What Is the Cost of Living in Chennai?

cost of living chennai — (source: indianexpress)

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.

How Much Does It Cost to Live in Chennai?

The cost of living in Chennai for a bachelor, student, couple or family of four depends on several factors such as accommodation, groceries, utilities, transportation, etc. Planning these things wisely before settling down in the city helps you manage your monthly expenses and does not become a burden to your pockets. The table below shows the approximate cost of living in Chennai for a family of four, bachelors, students and couples –

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

What Are the Factors That Determine the Cost of Living in Chennai?

The several parameters that decide the average cost of living in Chennai are as follows –

1. Accommodation

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

2. Transportation

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

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3. Groceries

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

4. Utilities

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

5. Entertainment and Leisure

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

6. Childcare and Schooling

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

Therefore, these are the approximate data regarding the cost of living in Chennai. An individual's lifestyle and standard of living play the most crucial role in deciding the living expenses in Chennai. So, managing your expenses can save you from getting broke.

Frequently Asked Questions

✓ Is Chennai a costly city?

Chennai is not as expensive as the other metropolitan cities in India. Though, a person’s living standards play the most important role in deciding the monthly cost of living in Chennai.