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Mumbai homebuyers pay Dubai, Singapore property prices, but experience ends at compound wall,’ Reddit post sparks debate
Mumbai real estate: Redditor questions if homebuyers paying more than ₹10 cr for prime homes should expect infrastructure comparable with Dubai and Singapore
Mumbai real estate market’s soaring property prices have sparked an online debate after a Reddit user questioned whether homebuyers paying ₹8 crore- ₹ 10 crore or more for apartments in prime areas should also expect infrastructure comparable to that of global cities such as Dubai and Singapore.
The user argued that Mumbai now commands ‘global-city prices’ without a corresponding level of public infrastructure, summing up the frustration with the line: “Global-city price, but the ‘experience’ ends at the compound wall.” The post questioned whether it is unreasonable for homebuyers paying Singapore- or Dubai-level prices to expect infrastructure and civic amenities of a similar standard.
The discussion began on Reddit’s r/mumbai community, where a user compared Mumbai’s real estate with Dubai and argued that while luxury apartments in areas such as Worli, Bandra and South Mumbai may offer amenities such as marble lobbies, swimming pools, gyms and private lifts, the experience changes once residents step outside their buildings.
The user pointed to potholes, disappearing footpaths, dug-up roads and monsoon waterlogging, arguing that Mumbai offers “global-city prices” without a corresponding level of public infrastructure.
The Redditor also questioned whether buyers were unreasonable to expect better civic infrastructure when property prices matched those in prime international markets. The post highlighted Mumbai’s limited land availability and the premium commanded by locations such as Malabar Hill, Bandra West and Worli, while arguing that the city’s housing market can sometimes feel like residents are buying private enclaves within a poorly maintained public environment.
"For ₹8-10 crore in Worli/Bandra/South Mumbai you get a gorgeous building marble lobby, pool, gym, private lift. Then you walk out the gate and it's potholes, vanishing footpaths, dug-up roads, and waterlogging. Global-city price, but the "experience" ends at the compound wall," the Redditor posted.
The Redditor said that he doesn't mean to say that Dubai is perfect or that Mumbai doesn't have irreplaceable stuff: the culture, the food, the chaos, the soul.
"But if we're paying Singapore/Dubai prices, is it unreasonable to expect Singapore/Dubai infrastructure?," the Redditor asked.
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Reddit post triggers mixed reactions
The post elicited a wide range of responses, with several users agreeing that Mumbai’s property prices are difficult to justify.
One user claimed that a ₹1.5 lakh monthly rent in Dubai had fetched a 1,000 sq ft lake-facing apartment, while the same amount in Mumbai would provide considerably less space in a comparable location. Another user compared a 2,500 sq ft three-bedroom apartment in Dubai with what they described as much smaller apartments in Mumbai.
However, not everyone agreed that Dubai should be treated as an outright benchmark for Mumbai.
One Reddit user argued that the two cities cannot simply be compared and pointed out that Dubai has “its own set of problems." The user highlighted Mumbai’s relatively inexpensive public transport, extensive home-delivery ecosystem and other conveniences, arguing that the cost of living and facilities need to be considered alongside property prices.
Property prices in Mumbai, Dubai and Singapore
According to local brokers, per-square-foot prices in Mumbai's suburban areas range from ₹20,000 to ₹40,000, compared to prime areas where luxury apartments are priced above ₹1 lakh to nearly ₹3 lakh per sq ft.
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In Dubai, residential property prices range from around ₹30,000 per sq ft to nearly ₹2 lakh per sq ft. In Singapore, prices range from approximately ₹90,000 to ₹1.5 lakh per sq ft.
