Arriving
City Comparison, Settling In, Flights. 5 min read.
01City Comparison
How Bengaluru compares with other cities
Bengaluru does well on jobs and climate, but you pay more to live here. Compare it fairly with the other cities before you decide.
| Factor | Bengaluru | Hyderabad | Mumbai |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cost of Living | Base reference | 15-20% lower | 25-35% higher |
| Housing (3BHK, prime) | ₹45,000 to 90,000/mo | ₹30,000 to 65,000/mo | ₹80,000 to 2,00,000+/mo |
| Tech Jobs Market | Strongest in India | Very Strong (#2) | Strong (FinTech/Media) |
| Traffic | Among worst in world | Moderate | Severe (different axis) |
| Climate | Best in India | Good (hot summers) | Hot, humid year-round |
| Schools | Excellent (IB/IGCSE/CBSE) | Very Good | Very Good |
| Healthcare | Excellent | Excellent | Excellent |
| Startups | India's #1 | Growing fast | Strong (FinTech) |
| Culture / Nightlife | Lively | Very Good | India's best |
Mercer 2024 ranking: Bengaluru ranks around #156 globally for quality of living, behind Hyderabad (#150) and Pune (#154) among Indian cities.
02Settling In
Your first 30 days
Moving to Bengaluru is easier when you do things in the right order, and this is that order. IKAN's team guides you through every step.
1
onDay 1
Bank Account & UPI
YouOpen a savings account at HDFC, ICICI, or Axis Bank, all have strong Bengaluru networks. Bring Aadhaar, PAN, and rental agreement. Salary transfer enables NEFT/RTGS on Day 1. UPI setup takes 15 minutes and covers 95% of daily transactions in Bengaluru's cash-light economy.
2
Arrange Permanent Transport
YouSet up both Ola and Uber accounts immediately. Download Namma Yatri for auto trips. If you own a vehicle, transfer the RC at Bengaluru's RTO, allow 3 to 4 weeks. Consider the metro smart card (Namma Metro card) from any metro station. For office near Electronic City: Yellow Line metro is now operational and highly recommended.
3
byDay 7
LPG Gas Connection
YouTransfer or apply for new connection via mylpg.in. Bharat Gas, Indane, and HP Gas all serve Bengaluru. For induction-only apartments (increasingly common in newer societies), this step is not needed. Delivery schedulers are reliable in Bengaluru, most connections arrive within 7 days of request.
4
Karnataka Voter ID & Driving Licence
Voter ID transfer to Bengaluru electoral roll via voterportal.eci.gov.in (allows online application). Karnataka driving licence transfer via sarathi.parivahan.gov.in, bring old licence, Aadhaar, and proof of Bengaluru residence. RTO appointments are bookable online; choose the RTO office nearest your home zone.
5
Aadhaar Address Update
YouUpdate your Aadhaar address to your new Bengaluru residence via myAadhaar (myaadhaar.uidai.gov.in) or any Aadhaar Seva Kendra, carry a valid proof of address (registered rental agreement, utility bill or bank statement). This is the single most important ID change for an intra-India move: it underpins KYC, school admissions, gas and bank updates. Allow about 7 to 14 days for the update to reflect.
Transport
Getting Around Bengaluru
- Ola / Uber: Keep both apps. Never hail street cabs. Rapido bike taxis are fastest for 3 to 8km hops.
- Namma Metro: Purple Line connects Whitefield to CBD (45 min). Yellow Line serves Electronic City. Smart card from any station (₹50 deposit).
- Namma Yatri: For autos, transparent fares, no surge.
- Driving tip: Budget 60 to 90 minutes for any cross-city trip at peak hour. Plan your life around traffic, not around maps.
Traffic
Bengaluru's Worst Bottlenecks
Five junctions to avoid at peak hour:
- Silk Board Junction, the most notorious in India. Build in 45 to 60 min extra (7 to 10:30am, 5 to 9pm)
- Marathahalli Bridge · Outer Ring Road (ORR) bottleneck, morning peak
- Hebbal Flyover, airport road north, evening peak
- Koramangala 5th Block-HSR, constant congestion
- KR Puram Signal, eastern Bengaluru chokepoint
- Best travel: Before 8am or after 9:30pm for cross-city.
Community
Finding Your People
- By State: Karnataka Rajyotsava associations, Tamil Cultural Society, Telugu Association, Marathi Mandal, Bengali Cultural Society, all active.
- Professional: NASSCOM Bengaluru, TiE Bengaluru, iSPIRT (software policy), Bangalore Chamber of Industry and Commerce.
- Social: apartment-society WhatsApp groups, Meetup tech and hobby communities, and alumni / professional-body networks.
- Sports: Royal Challengers Bengaluru (IPL), Sunday cricket leagues in most parks, running groups at Cubbon Park 6am.
Key Portals
Essential Government Links
Voter ID transfer: voterportal.eci.gov.in
Driving licence: sarathi.parivahan.gov.in
LPG connection: mylpg.in
Karnataka state services: karnataka.gov.in
BBMP (civic): 1533
BESCOM (electricity): 1912
Driving licence: sarathi.parivahan.gov.in
LPG connection: mylpg.in
Karnataka state services: karnataka.gov.in
BBMP (civic): 1533
BESCOM (electricity): 1912
03Flights
The airport and flights
Kempegowda International Airport (KIA, code BLR) is often rated one of India's best airports. With Terminal 2 now open, it handles over 37 million passengers a year and flies direct to 60+ cities.
Airport Facts
IATA Code: BLR · Kempegowda International Airport
Distance from city: ~40km north of central Bengaluru (Hebbal-Devanahalli corridor)
Terminal 2: Opened 2022, a stunning terminal inspired by silk weave patterns with 256 check-in counters
Lounges: Plaza Premium, Encalm, multiple airline lounges in T2
Travel time to airport: 45 to 90 minutes from central Bengaluru (traffic-dependent). Allow 2 hours from Whitefield/Electronic City at peak hours
Airport metro: Under construction, the Blue Line Airport Line (KR Puram to KIA) will transform access; Hebbal to the airport is targeted for mid-2027 and the full line for 2028.Terminal 2
Distance from city: ~40km north of central Bengaluru (Hebbal-Devanahalli corridor)
Terminal 2: Opened 2022, a stunning terminal inspired by silk weave patterns with 256 check-in counters
Lounges: Plaza Premium, Encalm, multiple airline lounges in T2
Travel time to airport: 45 to 90 minutes from central Bengaluru (traffic-dependent). Allow 2 hours from Whitefield/Electronic City at peak hours
Airport metro: Under construction, the Blue Line Airport Line (KR Puram to KIA) will transform access; Hebbal to the airport is targeted for mid-2027 and the full line for 2028.Terminal 2
| Domestic Route | Flight Time | Frequency |
|---|---|---|
| Mumbai | 1h 45m | 25+ daily |
| Delhi | 2h 45m | 20+ daily |
| Hyderabad | 1h 10m | 20+ daily |
| Chennai | 1h 00m | 15+ daily |
| Kolkata | 2h 30m | 8+ daily |
| Pune | 1h 30m | 10+ daily |
| International Destination | Airline | Frequency | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Singapore | IndiGo, Singapore Airlines | Daily+ | 4h 30m |
| Dubai | Emirates, IndiGo | Daily+ | 4h 00m |
| London Heathrow | Air India, British Airways | Daily | 10h 30m |
| Frankfurt | Lufthansa | Daily | 10h 30m |
| San Francisco | Air India via Delhi (the non-stop ended in February 2026) | Daily, 1-stop | 2h 45m + 16h 00m |
| Tokyo Narita | Japan Airlines | Daily | 9h 00m |
| Kuala Lumpur | AirAsia, IndiGo | Daily | 4h 30m |
| Abu Dhabi | Etihad, IndiGo, Akasa Air | Daily | 3h 30m |
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