Essentials
- City
- Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
- Population
- Approximately 21.6 million (Metropolitan area)
- Internet Speed
- Average 50-100 Mbps (Fiber available widely via Jio and Airtel)
- Currency & Banking
- Indian Rupee (INR). 1 USD ≈ 83.50 INR, 1 EUR ≈ 90.20 INR
- Tap Water
- Not drinkable; use filtered water or bottled brands like Bisleri
- Power
- 230V, 50Hz, 🔌 Type C, D, and M sockets
- SIM Card
- Jio, Airtel, Vi; widely available at airports and local kiosks
- Banking for Expats
- HSBC, Citibank, HDFC, ICICI; Revolut works for withdrawals
- Accommodation
- Airbnb, NoBroker, Nestaway, and serviced apartments like Taj Wellington Mews
- Cashless Friendly
- Highly friendly; UPI (GPay/PhonePe) and cards accepted almost everywhere
- Short Term Rentals
- Airbnb (₹4,000-₹8,000/night), ZoloStays, and Bombay Hub
- Budget Accommodation
- Zostel Mumbai (Andheri), Backpacker Panda (Colaba) - approx ₹800-₹1,500/night
- Best Area to Stay for Tourists
- Colaba and Fort - proximity to Gateway of India and Victorian architecture
- Best Area to Stay for Digital Nomads
- Bandra West (creative hub) or Powai (tech hub with lake views)
Working and Networking
- Best Coworking Space
- WeWork (BKC/Versova) or Ministry of New (Fort) - Day pass approx ₹800-₹1,500
- Best Cafe for Work
- Blue Tokai Coffee Roasters (Mahalaxmi), Subko Coffee (Bandra), Starbucks (Fort)
- Networking Events
- TiE Mumbai events, Mumbai Digital Nomads Meetup, and Creative Mornings Mumbai
- Social Events for Expats
- Mumbai Expat Club, InterNations Mumbai, and Soho House Mumbai events
Transportation
- Best Taxi/Ride App
- Uber, Ola, and Indriver; Local 'Kadi-Kali' (Black and Yellow) taxis
- Bike/Scooter Rental
- Bounce, Vogo, or private rentals in Bandra like Rent-A-Bike
- Best Beach Nearby
- Juhu Beach (Local), Aksa Beach (Quieter), or Alibaug (via Ferry)
- Top Regional Airline
- IndiGo, Air India Express, SpiceJet
- Top International Airline
- Air India, Emirates, Qatar Airways (Hub: Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Intl - BOM)
- Highway Access
- Mumbai-Pune Expressway, Eastern Freeway, Western Express Highway
- Main Train/Transit Hub
- Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT) and Mumbai Central
- Public Transport Passes
- UTS App for Local Train tickets; Chalo App for Best Buses
- Regional Travel
- M2M Ferries to Alibaug; Intercity trains to Pune/Goa; Shivneri Volvo Buses
Health and Wellness
- Best Hospital
- Lilavati Hospital (Bandra), Breach Candy Hospital, Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital
- Yoga & Wellness Centers
- The Yoga Institute (Santacruz), Yoga House (Bandra)
- Gyms & Fitness Centers
- Gold's Gym, Nitrro Wellness (Breach Candy), Cult.fit (Multiple locations)
- Laundry Services
- UClean, Pick My Laundry, and local 'Dhobi' services
Food and Drink
- Best Food Delivery App
- Swiggy, Zomato
- Best Local Dish to Try
- Vada Pav, Misal Pav, Bombay Sandwich, Keema Ghotala
- Vegan/Vegetarian Options
- Rare Earth (Bandra), Imagine Meats, Candy & Green
- Best Dessert Spots
- Theobroma (Brownies), Naturals Ice Cream, K. Rustom & Co. (Ice cream sandwiches)
- Affordable Shopping Spots
- Colaba Causeway, Hill Road (Bandra), Crawford Market
- E-commerce/Online Store
- Amazon.in, Flipkart, Myntra
- Grocery Delivery
- BigBasket, Blinkit, Zepto (10-minute delivery)
- Bar/Nightlife Area
- Bandra West, Lower Parel (Kamala Mills), Juhu
- Local Brewery
- Gateway Brewing Co., Toit Brewery (Lower Parel), Doolally Taproom
- Wine Bars
- The Wine Rack (Lower Parel), Sula Vinyards (available in retail)
- Street Food Stalls
- Khau Galli (Ghatkopar), Mohammed Ali Road (for non-veg), Girgaon Chowpatty
- Popular International Cuisine
- Bastian (Seafood/American), Pizza by the Bay, Royal China
Culture and Attractions
- Must-See Landmarks
- Gateway of India, Marine Drive (Queen's Necklace), Bandra-Worli Sea Link
- Museums & Art Venues
- Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya (CSMVS), Jehangir Art Gallery
- Historical Sites
- Elephanta Caves (UNESCO site), Kanheri Caves, Mani Bhavan
- Religious Sites
- Siddhivinayak Temple, Haji Ali Dargah, Mount Mary Church
- Annual Events
- Ganesh Chaturthi (Sept), Kala Ghoda Arts Festival (Feb), Mumbai Perini
- Cultural Districts
- Kala Ghoda Art Precinct, Khotachiwadi (Heritage village)
- Theater Venues
- Prithvi Theatre (Juhu), NCPA (Nariman Point), Royal Opera House
- Local Markets
- Chor Bazaar (Antiques), Sassoon Dock (Fish market), Flower Market (Dadar)
- Music Scene
- AntiSOCIAL (Lower Parel), Blue Frog (Legacy), various jazz clubs in Colaba
- Street Art
- St+art India Murals in Sassoon Dock and Chapel Road, Bandra
- Cooking Classes
- Arzoo’s Kitchen, Palate Culinary Academy by Rakhee Vaswani
- Art Galleries
- Chemould Prescott Road, Project 88, Volte Gallery
- Historic Buildings
- Bombay High Court, Taj Mahal Palace Hotel, BMC Building
- Local Heritage
- Dabbawalas (Lunch box delivery system), Koli fishing community culture
Nature and Outdoor Activities
- Nearby Nature Escapes
- Sanjay Gandhi National Park (Borivali), Karnala Bird Sanctuary
- National Parks Nearby
- Sanjay Gandhi National Park (within city limits)
- Cycling/Walking Paths
- Marine Drive Promenade, Worli Seaface, Bandra Bandstand
- Scenic Viewpoints
- Malabar Hill (Hanging Gardens), Global Vipassana Pagoda (Gorai)
- Birdwatching Locations
- Sewri Mudflats (Flamingos in winter), Thane Creek Flamingo Sanctuary
- Bonfire-Friendly Spots
- Pawna Lake (3 hours away), Alibaug campsites
Other Services and Amenities
- Parcel Delivery Service
- Blue Dart, Delhivery, Dunzo (for local intra-city parcels)
- Tech Repair Services
- Lamington Road (Electronics hub), Maple (Apple Authorized)
- Table Tennis Spots
- NSCI Club (Worli), Khar Gymkhana, various sports complexes
- Language Classes
- Alliance Française (French), Max Mueller Bhavan (German), Hindi Guru
- Libraries & Study Spots
- Asiatic Society of Mumbai, David Sassoon Library, American Center
- Community Centers
- YMCA Mumbai, YWCA, various community 'Bhavans'
- Gaming Lounges
- Smaaash (Lower Parel), various localized e-sports cafes
- Casino & Gaming Halls
- Not legal in Mumbai (closest legal casinos are in Goa)
Business
- Studio Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. ₹350,000 per m² (e.g., 30 m² = ₹10,500,000 or $125k)
- Studio Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. ₹120,000 per m² (e.g., 30 m² = ₹3,600,000 or $43k)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. ₹320,000 per m² (e.g., 50 m² = ₹16,000,000 or $190k)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. ₹100,000 per m² (e.g., 50 m² = ₹5,000,000 or $60k)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. ₹400,000 per m² (e.g., 80 m² = ₹32,000,000 or $380k)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. ₹110,000 per m² (e.g., 80 m² = ₹8,800,000 or $105k)
- Corporate Tax
- 25% to 30% depending on turnover and regime
- Dividend Withholding Tax
- 10% for residents, 20% for non-residents (subject to treaty)
- Tax System
- Residency-based; residents taxed on worldwide income
- Highest Income Tax Bracket
- 30% (plus surcharges/cess, effective rate can exceed 42%)
- VAT
- GST (Goods and Services Tax) - 5%, 12%, 18%, or 28%
- Controlled Foreign Company (CFC) Rules
- POEM (Place of Effective Management) rules apply
- Property Tax
- Yes, calculated on the capital value of the property
- Property Transaction Tax
- Stamp duty (usually 5-6%) and Registration fees (1%)
- Attractive Tax System for Digital Nomads
- No specific nomad visa; regular income tax applies if staying >182 days