Mumbai founder Jahnvi Shah shares advice on rent and commutes

Jahnvi Shah has one rule for anyone house-hunting in Mumbai: pick a home for its distance from work, not for how it looks.

In a video posted on Instagram, Shah, a Mumbai-based founder who says she has lived in the city for nearly three years, described how even an eight-kilometre trip can take 20 minutes or consume an evening. She urged newcomers to calculate the costs beyond the advertised rent, including the deposit, brokerage, agreement, moving and setting up a home.

She also said Mumbai changes the way residents judge distance, with places often measured by the time it takes to reach Bandra. Public transport, she suggested, can become necessary for those who otherwise depend on cabs.

Space is another adjustment. A balcony can feel like a luxury in a city where compact homes reshape expectations, Shah said.

Her final tip was about spending: “Don’t spend all your money trying to live like the Mumbai life you saw on Instagram.” Instead, she advised people to find routines, people and places that fit their budget.