The Surprising Earnings of Street Food Vendors: A Deep Dive into the Momo Business

A recent social media experiment by influencer @cassiusclydepereira has revealed the astonishing earnings of momo vendors in India. By running a momo stall for a day, he discovered that these vendors can potentially earn over ₹1 lakh in a single day. The video showcasing this experiment has gone viral, sparking discussions and humorous comments from viewers. With the growing popularity of momos, this small business is proving to be a lucrative venture, challenging perceptions about street food earnings. Dive into the details of this fascinating experiment and see how the momo business is thriving in India.

By Narendra Chaudhary May 8, 2026, 13:34 IST

Momos: The Iconic Street Food of India

When discussing street food in India, momos are often the first dish that comes to mind. You can find a momo vendor on nearly every street corner and market. Due to their growing popularity, this small business has transformed into a multi-crore industry. But have you ever wondered how much these momo sellers actually earn? Does their income really reach into the lakhs? A social media influencer recently conducted an experiment to find out, and the results have taken the internet by storm.

The Influencer's Experiment

Instagram influencer @cassiusclydepereira shared a video where he spent a day running a momo stall, meticulously tracking his earnings. The video has garnered over 18 million views. He begins with a humorous question: “Can a momo seller earn more than a B.Com graduate?” and then proceeds to serve customers himself.

Unbelievable Daily Earnings
In the video, it's evident that the stall is quite popular. Within just one hour, 118 plates of momos were sold! The crowd was so large that they had to restock mid-way. As the evening progressed, the line continued to grow. The stall operates from 5 PM to 10 PM, totaling 5 hours of business. Each plate of momos is priced at ₹110. By the end of the day, a total of 950 plates were sold, leading to a total revenue of ₹1,04,500 (daily sales). According to the influencer, if this level of business continues daily, the monthly earnings could exceed ₹30 lakhs. However, this figure represents gross income and does not account for expenses such as rent, gas, flour, vegetables, staff, and other costs. Nonetheless, it illustrates that the momo business can be far more lucrative than one might expect.

Viral Reactions in the Comments

As soon as the influencer posted this video on Instagram, it went viral, receiving over 700,000 likes and thousands of comments. One user remarked, “₹110 for a plate? Is anyone actually buying that?” Another commented, “That’s more than my annual salary.” A third user quipped, “118 plates in one hour? What speed were you selling at?” In a humorous tone, one user asked, “Are you doing an internship at the stall?” Amidst the fun and questions, one thing is clear: the momo business is not just a small venture; it’s a significant enterprise!