India has a vast array of informal transportation options in addition to its formal ones, all designed to meet the travel needs of its huge population. This paper dives into the complexities of India's integrated public transportation (IPT) system, zooming in on the lives of auto-rickshaw drivers in Kolkata. We surveyed 392 drivers from 125 different routes across both South and North Kolkata to get a representative sample. Our goal is to understand how these drivers spend their money and what factors influence their spending habits. We found that things like how long they work (10–12 h or even more than 12 h a day, compared to 7–9 h), the type of meals they eat, whether they live in a temporary shelter or their own home, and the type of school their children attend all play a significant role in determining how much they spend on household expenses.