75 crore to raise a child in a metro city in India, and if you don’t believe it, let me break down the exact math,” he says at the start of the video.
According to Adhye, the biggest factor driving the number upward is education inflation. He argued that while many child investment plans offer returns of only 5 to 6 per cent, education expenses are increasing at nearly double that pace.
“At that rate, costs double every six years,” he explained.
To illustrate the point, Adhye said that a four-year college programme costing Rs 20 lakh today could eventually cost between Rs 1.6 crore and Rs 2 crore by the time a newborn child turns 18.
But the estimate did not stop at college fees.
The advisor then listed the dozens of smaller but recurring expenses that slowly compound over two decades — school tuition, coaching classes, sports training, music lessons, gadgets, vacations, childcare, healthcare and general lifestyle spending across roughly 21 years.
“A post-graduation, if your child chooses to do one, is a separate cost,” he added, noting that many Indian families either depend on education loans or expect children to finance those degrees themselves.
In the caption of the post, Adhye wrote, “Raising a child in an Indian metro is no longer just an emotional decision. It is a serious financial goal.”
Watch the video here:
The internet, unsurprisingly, exploded with reactions.
Some users said the estimate felt realistic for upper-middle-class families in cities like Bengaluru, Mumbai and Delhi where private schooling and extracurricular activities already cost a fortune.
Others pushed back strongly, arguing that the calculation reflected a very privileged urban lifestyle. Many pointed out that government schools and simpler living choices can reduce costs dramatically.
“Thank god somebody said it in a practical way! Thank you,” said an Instagram user. “You actually don't. Like not even 40 per cent of that amount. If you exaggerate then yes obviously,” said another.
Still, whether people agreed with the exact number or not, the video clearly touched a nerve, because for many young Indians, raising a child increasingly feels tied as much to financial planning as emotional readiness.
