Chennai, the capital of Tamil Nadu, is popular as it is the biggest economic, educational and cultural centre of South India. This city is located on the southern coast of India. Owing to its hospitality, Chennai is one of the top cities in the world. Furthermore, it ranks in the list of safest cities in India.
Compared to the other metropolitan cities in India, Chennai is considerably cheaper. In this article, we will talk about the cost of living in Chennai.
| Area of Expense | Bachelors or Students | Couples | Family of Four (2 Adults + 2 Kids) |
| Accommodation | ₹ 4,000 - ₹ 8,000 | ₹ 10,000 - ₹ 15,000 | ₹ 10,000 - ₹ 25,000 |
| Groceries | ₹ 1,500 - ₹ 2,500 | ₹ 3,000 - ₹ 8,000 | ₹ 5,000 - ₹ 15,000 |
| Transport | ₹ 1,000 - ₹ 1,600 | ₹ 1,500 - ₹ 2,500 | ₹ 1,800 - ₹ 4,000 |
| Utilities | ₹ 1,200 - ₹ 2,500 | ₹ 2,200 - ₹ 3,000 | ₹ 2,200 - ₹ 3,000 |
| Entertainment | ₹ 4,000 - ₹ 7,000 | ₹ 1,500 - ₹ 4,000 | ₹ 2,000 - ₹ 5,000 |
| Schooling of kids | NA | NA | ₹ 3,000 - ₹ 12,000 |
The several parameters that decide the average cost of living in Chennai are as follows –
Finding a decent place to stay in is the first thing one does once they move to a new city. Chennai provides a lot of options in this regard. Generally, it is wise to consider one-third of your monthly salary to pay your house rent.
|
Classification of Rentals |
Rent per Month |
|
1 BHK |
₹ 6,000 - ₹ 18,000 |
|
2 BHK |
₹ 9,000 - ₹ 23,000 |
|
3 BHK |
₹ 15,000 - ₹ 40,000 |
|
Paying Guest |
₹ 5,000 - ₹ 20,000 |
Best Areas to Live in Chennai
The table below shows the top affordable, posh and areas with paying guest facilities in Chennai–
|
Posh Areas |
Affordable Areas |
Areas With PG Accommodation |
|
Boat Club |
Vandalur |
Sholinganallur |
|
Poes Garden |
Tambaram |
Velachery |
|
East-coast Road |
Periyar Nagar |
Thiruvanmiyur |
|
Nungambakkam |
Adambakkam |
Anna Nagar |
|
Velachery |
Siruseri |
Navalur |
|
Adyar |
Iyyappanthangal |
Thoraipakkam |
|
Gopalapuram |
Guduvanchery |
Perungudi |
|
OMR |
Madipakkam |
Nungambakkam |
|
Besant Nagar |
Annanur |
Adyar |
|
Rutland Gate Road |
Avadi |
Guindy |
The approximate cost of commuting around Chennai can range between ₹ 1,000 - ₹ 1,500. However, this depends on the type of transportation and distance of travel. Staying close to your college or workspace is a wise idea as it can save a lot of time and money. The table below illustrates the approximate cost of travelling in Chennai –
|
Area of Expense |
Approximate Cost |
|
One-way ticket (public transport) |
₹ 30 |
|
Monthly pass (public transport) |
₹ 1,000 |
|
Taxi 1 km normal tariff |
₹ 15 |
|
Price of diesel (as of 25th April) |
₹ 100.94 per litre |
|
Price of petrol (as of 25th April) |
₹ 110.85 per litre |
|
Rental bikes and scooters |
₹ 5 - ₹ 6 per km |
|
Cabs (minimum cost) |
₹ 9 - ₹ 13 per km |
Starting from local markets to supermarkets, Chennai offers you a lot of options to buy the things of daily needs. In general, cooking your own food or hiring a cook is always considered cheaper than eating outside. The following table provides the approximate price of some basic grocery items –
|
Grocery |
Price |
|
Regular milk (1 litre) |
₹ 47 |
|
White bread (1 loaf) |
₹ 37 |
|
Rice (1 kg) |
₹ 54 |
|
Regular eggs (1 dozen) |
₹ 66 |
|
Local cheese (1 kg) |
₹ 573 |
|
Chicken fillets (1 kg) |
₹ 247 |
|
Apples (1 kg) |
₹ 196 |
|
Bananas (1 kg) |
₹ 56 |
|
Oranges (1 kg) |
₹ 101 |
|
Tomato (1 kg) |
₹ 33 |
|
Potato (1 kg) |
₹ 37 |
|
Onion (1 kg) |
₹ 39 |
|
Lettuce (1 head) |
₹ 42 |
A significant part of an individual's monthly expense goes into paying the utility bills. This bill contains the electricity bill, telephone bill, TV, water supply bill, gas supply, internet and many more. Due to the scarcity of water in Chennai, these charges vary from place to place.
|
Utilities |
Approximate Cost |
|
Electricity, cooling, heating, water, garbage |
₹ 1,500 - ₹ 3,000 |
|
Local prepaid mobile tariff (1 min) |
₹ 0.89 |
|
Unlimited internet package |
₹ 700 - ₹ 1,500 |
Every person needs to relax after a tiring day of work or study. Being a city in the coastal region, Chennai offers the people some majestic places to relax and spend the evenings. Furthermore, the city hosts a number of amusement parks where you can go with your family and enjoy the weekend.
|
Area of Expense |
Approximate Cost |
|
1 month gym membership |
₹ 1,400 |
|
1 hour rent for a tennis court |
₹ 540 |
|
1 seat at a cinema hall |
₹ 200 |
|
Meal in an affordable restaurant (1 person) |
₹ 120 |
|
Three-course meal in a mid-range restaurant |
₹ 1,000 |
|
McMeal at McDonald's |
₹ 300 |
Chennai is popular for its well-known educational system. Several colleges and schools are reputed across India. One can find both government and private schools in the city. The monthly tuition fees add a significant amount to the monthly cost of living in Chennai.
|
Schools and Childcare |
Approximate Cost |
|
Preschool, private, full-day for 1 child |
₹ 6,120 per month |
|
International primary school for 1 child |
₹ 1,12,000 yearly |
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Disclaimer: This information is added only for informative purposes and collected from different sources across the Internet. Digit Insurance is not promoting or recommending anything here. Please verify the information before making any decisions.
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