Cost of living in Mumbai

India’s commercial centre, Mumbai is a city of contrasts with old-world architecture next to modern skyscrapers and opulent neighbourhoods juxtaposed by shanty towns. The cost of living in Mumbai is surprisingly steep, but expats will likely be able to enjoy life in the “city of dreams”, thanks to lucrative employment packages.

Mercer’s 2023 Cost of Living Survey ranks Mumbai as 147th out of 227 cities worldwide, making it the most expensive Indian city, followed by New Delhi at 169th, Chennai at 184th and Bengaluru at 189th.

Cost of accommodation in Mumbai

As is usually the case in most cities, accommodation in Mumbai’s city centre will set expats back far more than housing in the outlying areas and suburbs of the city. Competition in the rental market is also quite fierce, further adding to the sky-high costs of housing in Mumbai. Expats may also find the size of flats in the city jarring, as space in Mumbai is quite limited.

New arrivals who would like to reduce their living expenses can consider house shares. Expats will also need to account for utilities and property maintenance in their monthly budget.

Cost of healthcare in Mumbai

While India has an adequate public healthcare system, hospitals in Mumbai generally have varying standards, ranging from excellent to poor. For that reason, most expats choose to access private healthcare, and as a budding medical tourism destination, Mumbai boasts exceptional and affordable private healthcare. Still, most expats elect to secure health insurance to easily access private hospitals and have their prescription medication taken care of.

Cost of education in Mumbai

Expat parents will be glad to know that most public schools in Mumbai teach in English and offer a rigorous curriculum, making them a viable option for their children. That said, the standard of the facilities and class sizes at public schools may not be quite what many expats are used to, so they prefer to send their children to private or international schools. These are significantly pricier but offer a range of curricula and facilities. Fortunately, many expat parents working in Mumbai receive an educational allowance to subsidise tuition fees.

Cost of groceries and eating out in Mumbai

As the home of the Bollywood scene, the lifestyle and restaurant scene in Mumbai is sure to be one for the books. Mumbai has eateries and street food spots to suit every palate and budget, with different types of Indian cuisine as well as Asian and European fare on offer.

The cost of groceries in Mumbai will largely depend on an expat’s preferences, local seasonal produce and brands are inexpensive while imported Western goods will drive the grocery bill up.