Mumbai Resort

Moving to Mumbai? Here are a few tips to ease the transition

Living up to its epithets – ‘The city of dreams’, ‘The Financial hub of the nation’, ‘Mayanagari’, Mumbai attracts thousands of people from smaller cities every year to earn a living and realize their dreams of making it big in life. It accommodates and makes space for everyone. If you plan to move to Mumbai, knowing what to expect from this city eases your transition to the new place. Here is your guide to Mumbai that will help you know it better before you move in.
Irrespective of the reason for the decision to shift here – be it a promotion or a transfer or higher education, this guide to Mumbai will come handy to you in making the right choices like finalizing a home or a school or simply understanding how it is different from a B or C tier city.

Finding a home

Buying your own home in Mumbai is still a distant dream for many who live here. Thanks to the soaring real estate prices. Looking for a house on rent becomes really easy through an agent. Most of the owners renting out their properties prefer dealing through agents since they take care of the legal documentation and save time. Rentals are lower in the outskirts of the city. The location of your housing would set the tone of your entire budget.

Distance between your home and office

The distance between your home and office would determine how much time you would spend in a day on the commute. In Mumbai, the time of your commute matters more than that actual distance in Kilometres. A 5 Km distance if traveled during wee hours or midnight might take 10 minutes. The same distance would take almost an hour or more in the peak hours. Consider yourself lucky if you find a suitable home closer to your workplace.

Commuting to office

Traffic is often painful here if you plan to drive yourself to your workplace. Be ready to stop for at least 10 minutes at every signal during peak hours (this holds true if you take the road irrespective of the mode of commute). Starting early from home would help greatly. Online cab booking (like uber or ola) are quite popular in Mumbai and charge high rentals during peak hours. Car-pooling can be a good idea if you do not wish to take the trains or buses. The connectivity and frequency of public transport is better than those in smaller cities. The completion of metro train projects would definitely be a boon for many commuters. People respect time and expect others to do so. Be on time and plan your commute accordingly.

School admission for kids

The level of education seems to be better than what is generally there in other cities. Do not be surprised to find reputed schools with high fee structure and no playgrounds. The classes are usually air-conditioned and schools have affiliations with clubs/commercial institutions to use their open spaces or playgrounds.

Getting your car here

Unlike smaller cities where we park our cars in our porch, in Mumbai, finding a parking space for your car is a challenge, especially if you do not stay in a residential complex with parking facility. Like many Mumbaikars, be prepared to park your prized possession on the road unguarded.

Cost of living

Be ready to shell out a higher price as compared to your native. Usually, the prices of fruits, vegetables and poultry are higher here. The minimum charge of services like electrical repair, plumbing, beauty, laundry and house help is also higher.  Though these services are at a higher cost, the level of professionalism among the service providers is also better. Keep looking for good offers available in supermarkets for your monthly grocery purchases. Online grocery shopping is also a good option to save some money.

Weekend Culture

Most of the multinational companies located here have 5 days work culture. People look forward to the two days weekend to rejuvenate themselves and complete their household responsibilities. The weekend here usually begins from Friday evening, when you will find most of the clubs and restaurants full and booked. The malls, tourist destinations and seashores see a high footfall during weekends.

Climate of Mumbai

The climate here is usually hot and humid through most part of the year. Investing in an air conditioner would be a good idea. Three months of monsoons are often relentless but beautiful, especially if you live close to the sea or lakes. Be careful while taking the roads during monsoons. Moving through the potholes may test your driving skills and patience.

This city may initially be a cultural shock for people who had a laid back and self-paced lives in smaller cities. But eventually, the city grows on you and without realizing you start loving the hustle and bustle. You start valuing time appreciate the diversity.

Hope these tips were useful to you. Do leave a comment in the comment box below.

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