Most of the finance and entertainment industries are based in Mumbai which attracts the big spenders, through the city’s inhabitants who are not habitual high spenders. Also, Delhi has more of “Me” culture and Mumbai has more of a “We” culture. It is more common to find families eating out at restaurants in Mumbai than in Delhi. When it comes to holidaying, the Mumbaikar looks for convenience and comfort rather than flamboyance. A holiday maker from Mumbai is more likely to explore the country side abroad rather than do the tried and tested route of the metros.

Mumbai has a unique population spread and it poses unique challenges for retailers. For example: A store in Delhi’s South Extension can get 600 walk-ins on a weekend. But the walk-ins in a similar store on Mumbai’s linking road would be just 10. This happens because the market is spread out in Mumbai, with shopping clusters having moved from the traditional Colaba, Crawford Market and Kemps Corner to suburbs like Bandra, Andheri, Malad and Mulund.

Indicus analytics have found that suburban Mumbai, with a projected income of Rs. 1,16,273 crore will be the highest income earner after Delhi in 2008-09 but it will be the largest spender, spending around 86 per cent of its income in the current fiscal year.