Your First Week Will Be Weird. That's Normal.
The first week in a new city, in a new living arrangement, with a new social context, is disorienting even when everything goes right. Add the chaos of Delhi on top — the noise, the crowds, the different rhythms of how a city works — and you have a recipe for a kind of low-grade overwhelm that most students don't anticipate.
Here's what actually happens in the first month, based on what students consistently report.
The Electricity Bill Reality Arrives in Week Three
Nobody thinks about electricity in the first two weeks. You're busy. You're settling in. The AC is on because it's August and it's 38 degrees outside. Then the end of the month arrives, the PG owner presents a bill for ₹2,200, and your budget is shattered.
The first-month electricity shock is so common it should be anticipated. Splitting it with your roommates without drama is a small but genuine life skill. Set expectations about AC usage in the first week, not when the bill arrives.
The Curfew You Didn't Think to Ask About
You found the perfect room in a perfect location. You signed the agreement. You moved in. Then at 9pm on your first Saturday in Delhi, your PG caretaker knocks on your door to ask why you're not back yet.
Most girls' PGs and many co-ed PGs have an informal or formal curfew. It's usually 9pm or 9:30pm in winter. The first time it catches you off-guard, it's inconvenient and embarrassing. The second time, it's just part of life. Ask about it explicitly before you move in.
The WiFi Takes Two Weeks to Set Up
Most new PG setups have WiFi that takes 2-3 weeks to install and activate after you move in. The provider appointment needs to be scheduled, the line needs to be laid, and the activation takes a few days. In the meantime, you're using mobile data. Have a plan for this — a 1.5GB/day Jio or Airtel plan isn't expensive and should cover the gap.
The Room You Loved in August Is Different in December
North-facing rooms in Delhi are colder in winter. East-facing rooms are damper in monsoon. A room that felt spacious in the dry heat of October feels different in the humidity of late July. These are small things, but they're worth thinking about when you visit — not just experiencing for the first time after you've committed.
The Other Residents Are Not Your Friends (Yet)
A PG creates an instant social environment. You share a floor with 5-20 other students. The social dynamics that emerge in the first month set the tone for the entire year. Some of these relationships will become genuine friendships. Others will be polite coexistence. A few will involve conflicts that you're better off navigating with maturity than passion.
The advice from students who've done this well: don't make strong social judgments in the first month. Everyone is as disoriented as you are. The person who seems difficult in Week 1 might become someone you genuinely rely on by Month 3.
You Will Get Sick More Than You Expect
Delhi water is different from whatever water you've been drinking at home. Delhi air is different. Delhi food — even when it's good — is different. Your body needs time to adapt. Most students report 1-3 episodes of mild stomach upset or respiratory irritation in the first month. Keep basic medication (ORS packets, antacids, a basic fever medication) in your room from Day 1.
The Thing That Surprises Students Most
Ask any student who's lived in a Delhi PG for a year what surprised them most, and the most common answer isn't about safety or food or transport. It's this: how quickly it becomes normal. The chaos of Delhi's streets, the intensity of the heat, the noise, the crowds — all of it that seemed overwhelming in Week 1 is just... life by Week 4. That's actually the point. You're adapting. You're learning. You're building the independent life you came here for.
