How to price a local task fairly — a 2026 guide for buyers and helpers

Pricing a task is where most people freeze. Post too low and no verified helper picks it up. Post too high and you overpay by 40%. This guide gives honest ranges for the six most common task categories on TBuddy in 2026, plus a repeatable framework so you can price anything else.

The framework: hours × rate + travel + risk

Every fair task price is basically the same equation. Estimate honest hours, apply a city-appropriate hourly rate, add travel, and add a small premium for anything unusual.

• Hours: your best guess, rounded up. A "one-hour clean" is almost always 90 minutes.
• Rate: metros pay ₹200–₹450/hr for physical tasks; tier-2 cities ₹150–₹300/hr; specialised skills (tutoring, coding, repairs) double that.
• Travel: add ₹100–₹200 flat for anything outside walking distance from a metro.
• Risk premium: 15% for after 8pm, 20% for weekends, 25% for anything requiring stairs or fragile items.

Honest 2026 ranges by category

These are what people actually pay on TBuddy in metro India this year. Adjust ±20% for tier-2 cities.

• 1BHK deep clean: ₹1,200–₹1,800
• 2BHK deep clean: ₹1,800–₹2,800
• Furniture assembly (per item): ₹400–₹900
• Bike pickup + drop (within city): ₹250–₹600
• Small van move (within city): ₹1,500–₹3,500
• Home tutoring (per hour): ₹400–₹1,200
• Basic electrical/plumbing visit: ₹300–₹800 + parts
• Event photography (2 hours): ₹3,000–₹8,000

Rules of thumb that save money and reputation

• Never bargain more than 10% below a verified helper's quote — they'll rush the job.
• Pay a small premium (₹100–₹200) for helpers with 50+ tasks and 4.9+ rating. It pays back in one avoided disaster.
• Split large tasks. Two smaller posts often attract better helpers than one giant one.
• Add a tip in-app for above-and-beyond work — it goes straight to the helper's rating and future price.

Fair pricing is a two-way trust signal. When your post follows the market, the best helpers open it first.