Mumbai

Visit Crawford Market or Linking Road for affordable shopping and bargaining practice, but head to Phoenix Palladium, Jio World Plaza, or Inorbit Mall for fixed-price shopping with international brands and air conditioning when you need a break from negotiating.

Get comprehensive health insurance that covers private hospitals as medical care quality varies dramatically between public and private facilities. Pharmacies are everywhere and many medications that require prescriptions elsewhere are available over the counter, but always check expiration dates.

Use Swiggy and Zomato apps for food delivery and restaurant discovery. Both offer reliable delivery even during monsoon season, and you can filter by cuisine type to find everything from authentic South Indian to international options.

Mumbai is generally safe, but keep copies of your passport and visa separate from the originals. Register with your embassy upon arrival and share your live location with friends when taking late-night rides in unfamiliar areas.

Remove your shoes before entering homes, temples, and some offices. Keep small bills handy as many vendors and auto drivers claim they don't have change, and always have cash since smaller establishments don't accept cards despite India's push toward digital payments.

Explore neighborhoods like Bandra West, Lower Parel, and Juhu for bars and restaurants that stay open late. Note that Maharashtra has dry days on certain religious holidays and the first of every month, when alcohol sales are prohibited.

Download the Ola and Uber apps for reliable ride-hailing in Mumbai. Auto-rickshaws are cheaper but often refuse short trips or destinations during rush hour, so apps with auto-rickshaw options like Ola give you confirmed bookings with fixed prices.

Focus your housing search on areas near your school like Bandra West, Powai, Juhu, or Lower Parel where many international schools are located. Use NoBroker or Housing.com apps to avoid broker fees, though be prepared that landlords often prefer 10-month deposits from foreigners.

Install Paytm or Google Pay for UPI payments, which are accepted almost everywhere from street vendors to high-end restaurants. Link your Indian bank account to enable instant, free transfers and payments without needing cash or cards.

Prepare for monsoon season from June to September with waterproof shoes, a sturdy umbrella, and quick-dry clothing. Many areas flood during heavy rains, making commuting difficult, so keep an eye on rain forecasts and plan to work from home during heavy downpours.

Open an account with HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank, or Axis Bank as they have extensive ATM networks and English-speaking staff familiar with expat needs. You'll need your passport, visa, proof of address (rental agreement works), and PAN card to open an account.