Rs 45,000 rent for 1BHK 'chawl' in Mumbai? Netizens ask landlord 'don’t you feel ashamed'

The challenges of finding affordable housing in Mumbai continue to draw attention, as another unusual apartment listing has gone viral, just days after a property ad showed a washing machine awkwardly placed above a toilet in a tiny apartment. This latest listing features a one-bedroom flat (1BHK) in Matunga, offered at an eyebrow-raising rent of Rs 45,000 per month.

The small apartment, located in Matunga East, consists of a modest living room, a bedroom barely large enough to accommodate a bed, and a kitchen. It also has a small staircase leading to a loft, which serves as extra storage space. The video showcasing the property was posted on Instagram with the caption, "Old vibe 1BHK on rent only 45K," but the description of "old vibes" has sparked much debate online.

Social Media Outrage

The video quickly went viral on social media platforms like Instagram and X (formerly Twitter), where users expressed both disbelief and amusement at the steep rent for such a small space. One user on X sarcastically commented, “Purani chawl ko old school/old vibes bolkr 45k rent pr de rhe... capitalism has commodified poverty to a next level” (Advertising an old chawl as 'old vibes' and charging Rs 45,000 rent. Capitalism has commodified poverty to the next level).



In Mumbai, the term "chawl" refers to a distinct type of residential building that historically housed migrant workers during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. These buildings are often cramped, multi-story structures with narrow hallways, where each family lived in a single small room. The flat in question, though described as a 1BHK, was compared by many to a chawl, given its compact layout.

Mixed Reactions

While some commenters ridiculed the idea of paying Rs 45,000 for what they considered a glorified chawl, others noted that by Mumbai's standards, the apartment seemed spacious. "Don’t you feel ashamed asking for 45K?" asked one Instagram user. Another sarcastically added, “The rent should be 1 crore,” highlighting the absurdity many feel surrounds Mumbai's soaring property prices.

Space Crunch in Maximum City

This viral video further emphasizes the dire housing situation in Mumbai, where skyrocketing rents have become the norm, even for small, modest apartments. Mumbai's property market is infamous for its limited space and high prices, with many residents paying steep rents for flats that might appear cramped by the standards of other cities.

In a city where land is at a premium and space is scarce, such listings showcase the growing gap between what people expect to pay for basic living spaces and what landlords are actually charging. Despite the steep cost, properties like this continue to attract renters, as housing options remain limited in the Maximum City.

As the video continues to circulate online, it reignites the conversation about Mumbai’s real estate market, where even chawl-like apartments can command premium rents. While some laugh off the listing as another example of the city's housing crunch, others are left questioning the state of affordable housing in Mumbai.