Summer is here and I’m sure you’re planning a vacation. With the pandemic restrictions lifting all over the world, I’m sure you want to travel overseas! Mumbai is an excellent spot for tourism, culture, and a life different from what we’re used to on the East coast. As long as you’re vaccinated, and carrying a mask, you’re good to go! If you’re thinking of converting USD into Indian Rupees, the current rate would give you around 80 Rupees to $1 USD. If you do a bit of math, $1000 would mean Rs.80,000. Sounds like a lot right? Here’s what living in Mumbai in 2022 would cost you. Let’s walk it through:
South Mumbai
Mumbai, especially South Mumbai is where you’ll find sky rise after sky rise because that’s part of the Indian mentality: do not waste an inch of space. Find space? Great, let’s make a building.
If you’re like me and plan on living in Mumbai, on your own for an extended period, then, let’s discuss what your money can buy you.
If you find yourself in my situation, where you’re living alone, in Mumbai for 6 months (in 2022) this is what your spending is going to look like. The city side is the most expensive, but it’s where I love being. I feel like I have all sorts of shopping available around me and with the local markets being a walk away, I find some great deals on fruits and vegetables. But even with those deals, what are we looking at?
Living Accommodations in Mumbai (2022 prices)
The first place I stayed at was on a sharing basis, in a Chawl or a tenement. I know, it sounds scary. But there were two rooms and a bathroom with a kitchen. The issue was that there wasn’t a 24-hour water supply. Every morning at 5:05 am, you have to flip the switch for the motor to turn on, and then the tanks (which are massive and well hidden above the bathroom and kitchen) would fill up. But you had to keep a watch because if you don’t shut the switch off, you risk flooding the whole apartment! Rent at this place per month, without utilities cost me Rs.12,000 a month. We have 68,000 now to work with.
Common Monthly Expenses of Living in Mumbai (in 2022)
This place had an AC and a ceiling fan in every room. There was a TV as well. If we use the electricity as we normally would, (not using the AC all day), the electricity bill runs around Rs.990. I installed a router so that I could have high-speed internet to work. I got an unlimited plan which was a decent deal for 3 months at a time. Installation, along with the equipment cost me around Rs.1,500. The internet plan for 3 months was a total of Rs.2400. Per month, that comes to Rs.800. The last thing I needed was a SIM card because I use AT&T back at home, which means I get no coverage here in Mumbai. My monthly plan of 75 GB of data comes to Rs.617 a month. With all this, now we’re at about Rs.15,907 spent in our first month.
Don’t sit back yet! Cleaning. Yes. It’s part of the culture to have house help in Mumbai. They come every morning and mop the floors (given the climate, it’s a must), do the dishes, and do the laundry. Not every place has a washing machine and mine, definitely didn’t. I hired a house help, (the sweetest lady ever), which cost me Rs.3000 a month. If you’re wondering how the laundry is done, imagine the Medieval Times. If you have clothing that requires dry cleaning, you’ll find a local dhobi. We’re under Rs.20,000, great right?
What about Food?
What about food? If you’re new to Mumbai, I wouldn’t suggest starting with street food. Check out my post on Surviving in Mumbai Alone for more tips!
You’ll risk getting an upset stomach or food poisoning if you depend on street food. There are many local restaurants to order from and on average, for a single person, to order two meals a day, you’re looking at Rs.1000 at least. If you were to order two meals a day for the entire month, that’s Rs.30,000! That’s almost Rs.50,000 a month with your accommodations. Want to save money? Look for a local mess. Yes, as in its military definition, you can take care of one meal (sometimes even more depending on the mess) with an average cost of Rs. 200. You can opt to cook your own meals at home as well, but most places have a gas cylinder set up. This means, like the gas you used to grill during the summer, needs to be replaced, and so does the cylinder in Mumbai. Not all places have a direct gas connection which allows you to use a stovetop.
Shopping in Mumbai!
Keep the remaining cash for shopping! If you’re planning on shopping for clothes, fashion jewelry, or small gifts — avoid going to malls! There are so many beautiful street markets. Of course, you get what you pay for, but trust me there are hidden gems all over the city. The Colaba Causeway and Bhuleshwar are great places to shop. The Colaba Causeway is a great place to find accessories and clothes. Some of the clothes (at the street shops) are branded but rejected from inventory (minor defects). You’ll find proper shops as well but the best deals are on the street! Bhuleshwar is my one-stop shop site. You can find jewelry, clothes, homewares, and even the smallest things like nail cutters and hair clips!
The costs of living in Mumbai (in 2022) that I have provided you are what I have used personally. Are there cheaper options? Of course! If you want to live in the suburbs, you can find rental apartments (most need a deposit though) or AirBnb as well! It all depends on where you choose to live. If you want to live in South Mumbai for 6 months like me, $4,000 would give you a comfortable living situation. Of course, what you spend is up to you. It’s all about location! Save bet, and carry a minimum of $1,000 to start off with.
