A 8% hike with 6% inflation is a tiny real raise. A 8% hike plus a costlier PG is a pay cut. Do real-raise math before you upgrade your life.
Real raise ≈ hike % − inflation %. Then subtract new recurring costs you added the same month.
Getting started
Inflation vs salary hike: did you actually get richer?
How to check if your appraisal beat inflation in India — real raise math, lifestyle creep, and when a “10% hike” is a pay cut.
6 min read · Updated 4 July 2026
Common questions
- How do I know if my hike beat inflation?
- Roughly: hike percent minus inflation percent, then subtract new recurring costs you added. That is your real raise.
Try it yourself
Keep reading
Lifestyle inflation after your first raise: keep the hike
How Gen Z loses appraisal hikes to upgrades and EMIs — and a simple split so your raise grows SIPs, not just Swiggy bills.
Step-up SIP on a 10% raise: upgrade your future, not your lifestyle
How to auto-increase your SIP when salary hikes hit — the 50% of raise rule, lifestyle inflation, and how much extra corpus step-up creates over 20 years.
How to negotiate salary in India (without being awkward)
When to negotiate, how much to ask for, what to say, and how CTC tricks hide your real pay — a practical guide for your first job or your next switch.
General education, not personalised financial advice. Rules and rates change — verify the current position before you act.