Mumbai, Dadar, which is a very traditional 'central suburb', on the west (coastal) side where property and capital goods prices are typically higher than in the east:
1. Condo or apartment cost per square feet - an avg. Rs 30,000 or $600 per sq.ft. in an up-market two-bedroom condo/apartment. This varies hugely by building or neighborhood, by residential complex, by proximity to amenities and by street location, often within the space of a block.
2. Electricity cost per KWH in house holds - Tarriff structures are usage-dependent with a fixed and variable component. The first 100 KWH residential are charged at Rs 30 or $0.60 (fixed) + Rs 2.96 or $0.06 (variable) per KWH used. The next 101-300 are charged Rs 50 or $1 + Rs 5.56 or $0.11 per KWH used. The next 301-500 are charged Rs.100 or $2 + Rs 9.16 or $0.18 per KWH used, and so on... These are tarriff rates as per Reliance Energy, a major private sector supplier, but state suppliers are competitive. Tarriff rates are quite standard across cities since there are only a handful of major oligopolist suppliers.
3. Gasoline or petrol cost per liter - Rs 75 or $1.50 per litre in Mumbai. This has been much more standard in practice within a particular urban designation since petrol and petroleum products have, until now, been
cross-subsidized by large state enterprises. This is set to change with a slew of reform measures that take aim at reducing and then, eliminating subsidies from automotive and household fuels as part of fiscal tightening. *A price revision has just taken place yesterday.
4. Schoole fees per kid in a good private school per month - Rs 40,000 or $800 for ICSE/ISC; Rs 3.5 lakh or $7000 a year for IGCSE/IB for a student getting in on merit in a school like Bombay Scottish, which is considered an excellent primary and middle-school institution. Students admitted under the Principal's discretionary quota usually require a 'gratuity' or 'donation' that can vary steeply depending on the number of seats vis-a-vis demand.
5. Mobile phone bill per month for average use- Rs 399 or $8 if you have an internet package. Rs 150-300 or $3-6 otherwise. Mobile phones and subscriber packages are fairly cheap in India. Of course mobile phone bills are always usage dependent.
6. Domestic help cost per month - Rs 4000-6000 or $80-120 for a person working a three-hour shift. Such individuals usually work multiple shifts or in multiple households. Domestic help is becoming more expensive by the day, as people look for more lucrative careers.
7. DTV or cable TV charges per month - Basic Rs 300-350 or $6-7 for a bare-bones (approx. 120 channels) package.
8. Ticket prices for movies - Varies in the range of Rs 100-350 or $2-$7 for a stall seat depending on the type of cinema. Single screen, newer cinemas usually cost less; multiplexes more.
9. Ticket prices for public transport* -
Non-airconditioned city buses: Rs. 5 or $0.10 is the minimum bus fare; Rs 26 or approx. $0.50 is the maximum bus fare (on most routes) for a one-way trip. A day pass of Rs 40 or $0.80 entitles you to limitless travel on any non-AC route for a day.
Air-conditioned buses: Rs 10 or $0.20 is the minimum fare, Rs 64 or $1.15 is the maximum fare on most routes for a one-way trip. Rs 150 or $3 entitles you to limitless travel on any AC route for a day. AC city buses usually tend to ply the highways and freeways more often than interior routes, but solely non-AC routes are reducing.
Rail: Rs 4 or $0.08 is the minimum rail fare for a Class II ride on a suburban city train. Rs 40 or $0.80 is the minimum rail fare for Class I. Rs 23 or $0.45 is the maximum Class II rail fare; Rs 180 or $3.60 is the maximum Class I rail fare, if you do not change rail lines. Maximum rail fares will take you beyond municipal limits. The Mumbai suburban rail system has 3 rail networks: Central, Western and Transharbour. Using more than one line to get to a location serviced by a different line, other than the one of boarding, usually attracts a Rs 2 surcharge for Class II fares, and a Rs 10 surcharge on Class I fares. Mumbai also has a metro-rail and suburban monorail that is soon to start operation, whose prices have not yet been determined. Cost of ride in every means is essentially distance dependent.
10.Taxi fare for a 10km ride* - Depends on the type of taxi and the density of traffic. Cost of ride in every means is essentially distance dependent. Minimum fare for a basic (black and yellow, non air conditioned) cab is Rs 19 or $0.40 for the first 1.5km and Rs 12.50 or $0.25 per subsequent km. There is also an idle charge, for when the taxi is still, of Rs 30 of $0.60 per hour. Minimum fare for a cool (blue, air conditioned) cab is Rs 26 or $0.50 for the first 1.5km and Rs 18 or $0.35 per subsequent km. In a typical ordinary taxi daytime run in Mumbai, you are looking at Rs 180-200 or $.3.60 - 4 for 10km. Travel between midnight and 7am adds a 25% surcharge on the total fare. Mumbai also has an alternative semi-private means of transport in the autorickshaws, which are somewhat cheaper but do not ply in the central suburbs and the downtown core.
*Rates for public and semi-private transport are standard within municipal limits.
Remember, Dadar is only one (relatively small) location in Mumbai.
Transport rates, electricity and mobile tariffs apply across the city limits.
^All dollar figures are rounded off.
