What Is the Cost of Living in Mumbai?
Mumbai is a city that never sleeps. The city's irresistible charm attracts thousands of individuals to make their dreams come true. The “City of Seven Islands” is an important hub for commerce, trade and business. Furthermore, it is the financial capital of India. Due to these factors, the cost of living in Mumbai is comparatively higher than that in the other metropolitan cities in India.
In this article, we will look at the living expenses in Mumbai for students, bachelors, couples and a family of four.
How Much Does It Cost to Live in Mumbai?
The average cost of living in Mumbai depends on several expenditures. These include the cost of buying or renting a living space, groceries, transport, utilities, and many more.
The table below shows the approximate cost of these deciding factors –
| Area of Expense | Bachelors and Students | Couples | Family of Four (2 Adults + 2 Kids) |
| Accommodation | ₹ 6,000 - ₹ 9,000 | ₹ 12,000 - ₹ 20,000 | ₹ 15,000 - ₹ 40,000 |
| Groceries | ₹ 1,500 - ₹ 3,000 | ₹ 4,000 - ₹ 10,000 | ₹ 10,000 - ₹ 25,000 |
| Transport | ₹ 1,000 - ₹ 1,500 | ₹ 1,500 - ₹ 2,500 | ₹ 1,500 - ₹ 3,000 |
| Utilities | ₹ 2,000 - ₹ 3,000 | ₹ 2,200 - ₹ 3,000 | ₹ 2,200 - ₹ 3,000 |
| Entertainment | ₹ 4,000 - ₹ 7,000 | ₹ 1,500 - ₹ 4,000 | ₹ 2,000 - ₹ 5,000 |
| Schooling of kids | NA | NA | ₹ 3,000 - ₹ 12,000 |
What Are the Factors That Determine the Cost of Living in Mumbai?
The factors that determine the cost of living in Mumbai for a student or bachelor, couple or a family of four are –
1. Accommodation
The major chunk of the monthly budget gets spent on paying the rent of living space. The cost of land is high, and so is the price for rent. However, the rent varies from area to area. The table below shows the approximate price to buy or rent a property in Mumbai –
| Classification of Rentals | Rent per Month | Property Price |
| 1 BHK | ₹ 30,000 | ₹ 1.5 crores |
| 2 BHK | ₹ 50,000 | ₹ 2.5 crores |
| 3 BHK | ₹ 80,000 | ₹ 4 crores |
Price for Rent in Affordable Areas
| Locality | 1 BHK | 2 BHK | 3 BHK |
| Goregaon | ₹ 8,000 - ₹ 10,000 | ₹ 23,000 - ₹ 30,000 | ₹ 35,000 - ₹ 50,000 |
| Thane | ₹ 10,000 - ₹ 12,000 | ₹ 18,000 - ₹ 25,000 | ₹ 35,000 - ₹ 65,000 |
| Navi Mumbai | ₹ 5,000 - ₹ 12,000 | ₹ 15,000 - ₹ 25,000 | ₹ 20,000 - ₹ 30,000 |
| Kurla | ₹ 12,000 - ₹ 20,000 | ₹ 18,000 - ₹ 30,000 | ₹ 28,000 - ₹ 40,000 |
| Sion | ₹ 13,000 – ₹ 23,000 | ₹ 25,000 - ₹ 40,000 | ₹ 32,000 - ₹ 55,000 |
Price for Rent in Posh Areas
| Locality | 1 BHK | 2 BHK | 3 BHK |
| South Mumbai | ₹ 30,000 - ₹ 40,000 | ₹ 40,000 - ₹ 60,000 | ₹ 60,000 - ₹ 1,00,000 |
| Andheri West | ₹ 30,000 - ₹ 45,000 | ₹ 40,000 - ₹ 50,000 | ₹ 40,000 - ₹ 70,000 |
| Bandra West | ₹ 35,000 - ₹ 43,000 | ₹ 38,000 - ₹ 60,000 | ₹ 55,000 - ₹ 90,000 |
| Jogeshwari West | ₹ 23,000 - ₹ 30,000 | ₹ 35,000 - ₹ 50,000 | ₹ 40,000 - ₹ 65,000 |
| Worli | ₹ 38,000 - ₹ 60,000 | ₹ 55,000 - ₹ 90,000 | ₹ 65,000 - ₹ 1,00,000 |
Affordable Paying Guest
| Locality | Approximate Rent Per Month |
|---|---|
| Sion | ₹ 11,000 |
| Jogeshwari East | ₹ 12,000 |
| Ghatkopar | ₹ 12,000 |
| Kurla | ₹ 12,000 |
| Chembur | ₹ 15,000 |
| Parel | ₹ 16,000 |
2. Transport
Mumbai offers its residents a wide range of transport facilities. It is a fact that Mumbai has the largest network of local trains and buses which help the people avoid traffic and cut down the travelling costs, respectively.
| Category | Approximate Cost |
|---|---|
| One-way ticket for local transport | ₹ 20 |
| Monthly pass for local transport | ₹ 350 |
| Taxi 1 km (normal tariff) | ₹ 25 |
| Price of petrol (as of 25th April 2022) | ₹ 115.1 |
| Price of diesel (as of 25th April 2022) | ₹ 99.83 |
| Cabs (base fare) | ₹ 35 - ₹ 45 |
3. Groceries
All the things of daily need like rice, bread, milk, fruits, poultry products, etc., are easily available in nearby 'Kirana stores' and supermarkets. Furthermore, several online grocery delivery apps provide groceries to your doorstep.
| Grocery Items | Approximate Cost |
|---|---|
| Regular milk (1 litre) | ₹ 50-60 |
| White bread (1 loaf) | ₹ 35-40 |
| Rice (1 kg) | ₹ 50-60 |
| Regular eggs (1 dozen) | ₹ 75-80 |
| Local cheese (1 kg) | ₹ 450-500 |
| Chicken fillets (1 kg) | ₹ 270-280 |
| Apples (1 kg) | ₹ 160-170 |
| Bananas (1 kg) | ₹ 50-55 |
| Oranges (1 kg) | ₹ 90-100 |
| Tomato (1 kg) | ₹ 30-40 |
| Potato (1 kg) | ₹ 30 |
| Onion (1 kg) | ₹ 30-40 |
| Lettuce (1 head) | ₹ 40-50 |
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4. Utilities
The money spent on utilities such as electricity, internet, gas, TV, DTH, cable, etc., adds up a significant amount to your monthly budget. However, this amount depends on the areas where you live and the usage.
| Type of Utilities | Approximate Cost |
|---|---|
| Electricity, cooling, heating, water, garbage | ₹ 3,950 |
| Local prepaid mobile tariff (1 min) | ₹ 0.8 |
| Unlimited internet package | ₹ 786 |
5. Entertainment
Every individual needs some time to relax and unwind after a long day of studies or work. Mumbai offers numerous choices in this regard. Starting from taking a walk around the Marina drive to bar hopping to a number of pubs and bars, Mumbai has it all.
| Area of Expense | Approximate Cost |
|---|---|
| 1 month gym membership | ₹ 2,200 |
| 1 hour rent for a tennis court | ₹ 878 |
| 1 seat at a cinema hall | ₹ 300 |
| Meal in an affordable restaurant (1 person) | ₹ 300 |
| Three-course meal in a mid-range restaurant | ₹ 1,800 |
| McMeal at McDonald's | ₹ 300 |
6. Childcare
For families living in Mumbai, there are a number of well-known first-class schools for the schooling of kids. The money spent on the tuition fees of the schools plays an important role in deciding the cost of living in Mumbai for a family.
| Schools and Childcare | Approximate Cost |
|---|---|
| Preschool, private, full-day | ₹ 9,100 per month |
| International primary school | ₹ 2,37,000 yearly |
Mumbai, the capital city of Maharashtra, is the costliest city for expats in India. Mercer's '2020 Cost of Living Survey’ states that Mumbai is the 19th most expensive city in Asia, while it stands 60th globally. Cost of living in Mumbai is comparatively more than that in the other metropolitan cities in India. However, your standard of living and lifestyle plays the most important role in deciding your monthly budget for living in the city.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Mumbai an expensive city for expatriates?
According to Mercer’s 2021 Cost of Living Survey, Mumbai is the costliest city in India for expatriates.
Why is Mumbai so expensive?
Owing to the high cost of land, the commercial and residential spaces in the city come at a high price. This is the primary reason for Mumbai being the most expensive city in India.