Guide to moving to Mumbai
A financial powerhouse, a global cosmopolitan, the cultural capital of India and a fast-paced city that simply refuses to give up.
Mumbai is many things. From a collection of seven fishing islands to a global cosmopolitan city, the city has undergone drastic changes in recent centuries.
For many, moving to Mumbai is the dream. This represents opportunity and a brighter future, and it is no surprise that it is one of the most popular destinations for a growing workforce looking to make a mark in their respective industries.
But it is not easy to live here; It is not easy to adapt or succeed. However, if you can do it, the world is at your feet.
If you’re thinking about moving here, you’ll definitely need an overview of the city and its inner workings. We hope this guide to Mumbai helps you better understand your new city and adapt faster.
Amchi Mumbai
The financial center of Mumbai is located on the west coast of India. Formerly known as Bombay, an important British city and port, today it is the fourth largest city in the world and the cultural and financial capital of the country. It has more than 20 million inhabitants and is home to Bollywood, the Indian film industry.
Moving to Mumbai
Moving to Mumbai is complex and very different from moving to other cities. It is crowded and narrow, so the final stage of transport and unloading can pose many challenges. Therefore, it is helpful to hire a competent and experienced moving company; You can find such moving companies on SearchMyServices.
You can move from any major city in the country with moving companies that have years of experience in delivering goods in Mumbai. They are fast, efficient and extremely professional. You should also prepare your stay in advance because it is not easy to find a company that fits both your budget and your needs.
Accommodation
The main difficulty is, first of all, finding accommodation adapted to your needs, your tastes and your budget.
Rental prices in Mumbai are astronomical, if not ridiculously high. Areas like Bandra, Santa Cruz and Andheri are simply out of the question and South Mumbai is also ridiculously expensive.
If you are looking for affordable accommodation, the suburbs of Navi Mumbai and Thane are your best option. But if you live and work in Mumbai, you have to worry about commuting. While there are many options, it’s not exactly what you’d call easy.
Cost of living in Mumbai
The cost of living in Mumbai is astronomical. Although some things like local food, public transportation, and clothing are relatively cheap, everything else is expensive. Rental costs are skyrocketing and grocery stores and fine dining restaurants are also quite expensive.
If you want to live comfortably, eat out and spend money on entertainment, you will need more than INR 30,000 per month. If you plan to party and have an extremely active social life, you will pay more than Rs 40,000.
Opportunities
This is the main attraction of Mumbai. There is no shortage of career opportunities in the city. No matter your experience, you can do something for yourself as long as you are willing to work like the rest of the residents.
The city is the commercial, industrial and financial capital of India. The result is thousands of businesses, industrial zones and technology companies that constantly grow like a tiger in its youth.
And if that were not enough, Mumbai is also the fashion capital of India and the home of Bollywood, the Indian film industry.
Whether you’re an accountant, fashion designer or technician, if you’ve got the skills, this city has a place for you. But the routine will be unlike anything you’ve ever experienced, so be prepared.
Transport
Commuting to work in Mumbai is a disaster due to its inconvenient location. Although Mumbai has some of the most extensive public transport systems in India, they are still not efficient enough to serve the large number of people who use them every day. But I repeat, that is part of the charm of the city.
You can use BEST buses for road transportation and taxis and rickshaws for traveling nearby. However, if you are planning to cover a longer distance on your journey, you may consider availing Mumbai’s famous local trains.
The people of Bombay
The fastest way to get around the City of the Seven Islands is to use its famous public transport network. It is divided into the Central Line and the East Line, it crosses the entire city and is very well connected.
The Central Line starts from Church Gate station in South Mumbai, while the Eastern Line starts from Badlapur. While this is the fastest way to get around the city, I must warn new users that it can be a scary experience during rush hour.
It is very crowded and I can’t emphasize that enough. Crowds literally push and herd them on and off trains like goats. While this is an adventure you should experience at least once, it’s up to you if you want to try it again.
Traffic
The reason for the popularity of local trains, apart from their cost-effectiveness and speed, is the fact that Mumbai has a huge traffic problem. The severe lack of space has created a chronic traffic problem that cannot be resolved in the short term.
The problem is not only the volume of traffic, but also the fact that it never stops. The city does not have rush hours. Except early morning or midnight, you will always encounter traffic. So avoid using private vehicles if you have to travel more than 15 km.
Eat
One of the greatest cultural aspects of Mumbai is its street food. It’s delicious, colorful and light. Vada Pavs, Bhatures, Tikkis and Misals will always leave you satisfied. I highly recommend trying local food as much as possible. Fine dining restaurants are expensive and modern takeaways simply cannot compete on price with established restaurants.
Dabbawallas
If you don’t like local food or have stomach problems, you can look out for another symbol of Mumbai: the loyal and tireless Dabbawallas, who provide hot home-cooked meals to thousands of workers across the city.
Members of the Nutan Mumbai Tiffin Box Suppliers Charity Trust (NMTSCT), known colloquially as ‘Dabbawalas’, deliver freshly prepared meals from over 200,000 suburban homes to offices in the city centre. Every day, 5,000 dabbawalas bring meals prepared by thousands of wives and mothers. This large-scale operation is incredible and a sight to behold.
Weather report
This is definitely not one of the reasons why I am moving to Mumbai. Although not unbearable, the city suffers from unpleasant weather conditions. The weather is warm all year round and the summers are hot and humid, and that’s not even the worst part.
The worst thing about the weather in Mumbai is the monsoon. The city is hit by incessant rains that flood the streets every year and cause chaos. Whether by train, bus or taxi, it will be almost impossible to travel if the worst happens. And yet, surprisingly, the city never stops.
Education
Although not exactly known as an educational hub, Mumbai is home to some of the oldest educational institutions in the country. The University of Mumbai, Wilson College and Elphinstone College have centuries of history. There are several other renowned educational institutions like IIT Bombay, ICT and St. Andrews College, whose historic halls have hosted incredible intellectuals.
Languages
Unless you have no knowledge of Hindi at all, you won’t encounter language barriers. Marathi is the most popular language, closely followed by Hindi, then English and Urdu. If you can hold a conversation in Hindi, it should be more than enough to achieve this.
But you need to know some words that Mumbaikars use even when speaking Hindi. For example, potato is called batata not aloo and onion is called kanda not pyaaz, whether they speak Hindi or Marathi.
Conclusion
Knowing these things should be enough to live comfortably and quickly adapt to your new life in the big city.
This blog is by no means exhaustive, but it is enough to give you an idea of what to see when you visit Mumbai.
