New Delhi, Sept. 30 -- A bigger suburban home can offer better amenities at a lower price per square foot. However, cheaper housing does not always mean cheaper living.

Longer journeys can add fuel bills, toll charges, cab fares and vehicle maintenance. Time spent in traffic can also reduce the value of those housing savings.

Namrata Singh QPFP(R)️, Founder - Arthasadhana Investments, gives the example of a household saving Rs.25,000 after moving farther from the city. Additional commuting and convenience expenses could consume Rs.15,000- Rs.20,000 of that amount.

The remaining savings appear smaller, especially when family members lose several hours each week. Rent or housing instalments alone cannot show whether the move makes...