An Expat Talks about Moving to Mussoorie, India

What is the name of the city or town that you are reporting on?

Mussoorie

Name three things that you wish you had brought and three you wish you had left at home.

Three things I wish I had brought: a good pair of winter slippers, because houses here are uninsulated, so the winters can be cooler inside than out; another set of good kitchen knives, since ones we have found here are not of very good quality; another pair of indestructible sandals from some of the big name brands, since here you can get cheap sandals custom-made...but they also require resoling, and have no arch support!

Thee things I wish I had left at home: electric blanket, because even despite a transformer & converter, it still blew and now the fancy function doesn't work; our queen-size fitted sheets that we were told to bring, because you can't get fitted sheets here--only to find out that 'queen size' is really closer to king, it being two single beds pushed together; my winter coats, because you can manage just fine with a sweater and t-shirt, silk underwear and normal clothes, and so on - winter coats are a waste of space and it's not cold enough!

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What advice would you give someone preparing to move to your area about the actual move, choosing a neighborhood and finding a home?

Mussoorie is a hill station--and because of that, most directions include "up from" or "down past", and they're meant in the vertical sense. Be ready and able to walk, or get yourself a driver's license for a car, motorbike or scooter if you're not going to want to walk. Except for the monsoon, the climate is pretty mild. You can buy just about everything you'll need here or down the mountain in Dehradun, so pack your personal sentimental things - furniture, clothing, pots and pans, etc. are all readily available.

What type of housing do you live in? Is this typical for most expats in your area?

We live in an apartment that is part of an older house. Many expats in the area seem to do something similar, renting from locals or residing in guesthouses, long term.

How did you choose your neighborhood and find your home or apartment?

We had a residence provided for us, however there are *lots* of real estate agents in town.

Are your housing costs higher or lower than they were in your home country? What is the average cost of housing there?

I can't answer this accurately.