A LinkedIn post has ignited debate over whether Mumbai is transforming into an “exit city” for single professionals, as skyrocketing living costs are pushing talent to relocate elsewhere.
The post highlighted the limited housing options for young workers in the financial capital. One choice is the so-called “matchbox” apartment, where a Rs 1.25 crore unit may be so cramped that the bathroom opens into the kitchen, trading comfort for a prestigious address. The second is the “mortgage trap,” stretching finances to buy a 2BHK that may not even be necessary, effectively tying one’s financial freedom to a bank for the next two decades. The third is to rent indefinitely.
The LinkedIn user wrote, “If you are a single professional in Mumbai, the city isn’t just expensive. Look at the numbers. In 2025, the launch of studio apartments collapsed to just 790 units across the entire MMR. That’s a five-year low. Developers aren’t running out of land for small homes; they are making a strategic choice to stop building them. Why sell a studio to a young professional when you can force them into a ‘1.5 BHK’ that boosts the project’s IRR but destroys the buyer’s monthly budget?”
The post continued, “The system is pushing talented people out. I’m seeing reverse migration not just because people want ‘slow living,’ but because the math of urban ambition no longer works. We talk about building ‘Smart Cities,’ but we are building ‘Exit Cities,’ places that extract value from young talent until they can no longer afford to stay. This isn’t a housing crisis; it’s a demographic eviction.”
Responding, one user said, “Mumbai isn’t becoming unaffordable by accident; it’s being priced for balance sheets, not for the people who actually power the city. When entry-level housing disappears, talent eventually follows.” Another noted, “There is a huge opportunity for a builder who zigs when everyone else zags, building high-quality, dignified micro-housing for the modern workforce.”
MahaRERA data shows studio apartment launches hit a five-year low, with only 790 units in 2025. While small homes account for 60% of total launches, larger 2.5–4 BHK units dominate 23% of the market, reflecting a trend that increasingly sidelines single professionals.
Source: Hindustan Times
