Mumbai on about $1,900 a month, monsoon included

Who's around

Americans in Mumbai usually come with a job or a family tie, so your circle tends to grow out of the office, your building and professional or alumni groups rather than a retiree scene. There's a U.S. Consulate General in the city for citizen errands. India keeps one time zone all year, nine and a half to ten and a half hours ahead of Eastern, by season, so calls home land in your evening.

Healthcare

The U.S. State Department says India's major cities may offer care that meets Western standards, and that most hospitals want payment up front or proof of insurance before treating you. It also strongly recommends coverage for medical evacuation. Sort out international coverage before you land; our healthcare coach Hunter Schultz and insurance partner ExpatInsure can help you plan it.

The monsoon

In our climate data, July averages about an inch of rain a day, and nearly all of a typical year's 91 inches falls from June through September. The dry months, December through April, see almost none. When you rent, ask how the street and building held up in last year's rains.

Internet and work

Home internet runs about $10 a month in our data. If you plan to keep a U.S. job while living here, read how work and visas fit together in our guide to moving to India before you sign a lease.

LGBTQ expats

India's Supreme Court decriminalized same-sex relationships in 2018, and Mumbai has held pride marches since 2005, though police denied a permit for the 2020 parade. In October 2023, the same court declined to legalize same-sex marriage and left the question to lawmakers, so spouse-based visas may not work for same-sex couples. The State Department notes reports of harassment and discrimination against gay and lesbian people, so plan on more discretion than at home.

Black Americans

We didn't find reliable reporting on Black Americans' day-to-day experience in Mumbai, and we won't fill that gap with guesses. The State Department does say Western women, especially women of African descent, have reported verbal and physical harassment in India. Before you commit, talk with Black Americans already living in the city, through work networks or expat groups.

Limited mobility

Mumbai is hard going with a wheelchair or walker. Local reporting describes poorly kept footpaths with loose paver blocks and potholes, station footbridges that mean climbing stairs, and city buses with a steep first step, with fold-out ramps mainly on electric buses. Line 3 was built with accessible platforms, so a home near one of its stations helps. Budget for cars and ride apps for most trips.

Retiring here

The sea air and a $1,900 single budget draw some retirees, but the visa is the hard part: India has no dedicated retirement visa. Americans without Indian heritage, a job or an Indian spouse generally rely on tourist visas, which cap time in India at 180 days per calendar year, so Mumbai works better as a winter base than a full-time home. Americans of Indian origin should look at the OCI card. Compare other routes in our retirement visa guide.