Mumbai - Post Report Question and Answers
Are credit cards widely accepted and safe to use locally? Are ATMs common and do you recommend using them? Are they safe to use?
Credit cards are easy to use. Get an AMEX if you don’t have one. Open a local account to use the UPI payment services. UPI is accepted almost everywhere. We withdraw cash from the consulate so I have not had to use a local ATM. - Apr 2024
PayTM is most common. I highly recommend getting a local bank account so that you can use PayTM, which is an online payment platform. Cash is also still very common. 500 bill is the highest denomination, so if you want to use cash, you'll have to take out a lot of bills. Credit cards are also widely accepted. - Jul 2023
International credit cards are hit or miss. I've had most luck with my CapitalOne Visa card, but others have had similar luck with AmEx. A local bank account, if you're able to get one, is the easiest back-up after cash. ATMs are common, but may charge high conversion/usage fees. They are safe to use in the bank branches and airport, where other security is present. I have not seen ATMs otherwise, but do not search for them. - May 2023
American Express is widely accepted and visa. Get a local bank account and set up Gjpay or Payme: there are a lot of online payment options. They work best. We transfer money to people and pay for food and Ubers using the electronic money. - Feb 2023
It's a hit or miss with western credit cards. Sometimes it doesn't work and you wait five hrs and it works. It's a cash economy. - Aug 2021
Yes and no. Foreign credit cards are not always accepted. ATMs are fairly common and is the best way to withdraw money in Mumbai. Mumbai is pretty safe, I haven't experienced any negative safety issues. - Nov 2020
I get all my cash through the Consulate’s bank, so I can’t comment on ATMs. - Aug 2019
It's largely a cash society. Many stores will have credit card machines, but a lot of them will work only with Indian credit cards. Larger stores, hotels, etc. will take western credit cards fine. ATMs will usually work with western cards but it's hit or miss. Frequently they will be broken or out of cash. - Mar 2019
Yes, but most places will automatically charge you in your local currency with a high conversion rate. - Jan 2019
Yes but only in proper shops, not the street ones. - May 2018
Credit cards are accepted at upscale establishments, but obviously not at roadside vendors. - Jun 2017
Accepted all over, but I generally don't like to use it except at four star hotels and stuff. - Aug 2015
Most bigger places take credit cards and we haven't had any trouble. I've never tried to use an ATM here and would hesitate. I cash checks at the bank at work to get cash for walking around money, shopping in markets, etc and to pay our staff. - Nov 2014
Credit cards are very commonly accepted, which I was surprised by when I arrived. There are ATMs but they aren't all over the place. Still, you can find big international branches like HSBC that will certainly take your bank's card. - Mar 2014
Credit cards are widely accepted. - Feb 2014
Most restaurants and shops accept foreign credit cards and so do most ATMs. If you're not sure about a bank's ATM, stick to the main ones like Citibank and HSBC. - Feb 2014
Very easy. - Aug 2013
Available everywhere. India has a lot of credit-card fraud, so US Banks and card companies are quick to decline purchases and shut off your card even when shopping at reputable stores. I have to call my bank quite often to unblock my card. - May 2013
I prefer to use cash to avoid foreign transaction fees, but credit cards are accepted in the formal economy and there are many ATMs around the city. - Feb 2013
The US Consulate has a Bank of America counter where you can exchange currency. ATMs are widely available. - Dec 2010
ATMs are everywhere and credit cards are accepted generally. - Nov 2008
Both are widespread and safe to use. - Aug 2008
ATMs are everywhere, no issues. - Jul 2008
