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Mumbai’s rapid development attracts major industries to it’s vibrant city which attract hundreds of expats each year. On this page you will find all the information associated with moving to Mumbai, from the costs of moving to Mumbai so receiving free removal quotes.
Mumbai has developed rapidly into India’s most important business centre. The city contains many highlights from its its vibrant culture to the contagious high energy of the city. Due to the sudden transformed development Mumbai has gained booming industries and financial giants, encouraging the emigration into the city and becoming a major expat destination.
If you are wanting to stay in Mumbai for longer than 180 days you must register with the Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO), or you can also register with the superintendent of the local police station. The costs of visas will vary depending on your situation o f stay. A business visa for a years stay will cost £165 but will need to be renewed after the year is up
Mumbai has a busy port so many moving companies offer competitive quotes. Below is a rough estimate of the cost of moving by sea, for a more accurate quote fill out our free removal quote form. We work with removal companies who specialise in removals to Mumbai. The form only takes a few minutes and you can receive up to 5 competitive quotes and save up to 40%.
On average moving to Mumbai will take around 4 – 7 weeks.
| Household size | Cost of move |
|---|---|
| 1 bed | £2,200 – £3,700 |
| 2 bed | £2,900 – £4,800 |
| 3 bed | £5,000 – £8,300 |
| 4 bed | £5,400 – £8,900 |
| 5 bed | £7,700 – £12,600 |
All expats moving to India should ensure that they have adequate health insurance coverage, private insurance is more in line with the quality of healthcare we are used to. There also won’t be a language barrier issue due to most doctors having great knowledge of the english language.
This should be number one on your agenda. A visa is required when entering India, this process can also take time so apply for your visa early.
Make sure all important paperwork in up to date and photocopied.
Transferring money from the UK to Mumbai will cost a fair amount, you can find the best methods to transfer money abroad from our Sirelo page.
If you are moving to Mumbai with your children you will want the best education possible for them. International schools are general better standards than public ones. However fees are quite high, some well known international schools include:
Don’t forget to change the addresses for all your important things, or simply get it all redirected
Cancel to save unnecessary costs
Bear in mind the voltage differences, your blender from the UK may not work with the electricity in Mumbai as the voltage will be too high.
The amount of international businesses moving to the financial hub of Mumbai is rapidly increasing. This is to take advantage of high educated, English-speaking, cheap workforce individuals. Locals are low paid and expected to work long hours which is not common in England where quality over quantity is preferred. This aspect as a result may take some time getting used to. The competition amongst locals for jobs is also extremely high.
There is a clear hierarchical structure in most organisations in Mumbai. Solid relationships and contacts within the workplace will be central to an expat having a successful career in Mumbai, so make sure to be extra friendly with your work colleagues.
As previously mentioned working hours are a lot longer than the 9-5 scenario we have in the UK. Patience is a key feature you will need to utilise as many workers in Mumbai will rarely say no to a task offered. Business gifts are also common but not on first meetings, they should not be expensive and rarely wrapped.
The population in Mumbai is huge, and is quite shocking in comparison to the land area. As a result it can be very cramped, and many expats may have to give up their dream large Mumbai house for a smaller cramped apartment due to the continuous housing crisis. Some expats will find that with their job they are offered accommodation but for those who aren’t where should you look? It is advised to use property agencies, this is the easiest and most trusting way.
Before house hunting there are a number of things expats should be wary of:
There is a huge wealth gap in Mumbai, you can walk past a millionaires house and then find slum dwellers not far from there. Poverty is a big issue and expats should be aware they will be targeted by beggars. The best would be to ignore them or give food rather than money. It is also common for expats to hire servants, this is very affordable and can make moving to Mumbai and settling in a lot easier. Plus who wouldn’t want a servant.
English is widely spoken in Mumbai so language barriers should not be an issue for individuals. But if you can learn the basics of Hindu such as hell0 (namaste) and thank you (dhanyavaad) it will be widely respected and locals are more likely to make a greater effort with speaking English.
Expats should definitely try Indian delicacies during their stay. The grocery prices are around 50% cheaper in Mumbai in comparison to the UK and fresh food at markets can be found at even cheaper prices. If you are not wanting to shop like a local at the local markets then there are still many supermarkets available.
Getting around Mumbai can certainly be called an adventure. It is not common for many expats to bring their cars along with them when moving to Mumbai, although we both drive on the same side of the road it can be seen as very hectic to get around. The traffic congestion is a big problem in Mumbai due to the huge population. Hiring a driver is an affordable option for expats but other main forms of transport include:
The metro system is fairly new in Mumbai and has only been around since 2014 and has been expanding ever since. The metro runs between 5.30am and 11.30pm depending on which stations one is travelling from and to. And are very frequent, most being every 4 minutes, but services on Sundays and public holidays are limited
Western Railways and Central Railways are the train operators in Mumbai. It is the most popular and cost-effective mode of transport; however is a different experience in comparison to UK trains. Everyone is very compacted and as a result not many expats opt in for this mode of transport.
Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport, or BEST Undertaking, is the bus services across Mumbai, but due to the overcrowding and the high chance of running into traffic jams deter expats from them. They are also quite expensive and difficult to navigate.
This is the most common way of transport for many expats travelling short distances. It usually must be pre booked but the cars are usually modern, air conditioned and the chauffeurs can be very knowledgeable and helpful. However some drivers don’t speak English, so be prepared and have the destination address written in English and Hindi before taking one. Some taxi drivers will try and take advantage of expats and take longer routes to try gain a bit of extra money, so be aware of this.
Mumbai is a very religious country and is widely followed and practised. Women are treated equally in the office but there are still some ‘glass ceilings’ but this commonly the case world wide. It is important that expat women visiting busy places, local markets or smaller towns should consider what they are wearing. Although the western way to dress is becoming more common it is respectful to dress more conservatively to avoid offending anyone or attracting any unwanted attention.
Tasks can take a lot longer to be achieved in Mumbai, so patients is key. It can sometimes be seen as inefficient and quite time consuming but it will take some time to get used to. If you’re wanting to speed up things a bit it is advised to create networks and build relationships with locals as the right contacts can help out a lot with certain situations
Thinking about moving to Mumbai? Here at Sirelo we want your move to be as carefree as possible. Because of that, we recommend to give the pages linked below a read. They will guide you through the moving process so that it can go as smoothly as possible! 😉
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