India, Aug. 22 -- Prospective tenants in India's IT hub say Bengaluru's rental market is beginning to mirror San Francisco's, with demand far outstripping supply and even modest flats listed at Rs.50,000 for a 500 sq ft 1BHK.

Landlords maintain this reflects the 'market rate,' but tenants argue it strains household budgets and fuels broader inflation, leaving workers with little choice between paying exorbitant rents or enduring long commutes from the city's outskirts.

One tenant recently took to Reddit to call out 'unchecked greed' in Bengaluru's landlords, citing exorbitant rents for matchbox-sized apartments.

"Bengaluru seems to be headed the San Francisco way. There's zero market regulation here, and there's always some rich person...