Demand for spacious, amenity-rich 3BHK homes has risen sharply amid increasing affluence, work-from-home adoption and evolving family needs. However, rapid escalation in housing prices, coupled with rising land and construction costs, has pushed this configuration beyond the reach of the average homebuyer, according to a recent report by Square Yards.

The report, From Aspiration to Reality: The Cost of Owning a 3BHK in India, estimates the average cost of a new 3BHK across India’s top five metros at Rs 270 million. At an annual income of around Rs 23 lakh, a buyer would require nearly 12 years of income to afford such a home. Even income levels associated with India’s top 1 per cent households offer a similar affordability horizon, underscoring the stress in large-home ownership.

The study highlights that only 11 per cent of new housing supply currently falls within the affordable or income-aligned segment, while 89 per cent is concentrated in higher-stress markets. About 41 per cent of supply lies in income-stretched corridors, where EMI pressure intensifies significantly.

City-wise analysis shows varied trends. Bengaluru emerges as the most balanced market, with income growth broadly matching price appreciation. In contrast, NCR and the Mumbai Metropolitan Region display sharp corridor-level asymmetries, making location selection critical. Hyderabad has seen prices outpace incomes across most hubs, while Pune requires buyers to look towards peripheral locations to afford a 3BHK.

The report notes that choosing the right corridor can help buyers save Rs 3,00,000–6,00,000, as central locations increasingly function as wealth-dominant or capital-parking markets, while emerging areas bridge aspiration and ownership. The findings are based on an analysis of 10,500 RERA-registered 3BHK units launched during 2024–25 across 44 micro-markets in five major metros.

Using the OECD-referenced price-to-income ratio (PIR) framework, the study classifies markets into income-aligned, income-stretched, capital-led, wealth-dominant, and institutional and ultra-luxury segments. Data indicate that 48 per cent of recent 3BHK supply falls within stressed to crisis categories, where developer margins range between 45–50 per cent, compared to 15–18 per cent in affordable segments.

Commenting on the findings, Tanuj Shori, Founder and CEO, Square Yards, said that post-pandemic preferences for larger, branded homes, combined with the rise in high-net-worth individuals, have intensified affordability pressures for 3BHK buyers across major urban markets.