In a city racing skyward, even a slice of sky has learned to carry a price tag.
From Everyday Air to Vanishing Space
Looking for a balcony in a Bengaluru apartment today can feel like chasing a fading luxury. In the city’s fast-evolving housing market, balconies—once an unremarkable part of urban homes—are steadily shrinking or disappearing. What was earlier a basic feature in mid-segment apartments is now increasingly confined to premium developments, quietly redefining how openness is valued.
Rising land prices and the push to maximise saleable area are at the heart of this shift. Developers are prioritising efficiency and density, trimming back open spaces to expand built-up areas. As a result, balconies are no longer treated as everyday utilities but repackaged as lifestyle upgrades. Brokers note that apartments which once offered two spacious balconies now often provide just one, usually linked to the master bedroom. Even when included, their size has reduced—from about 12×6 feet to nearly 11×4 feet—cutting usable space by almost 10%.
When Fresh Air Becomes a Premium
Cost pressures reinforce this trend. Homes with balconies in Bengaluru can attract premiums of 10–15%. In Grade A projects on the outskirts, apartments with two balconies may approach Rs 3 crore, while similar units with a single balcony start closer to Rs 2 crore. In central areas, where land parcels are tighter and regulations stricter, balconies are often removed entirely from designs.
This evolution mirrors changing ideas of urban living. Balconies, once used for drying clothes or storage, are now marketed as private outdoor retreats for aspirational buyers. For middle-income households, however, their absence intensifies concerns over shrinking carpet areas and escalating prices. Many buyers only later realise how much of their payment goes toward walls, common areas and balconies, especially with loading factors ranging from 15 to 45%. As Bengaluru grows denser and taller, balconies seem set to remain rarefied perks rather than standard comforts.
In Bengaluru’s concrete climb, even the breeze now asks for an upgrade.
Summary
Balconies in Bengaluru apartments are shrinking or disappearing as developers prioritise saleable space amid rising land costs. Once standard features, they are now premium add-ons, mainly in high-end projects. Reduced sizes, higher prices and loading factors leave buyers with less usable space, reinforcing the idea that open air in the city increasingly comes at a cost.
