Moving to Mumbai from New Zealand

What are the best neighbourhoods when relocating to Mumbai?

Neighbourhood choices for your Mumbai relocation really depends on your priorities and budget. Bandra is where most expats gravitate – it’s got that cosmopolitan vibe with great restaurants, proximity to the airport, and a strong international community. But it’s expensive. Powai is popular with tech professionals and families, especially if you need international schools. It’s like a planned city within the city.

Lower Parel and Worli are great if you’re working in finance – most of the big companies are there now. The commute is easy and there are lots of modern apartments. Juhu is beautiful with the beach access, but the monsoons can be rough there. Andheri and Malad are more affordable options with good connectivity to other parts of Mumbai.

For returning Indians, areas like Dadar and Matunga offer that authentic Mumbai experience with amazing local food and cultural connections. Each neighbourhood really has its own personality. The key is spending weekends exploring different areas before committing to a lease.

Housing when moving to Mumbai

Let’s talk about the Mumbai housing reality check. First, forget everything you know about space and pricing from New Zealand. A 1-bedroom apartment in Mumbai costs similar to a 3-bedroom house in Hamilton. Expect to pay 8-12 months’ rent upfront for a security deposit or bond, which is completely normal.

The rental market operates through brokers who know buildings and landlords personally. There’s no equivalent to Trade Me that actually works reliably. Most expats end up in high-rise buildings with security and amenities because they provide peace of mind and instant community. Many buildings have everything from gyms to small grocery stores, which is incredibly convenient during monsoons.

Getting rental agreements registered involves multiple trips to government offices that operate on their own timeline. You might spend entire mornings just waiting in queues. Use a good broker. Their fee is worth avoiding the bureaucratic maze.

You can buy property if you qualify as a Non-Resident Indian (NRI) or have an OCI card. It is harder for foreign nationals to buy property as you have to meet strict residency conditions. Property prices have gone absolutely crazy, especially near metro stations and business districts.

At Crown, we can help you find accommodation before moving to Bangalore, making your move even easier.

Healthcare in Mumbai

Mumbai healthcare is honestly one of the best surprises about moving here. The quality is world-class and private healthcare costs are a fraction of New Zealand prices. Procedures that would cost thousands in Auckland cost less than what you’d spend on a long weekend trip in Mumbai.

The private hospitals like Hinduja, Lilavati, and Bombay Hospital are incredibly sophisticated. The doctors often trained internationally and speak perfect English. Many hospitals have international patient coordinators who handle everything from insurance to scheduling follow-ups.

The tricky part is insurance affordability if you’re not working for a multinational company. Many expats end up getting comprehensive international coverage, which works well here. You also get access to traditional treatments like Ayurveda alongside modern medicine. Emergency services in the main areas are excellent with fast response times. The public healthcare system through the BMC, Mumbai’s municipal authority for public services, is also quite good for basic needs, though going private is more comfortable for most expats.

Education for families relocating to Mumbai

If you’re moving to Mumbai with kids, you’re in great shape education-wise. The international schools here are excellent and way more affordable than equivalent schools in Auckland. American School of Bombay, Ecole Mondiale, and Oberoi International offer curricula you’d recognize with smaller class sizes and state of the art facilities.

The academic year runs June to April, which means timing your Mumbai relocation carefully if you have school-age children. Most international schools have extensive support programs for new students, and the parent communities are very welcoming. It becomes an instant social network for the whole family.

Mumbai also has some incredible universities and colleges. If you’re thinking long-term, institutions like IIT Bombay, TISS, and various management schools offer world-class higher education. The competition is intense, but the quality and global recognition are exceptional. Many young people from international schools here end up at top universities worldwide because the academic preparation is so thorough.

Our team at Crown can help you to find the best school for your child with our school search programme.

Cost of living when moving to Mumbai

Financial planning for Mumbai relocation requires completely recalibrating your expectations. Housing will probably be your biggest shock – expect to spend 40-50% of your income on rent for anything decent. But almost everything else is significantly cheaper than New Zealand. Eating out is incredibly affordable. You can get amazing meals for the price of a coffee in Wellington.

Having domestic help is standard here and affordable. Most families have someone for cleaning, many have cooks, and some have drivers. It sounds extravagant, but it costs less than what you used to spend on takeaways in Auckland. This completely changes your lifestyle and work-life balance.

Local transport is cheap – trains, buses, auto-rickshaws all cost very little. Imported goods and international brands are expensive, but local alternatives are often excellent and much cheaper. Services like massages, tailoring, repairs cost a fraction of New Zealand prices. You’ll probably save money overall despite higher housing costs. Through with all the dining and entertainment options you have in Mumbai, it is easy to spend more on dining out than you would in NZ

Transportation in Mumbai

Getting around Mumbai is both easier and more complicated than you’d expect. The local train system is the backbone of the city – it’s fast, frequent, and cheap, but incredibly crowded during peak hours. Think rugby scrum levels of crowded. The new metro lines are game-changers though – clean, air-conditioned, and much less crowded than the regular trains.

Uber and Ola work great most of the time, but surge pricing during monsoons can be atrocious. You might see 5x the rates during heavy rain. Auto-rickshaws are an art form here. The negotiation isn’t really about price. it’s about establishing mutual respect. Once you get that, the drivers become your allies.

Many expats eventually get drivers, especially families. It sounds excessive, but when you factor in parking costs, traffic stress, and navigation challenges, it often makes financial sense. The new metro network expansion has been amazing – areas that used to take hours to reach are now 30-minute metro rides. Traffic can be intense, but there’s a rhythm to it that makes sense once you understand the city’s flow patterns.

Learning Hindi and Marathi when relocating to Mumbai

English dominates business and social circles in Mumbai. But learning Hindi, and especially Marathi, opens up so much more of the city. Marathi is the local language and really helps with daily interactions – taxi drivers, street vendors, building staff. Even basic phrases get you better service and genuine smiles.

Hindi is useful across India and helps when traveling or dealing with people from other states who work in Mumbai. The city is incredibly multilingual though – most conversations naturally switch between English, Hindi, and Marathi depending on context. It sounds chaotic but becomes natural quickly.

There are lots of language schools, apps, and private tutors. The Alliance Française has good Hindi programs, and many community centres offer Marathi classes. Kids pick up languages incredibly fast through school and neighbourhood interactions. For returning Indians, reconnecting with languages you might have heard as a child can be emotional and rewarding. The linguistic diversity is one of Mumbai’s greatest assets.

Crown offers language learning as part of our additional services, so you can be more confident when moving to Bangalore.

Networking when moving to Mumbai

Mumbai’s networking scene is incredible and much more organic than formal business events. The financial district creates natural networking opportunities – you meet people at coffee shops near offices who are working on fascinating projects. The film industry adds another dimension with creative networking opportunities you won’t find elsewhere.

Professional associations are active here, and there are lots of expat groups on WhatsApp and Facebook that are genuinely helpful. The Bombay Chamber of Commerce organizes good events, and various alumni networks from global universities have active Mumbai chapters.

Your residential building often becomes a social hub. Many societies have regular events, and neighbours become friends and business contacts. The startup ecosystem is growing rapidly, with lots of co-working spaces and informal meetups. Women’s networking groups are particularly strong and well-organized in Mumbai.

Building relationships here happens through shared experiences – getting through monsoons together, discovering great restaurants, navigating the city’s quirks. Professional connections often become personal friendships that include families, creating support networks that last even when people relocate internationally.