Indian homebuyers are increasingly looking for larger residences, but Mumbai’s steep property prices continue to make two-bedroom homes the preferred choice for many buyers. The trend highlights the gap between the growing demand for space and the affordability constraints faced in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR).
According to Anarock’s H1 2026 Homebuyer Sentiment Survey, 48% of prospective buyers across India now prefer three-bedroom homes. However, Mumbai-MMR remains an exception, with more than 40% of respondents opting for 2BHK properties. The region also continues to see comparatively strong interest in 1BHK homes.
Mumbai’s preference for smaller configurations stands in contrast to markets such as Ahmedabad, Hyderabad, Chennai and Delhi-NCR, where more than half of prospective buyers favour 3BHK residences. Along with Kolkata and Pune, MMR continues to show a stronger preference for 2BHK homes.
Property prices help explain the difference. In Mumbai’s central suburbs, a typical 2BHK is estimated to fall within a budget of Rs 1.6 crore to Rs 2.5 crore, while prices in the western suburbs range between Rs 1.8 crore and Rs 2.6 crore. In South-Central Mumbai, the indicative budget rises substantially to around Rs 3.3 crore to Rs 4.5 crore.
The comparatively lower prices available in surrounding markets provide buyers with more space for their budgets. In Navi Mumbai, a 2BHK can typically fall within the Rs 90 lakh to Rs 1.2 crore range, while Thane offers an indicative range of Rs 96 lakh to Rs 1.4 crore.
Prices are even lower in peripheral areas, with 2BHK homes in the peripheral central suburbs estimated at Rs 40 lakh-Rs 55 lakh and those in peripheral western suburbs at around Rs 42 lakh-Rs 58 lakh.
The survey indicates that Mumbai buyers are not necessarily abandoning the preference for larger homes. Instead, high property costs are influencing the size, location and configuration they can realistically afford.
For many households, retaining access to established neighbourhoods and connectivity remains a priority, making the 2BHK a practical compromise between space, budget and location.
Source: Times of India
