Comparison · Goa vs Mumbai · India
Goa vs Mumbai
Two great trips, different strengths. Here is how they compare on the things that decide it.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Sam 8393, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
Choose Goa for Beach shacks, Portuguese heritage and lower day-to-day costs; choose Mumbai for Gateway of India, Marine Drive and a short break. Goa is generally less expensive, and the two are about 440 km apart.
Key facts
- Distance apart
- 440 km
- Less expensive
- Goa
- Best time for Goa
- November–February
- Best time for Mumbai
- November–February
Side by side
| Goa | Mumbai | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | India | India |
| Known for | Beach shacks, Portuguese heritage and Old Goa churches | Gateway of India, Marine Drive and Bollywood |
| Best time to visit | November–February | November–February |
| Ideal stay | 7 days | 4 days |
| Mid-range budget per day | $70–$150 | $80–$180 |
| Cost level | Affordable | Moderately priced |
| Warmest month | March, 33°C (91°F) | May, 34°C (93°F) |
| Coldest month | July, 29°C (84°F) | July, 30°C (86°F) |
| Free sights in our guide | 11 | 13 |
| Day trips in our guide | 4 | 5 |
| Beaches | Baga | Juhu Beach |
| Airports | GOI, GOX | BOM, NMI |
Which one is right for you?
Choose Goa for…
Beach shacks, Portuguese heritage and lower day-to-day costs. Goa is India's smallest state, a strip of about 100 km of Arabian Sea coast backed by rice paddies, coconut groves and the Western Ghats. Four and a half centuries of Portuguese rule, which ended in 1961, left the baroque churches of Old Goa, the colourful…
Choose Mumbai for…
Gateway of India, Marine Drive and a short break. Mumbai, India's financial capital and largest city, fills a long peninsula formed from seven former islands on the Arabian Sea. South Mumbai holds the Gateway of India, the Taj Mahal Palace hotel, the UNESCO-listed Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus and…
Top sights compared
| # | Goa | Mumbai |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Basilica of Bom Jesus | Gateway of India |
| 2 | Sé Cathedral | Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus |
| 3 | Church of St Francis of Assisi and Archaeological Museum | Elephanta Caves |
| 4 | Fontainhas Latin Quarter | Marine Drive |
| 5 | Church of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception | Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya |
Food compared
| Goa | Mumbai |
|---|---|
| Goan fish curry rice | Vada pav |
| Pork vindaloo | Pav bhaji |
| Chicken xacuti | Bhel puri |
| Sorpotel and sannas | Bombay sandwich |
Which is cheaper?
Goa is usually the less expensive of the two: a mid-range day costs about $70–$150 per person there, against $80–$180 in Mumbai (AMZBooking estimates, excluding flights). Goa on a budget.
Can you visit both?
Yes. Goa and Mumbai are about 440 km apart, so they combine well in one trip: allow 7 days in Goa and 4 in Mumbai.
Questions travellers ask
+Is Goa or Mumbai cheaper?
Goa is usually less expensive: about $70–$150 a day mid-range against $80–$180 (estimates).
+Is Goa or Mumbai better for a first trip?
Pick Goa for Beach shacks, Portuguese heritage and lower day-to-day costs, or Mumbai for Gateway of India, Marine Drive and a short break.
+How far is Goa from Mumbai?
About 440 km in a straight line.