Mumbai is undoubtedly one of the toughest cities to live in India. At first arrival, it can take your breath away with the sheer amount of energy and agility. The moving crowd, the unstoppable spirit, the amalgam of cultures, it all adds up to give you a unique experience on its own. Fitting into a new city can take a toll on you, especially when you have to stay in one of those cramped pgs in Mumbai. When I first moved to Mumbai, I did not have a place to stay.

I didn’t know websites like Nestaway existed back then, so after searching a lot for shared accommodation in Mumbai, I decided to move into a PG in Andheri East and it turned out to be the worst decision of my life. Here’s why:

Say goodbye to personal Space:

Pgs in Mumbai or in fact in the whole country have changed a lot in the past decade. They operate as individual hostels run by 2-3 people at most. At least 3-4 people stay in the same room and there is no common space for recreation or relaxation. There is a line for everything, be it food or using the washroom.

If you can’t swallow the food, swallow your pride:

You’d expect that in a city where there’s a food stall or two in every corner, you might find good food in the PGs as well, but you’d be wrong. The food is mediocre at best and food poisoning worthy at its worst. The bland taste would make you want to sleep hungry.

You’ll feel out of place:

Just because you have a roof over your head doesn’t necessarily make it home. Pgs in Mumbai are like shelter during the rains; expect that the shelter is your ‘home’ for now. In only a few days you’ll feel out of place and start cursing the day you decided to live in a Pg.

Shared Accommodation and shared everything else too:

In a PG, not just the room, everything else is shared. Shared Wi-Fi, shared bathrooms, shared washing area and shared dining area between 50-100 people. The kitchen is there but you are not allowed to cook there. Water supply is never proper and there is no backup for electricity.

No friends allowed:

Not only you are forced to share the room with 3-4 people; you are also not allowed to bring your friends over. Not even for visiting for a few hours and if by some miracle they get the permission, there is hardly any place to hang out. You’d end up going out and spending money every single time.

I lived there one month and moved out immediately. My suggestion:

Next time you’re looking for a place to live in Mumbai, do not go for a PG. Look for already occupied flats on Facebook groups or just Google shared accommodation in Mumbai and you’ll find multiple options without paying any brokerage.

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