I’m currently in Mumbai but need to leave. I’m looking for a place to settle in that doesn’t have a greatness tax to it. What I’m saying is, some of the cheapest places to live which do have an extremely minimal degree of infrastructure at least. Lack of utility is fine (besides living necessities like basic food and water availability). Employability is not a factor, I have it handled so no conditions there. No problem if there’s a lack of communications connectivity, it is fine if there’s no option (even if its presence would be appreciated). Requirement is- not actively political or community based religious, I should be able to live if I do not take part in these things. Preferred if I can get by with the very basic with English, Hindi, Marathi (but not an absolute requirement).
Anyone have any experience with such places for practical, low lifestyle living? No fans in heat no problem etc. No intra-settlement transport no problem, a lot of stuff requiring my own effort and manual work is not a problem. Most importantly a chill place to live in (the people, not the weather). Place I can set up and live with my own effort and skill, however I need to go to do it, I like being away from the high and great places in life (so one of my opportunities to get away from one of the pinnacles of it in the country. It may not have the best quality of living, Mumbai, but it does have a very high degree of believed greatness) and am capable of living that way. Any mentions will be appreciated. Much more so if you’re already living there currently, but past living experience and details of place would also be helpful. Mumbai is too expensive, suburbs are too expensive, I’ll go ahead and say places like Pune as well are too expensive (more in an unnecessary sense, my requirements for living are very low).
Chandigarh, Panchkula or Mohali. Chandigarh might be slightly expensive, when compared to Panchkula or Mohali, but cheap when compared to Mumbai or Pune.
People are good, and you can make friends if you try. The three cities are very close to each other, lots of places to hang out. You can visit Shivalik Hills (Himachal) for a short trip with friends and return in a day.
You should look into tier-2 and tier-3 cities - that is probably the best balance between compromise to infrastructure and nice public. Unfortunately, with the language requirement, you’re limited to a few select cities in the north and center of India. With that being said, have you looked into Navi Mumbai? I’m pretty sure that it is not only cheap, but also has better infrastructure than Mumbai.
I thank you for the replies. I will keep them in mind, and will keep checking here for more replies. More options are always good.
A small point. The English/Hindi/Marathi is not a requirement. What is more important is the general will to communicate, which should be fruitful as I am the kind who completes my goals on my own. The 3 languages (which I can at least understand and communicate in varying proficiency) is a failsafe in case there is no will to communicate if a person wants to but does not speak the language. This should open up more options- and where there is the will to communicate, obviously I will also learn the language once there to communicate better.
I can also understand Konkani(spoken only, not written) to a good degree but haven’t communicated in it, which I didn’t mention earlier.