Mumbai has much to offer its expatriate residents. For the thousands of people who leave the UK each year and head for a new life in India, the world's largest democracy is certainly no third world option. The growing numbers of British expatriates living in Mumbai (Bombay) - locally known as the Manhattan of the East - say that life here is not a cheap alternative. According to the latest UK Government statistics, migration to South Asia is up by over 100% in the past five years and that trend looks set to continue. It is not difficult to see why the statistics are moving upwards. Mumbai is a cosmopolitan city where you can get anything you want anytime you want it.

The only problem is that you have to pay for it and you will find you are not the only ones wanting the best table in that restaurant or that prime piece of real estate. In reality you are probably at the back of a long queue where everyone's got money and they came here before you.