Economic Consequences of Rural–urban Migration on Household Income and Consumption Patterns – A Study in Karnataka

Rural–urban migration has emerged as a defining feature of India’s structural transformation, significantly influencing household economic behaviour. The present study examines the economic consequences of rural–urban migration with specific reference to household income and consumption patterns in Bengaluru, Karnataka. The research is based on primary data collected from 50 migrant households using a structured questionnaire. A descriptive and analytical research design was adopted, and statistical tools including the Chi-square test and Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) were employed to analyse relationships among migration characteristics, income levels, employment conditions, remittance behaviour, and consumption expenditure. The findings reveal that migration contributes positively to income mobility over time, with longer migration duration and higher educational attainment significantly associated with improved income levels. The analysis further indicates that household income strongly influences consumption expenditure, remittance behaviour, and the ability to adjust to urban living costs. While migration enhances earning opportunities, a substantial proportion of respondents remain concentrated in informal sector employment, resulting in job insecurity and income instability. The study also highlights that larger household size intensifies consumption burden, and gender disparities persist in financial decision-making roles.