₹900 From Weekend Rapido Rides: The Gig Side-Income Math
Two Pune techies on ₹12 LPA+ tried Rapido rides for fun and made ₹900 and ₹500. Redseer's survey of 2,250 gig workers shows what part-time gig work really pays in India.
Two software developers in Pune, both earning ₹12 LPA+, spent a weekend doing Rapido bike taxi rides. Not for rent. Just for fun. One made ₹900, the other ₹500.
Their roommate's post on X went viral this month. But behind the joke is a serious question that millions of Indians answer every week: is a few hours of gig work a side hustle worth having?
Quick answer
- A Pune developer's X post says his two roommates earned ₹900 and ₹500 from weekend Rapido rides, mainly for fun.
- Redseer, a Bengaluru research firm, says gig internet workers earn about ₹138 an hour, against ₹54 for comparable jobs.
- Over 90% of gig workers work part-time, and "parallel earners" with another main income are the largest group.
- Gig work is flexible extra cash, not a career by default. Your earnings depend on hours, city and costs like fuel.
The weekend ride that started the conversation
The post came from Nandkishor (@devops_nk), a Pune-based software developer, as reported by Moneycontrol.
"I have two roommates, and both earn ₹12 LPA+. Still, last weekend, they signed up for Rapido Bike Taxi and did a few rides just for fun. Both own sports bikes. One earned ₹900, and the other earned ₹500," he wrote. "Imagine earning ₹1 lakh/month and still doing this."
The replies were the interesting part. One user wrote: "I want to do this too. some side income + fun." Another said people do it "to solve loneliness. Some for ground research. Some for fun. And some for extra income."
That last reply is almost exactly how the data describes India's gig workforce.
What gig work actually pays, per hour
In July, Redseer Strategy Consultants released a report on India's gig internet workforce, which it defines as delivery, ride-hailing and home services workers on apps. It surveyed 2,250 gig workers and ran 250 in-depth interviews.
Its headline finding on pay compares hourly earnings with similar jobs outside the platforms.
Source: Redseer via Fortune India
According to Fortune India's report on the study, full-time gig workers' monthly net earnings average about ₹32,000, versus ₹13,000 for comparable occupations. That is the "roughly 2.5 times" gap Redseer highlights.
The spread across types of work is wide. Redseer's figures for full-time monthly net earnings are:
- Home services: ₹70,000-80,000 a month
- Ride-hailing: ₹37,000-39,000 a month
- Delivery: ₹22,000-23,000 a month
Two cautions. These are full-time figures, and most people don't work full-time. And they are averages from a survey by a consulting firm, not a guarantee for your city or your hours.
Most gig workers are already side hustlers
This is the part that matters for anyone with a day job. Redseer found that over 90% of gig workers choose part-time engagement of less than 40 hours a week.
The average worker, it says, spends roughly five hours a day, three days a week, and about three months a year on platforms. That looks far more like a side hustle than a career.
Redseer splits the workforce into three groups:
- Gig first workers (0.2-0.4 million): people for whom a platform was their first paid work.
- Parallel earners (3.2-3.4 million): the largest group, with another main source of income and gig work layered on top.
- Goal-driven transitioners (2.1-2.3 million): people working towards a target such as clearing debt or paying for education, who often leave once they hit it.
The Hindu quoted a 32-year-old cook in Bengaluru who drives a two-wheeler taxi for three to four hours in the evening and sometimes on weekends. "At times my earnings from gig work even exceed my earnings as a cook," he said. A 23-year-old nursing student in Davangere told the paper she does food delivery for three to four hours a day after classes to help pay her college fees.
The Pune techies did it for fun. These two do it for the money. The platform is the same.
Why it's growing now
Redseer counts over 6 million monthly active gig internet workers today, and projects 17-21 million by 2030. Ride-hailing alone has 3.4 million workers, by its estimate.
It also found that 54% of surveyed workers had no paid work before joining a platform, and nearly 70% believe gig work has improved their future job prospects. For many, it is a bridge, not a destination.
How to try gig work as a side hustle in India
If you are thinking about a few hours a week, here is a sensible way to test it.
- Pick the type that fits your assets. Ride-hailing needs a vehicle and licence. Delivery needs a two-wheeler or cycle. Home services need a skill, and pay the most per Redseer's numbers.
- Count your real costs. Fuel, wear and tear, phone data and insurance come out of what the app shows you.
- Track earnings per hour, not per day. Note hours logged and money received, then compare the result with Redseer's ₹138 average.
- Check your employment contract. Many Indian employers have moonlighting clauses. Read yours, even for weekend work.
- Look at the safety net. Redseer says platforms increasingly offer accident insurance and emergency support, but awareness of these benefits is still moderate. Find out what your platform covers before you start.
- Keep records for tax. Side income is taxable. A CA can tell you how to report it.
Mistakes to avoid
- Treating full-time averages as part-time pay. Fewer hours means proportionally less, and peak hours matter.
- Ignoring vehicle costs. A sports bike, as the Pune roommates had, costs more to run than a commuter bike.
- Skipping rest. Long evening shifts after a day job add up quickly.
FAQs
How much did the Pune techies earn from Rapido? According to the X post reported by Moneycontrol, one earned ₹900 and the other ₹500 from a few weekend rides.
What does a gig worker earn per hour in India? Redseer's survey puts the average at about ₹138 an hour, against ₹54 for comparable occupations.
Is gig work mostly part-time? Yes. Redseer says over 90% of gig workers work part-time, under 40 hours a week.
Which gig work pays the most? Among full-time workers, Redseer found home services earn ₹70,000-80,000 a month, ahead of ride-hailing and delivery.
Have you tried gig work on weekends? Share what you earned per hour in the comments.
Results vary; nothing here is a promise of income. Tax and contract points are general information only, so check with a CA or lawyer for your situation.
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