Bengaluru or Hyderabad?

Which is the best option for techies to buy their first home? Techies generally consider their career opportunities primarily in Bengaluru or Hyderabad. However, those who are just starting their careers are debating which city is best to buy their first home in. The question arises whether to choose Bengaluru, which has skyrocketing property prices, severe traffic congestion, and flooding issues, or to lean towards Hyderabad, the IT capital where properties are available at more affordable prices. This topic has sparked discussions on social media, with people sharing their opinions on the differences between these two major IT hubs in India. One 25-year-old software engineer shared, "Bengaluru offers better career opportunities and a growing startup culture, but along with that, one has to deal with traffic, sky-high property prices, and a fragmented city layout. On the other hand, Hyderabad guarantees better infrastructure, lower costs, and a more centralised IT corridor, but there are fewer opportunities in startups and product-based companies." Bengaluru: The career capital but costly to afford For many techies, Bengaluru is the heart of India's tech and startup ecosystem. The city promises a dynamic job market backed by venture capital and deep networks. However, traffic here feels like a nightmare, and property prices are extremely steep. Economic and logistical costs are rapidly rising. Tier-I builders in Bengaluru are now quoting over Rs 1 crore even for 2 BHK apartments. Moreover, IT hubs like Whitefield, Outer Ring Road (ORR), and Electronic City are spread out across different parts of the city, making daily commutes very challenging. Hyderabad: affordable and efficient? For many techies, Hyderabad is attractive due to its well-planned road networks, relatively lower real estate prices, and centralised IT zones. The city offers better infrastructure and property rates that are about 20–30% lower than Bengaluru even in high-demand areas. However, when it comes to career growth, especially in niche tech domains or startup ecosystems, Hyderabad is still considered to be behind Bengaluru by many. As one netizen put it, “If you are young and your income depends heavily on job hopping or startup exposure, beating Bengaluru is tough. But if you are closer to retirement or prefer a peaceful life, Hyderabad makes more sense.” How are the real estate prices? Between January and March 2025, high-demand real estate markets in Hyderabad recorded steady increases in property values. According to data from Cushman & Wakefield, prime luxury areas like Banjara Hills saw an 8% rise, with average prices now ranging between Rs 12,000 and Rs 15,000 per square foot. Tech-centric zones like Madhapur and Gachibowli also experienced growth, with rates increasing to around Rs 8,000–Rs 8,250 per square foot. In Bengaluru, many prime areas are selling at prices between Rs 13,000 and Rs 15,000 per square foot. In tech corridors like Whitefield and Electronic City, rates in some outskirts range from Rs 9,000 to Rs 10,000 per square foot. According to real estate brokers, the rental yield (ROI) on investments in Bengaluru’s prime areas typically falls between 3% and 4%. Properties near tech hubs in Hyderabad, such as HiTech City, tend to offer slightly lower yields, around 3% to 3.5%.