Things You Should Know About Mumbai As A UG Student

Mumbai, the commercial capital of India is aptly known as the city of dreams. Every year, lakhs of people move to Mumbai in search of jobs or with a hope of getting the required skills to get better opportunities. Among these are students as well. Some relocate right after completing their Class 12; aspiring to study in Mumbai’s prestigious colleges like the IIT Bombay, ICT Mumbai, St Xavier’s College, Xavier Institute of Communications, SP Jain Institute of Management and Research to name a few.

In an earlier article we spoke of moving to Delhi for higher studies, now let's look at the island city. So how does the Maximum City fare while playing host to students from other states? These four youngsters – Vishal Kumar from Madhya Pradesh, Joel Mathew from Kochi, Kumar Bhaskar Bhushan hailing from Jharkhandand and Shipli Verma from Lucknow tell Careers360 why Mumbai is the nucleus of all dreams and hopes.

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House Rent: Rent depends on whether you live in a PG, flat or at a hostel

Vishal Kumar (VK) : The rent of accommodation provided by the campus is very high, so I decided to stay in an apartment near the campus with fellow students. We are living in a 1BHK apartment and it costs Rs 15,000 per month.

Joel Mathew (JM): I live in a 2BHK apartment with four other flatmates. It is at a walkable distance from my college. Altogether, we pay Rs 25,000 per month.

Kumar Bhushan (KB): I’ve rented a 1BHK apartment with two colleagues in Chembur. Our monthly rent including electricity and water charges is Rs 21,000.

Shilpi Verma (SV): I live in a PG accommodation at Andheri which costs me Rs 10,000 per month including three times food. My college is 14km away from my PG.

Food Expenses: There is a variety this city can offer to food connoisseurs

VK: Eating at restaurants can be expensive. So, my friends and I mostly rely on street food which is easily available and quite cost effective. Monthly expenditure is about Rs 5,000 - 5,500.

JM: I’ve learnt that cooking is a life-skill and a necessary one. We share the cost of groceries and cook by ourselves. I spend about Rs 6,000 per month on groceries and other food items. Sometimes, costs increase to about Rs 8,000 if I visit restaurants more than once in a week.

KB: We have hired a maid who cooks food for us. She comes twice a day. My monthly expenses on food including maid’s charges is Rs 3,200.

SV: The food that I get in my PG is of decent quality so, I don’t spend a single penny on food except on weekends and special occasions.

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Travel Expenses: The city is well connected with local trains and other public transport like BEST buses and auto rickshaws

VK: For every month, my travel expenses would fall in between Rs 6,000 to Rs 8,000. Apart from everyday travel, my friends and I often plan short weekend vacations as Mumbai has a lot of such places around it.

JM: My most favourite thing about Mumbai is its low-cost commute services. I walk to college as it is not very far from my place. One can get transportation at any time. When I travel, I prefer to take local trains and buses and it costs very less. On an average, I spend around Rs 3,000 to Rs 4,000 per month.

KB: For daily travel to college, I use local trains and buses. I have taken a monthly train pass of Rs 215. Apart from this, sometimes, I use cabs and auto which can throw your weekly expense out of balance. I spend around Rs 2,500 per month on travelling.

SV: I use the metro and at times, local trains for commuting. Every month, I spend roughly around Rs 5,000 on travelling. My travelling expenses also include the money spent on exploring the city and having fun on weekends.

How much do you spend on weekend leisure?

VK: On weekends, I go for parties and long drives with friends. It hardly fetches me Rs 5,000.

JM: I play guitar. On weekends, I go to guitar classes. I also hangout with my friends at different cafes and malls. We frequently visit Marine drive beach and Sanjeev Gandhi National Park. Approximately, I spend Rs 2,000 to Rs 3,000 on weekends including food and drinks.

KB: On weekends, I, along with my friends, visit places like Juhu beach, Marine drive, Hanging gardens, Bandra-Worli sea link, Gateway of India and many other tourist places. We also go to watch movies and eat outside. My expenses on weekends is around Rs 2,000.

SV: Although Mumbai has so many places to visit and explore but on weekends, most of the time, I prefer going to watch plays in theatre. Being a student of acting, I love watching plays. On some weekends, I go shopping and hang out with my friends. So, my monthly expenses including the tickets of the plays, eating outside and travelling comes roughly around Rs 5,000.

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Other Expenses: As students there could be other expenses than fees and rent. Here’s what you need to know

VK: My other expenses which include basic necessities like clothes, toiletries , medicine do not exceed more than Rs 3,000.

JM: I often attend concerts and watch movies regularly so for all of that I keep a budget of Rs 5,000 per month.

KB: I spend around Rs 3,000 - 4,000 on shopping, home internet and mobile recharge, and essentials like soap, shampoo, medicines etc.

SV: I keep around Rs 4,000 per month as miscellaneous expenses for clothes, medicines, drinks, ice-creams etc.

Rate the City: Is it your home-away-from home?

VK: Mumbai, its culture and its food is a delight. I will rate this city at 8 out of 10 as my overall experience here has been good. At times, not knowing Marathi creates minor problems while communicating with elderly local people but that’s not a big issue. I love living and studying here.

JM: The adorable thing about Mumbai is, it is very safe for everyone at any time of the day. Except for the fact that it is always crowded and expensive to live, Mumbai is the best place to reside in.

KB: It is a fast paced city that allows everyone ample opportunities to grow. It is expensive, crowded, full of traffic and pollution but Mumbai has a lot of things to offer. One simply needs to adjust in this fast paced city only then can one enjoy this city and understand why it is known as the city of dreams.

SV: Mumbai attracts people from all over the country. It is a safe city and I have been enjoying its nightlife to the fullest. Though Mumbai is a costly city to live in, it also has a lot of affordable places where the majority of middle-class Mumbaikars live. So overall, it is a good city to live in.

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