Delhi vs Mumbai – A Comparison

Delhi vs Mumbai: Which City is Better?

Delhi vs Mumbai: Which City is Better?Delhi and Mumbai, one is the political and cultural capital and the other the financial and commercial capital of India. Both the cities are at the helm of the nation, but no two cities could be more different.  Mumbai is like New York, a land of dreams, while Delhi is undoubtedly the seat of power, a city packed with history and legend. There has always been that playful banter of vada-pav of Mumbai vs the momos of Delhi, but here are the main differences between the two cities based on several aspects.

Weather

Delhi has the luxury of seeing all the seasons. The summers are scorching and the winter freezing. In between, Delhi also gets to experience Spring and Autumn.

Mumbai has one weather throughout the year- Hot and Humid. Being on the sea-side, the city experiences hot summers 12 months a year and when it rains it becomes even more humid. In fact, monsoons in Mumbai are savage and given the condition of drainage and roads, it is sheer hell to be in Mumbai during this season.

Delhi certainly wins where the climate is concerned.

Cost of Living

As per the latest survey conducted in March 2019, the cost of living in Mumbai is 4% higher than that of Delhi. Cost of food is more or less the same in both the cities. While Mumbai is cheaper where transportation, clothing, personal care, and entertainment are concerned, the cost of accommodation in Mumbai is 52% more than that of Delhi.

Thus with 4% lesser cost of living, Delhi scores another point.

Transportation

Delhi has the metro which offers comfortable, clean, and very fast transportation. Metro trains are generally very much on time. The buses in Delhi have low floor base making them safer and more comfortable. The Autos in Delhi are nothing much to write about for in case one is not from the city and knows the art of bargaining, they do end up fleecing.

Mumbai is well connected by the local trains. However, at peak hours these trains are chock-a-block full, are not very neat, and are generally delayed. Mumbai is also well connected by DTC and BEST/NMMT buses. The autos in Mumbai are more dependable for they run on meter.

Cleanliness and punctuality wise Delhi scores a point, but Mumbai scores this time because of the cheaper cost of transportation in the city.

Safety

Delhi is not safe. The crime index in Delhi is very high whereas the safety index is always at a low. Women especially are not very safe in the city. A survey conducted by the IDFC Institute titled Safety Trends and Reporting of Crime in 2017 shows that 87% of the households worry about safety when there is a female member out alone in the city after 9 pm compared to 30% households in Mumbai. Only 1% of households are comfortable with a female member out at any time of the day in Delhi whereas in Mumbai it is 13%.

Crime, corruption, and bribery are much higher in Delhi than Mumbai and thus this time Mumbai scores the point.

Standard of Living

Delhi is far better than Mumbai where the standard of living is concerned. Though it has been in the news recently for high levels of pollution and the problem of smog, the infrastructure in Delhi is better, the roads are wider and cleaner, there is more breathing space with a lesser crowd as in comparison to Mumbai. Sanitation wise too Delhi is better than Mumbai with many areas in Old Delhi being modernised.

Delhi goes on to score again.

The argument about which city is better can go on till eternity based on culture, heritage, food, location, the outlook of the people etc. However, at the end of the day, both the cities have their own unique features, with its own unique people making them both as charming as each other.