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What is the Cost of Living in Chennai in 2025?

cost of living chennai

Chennai is the capital of Tamil Nadu and one of South India’s biggest economic, educational, and cultural hubs. It is also regarded as one of the best and safest cities to live in India, and its living costs are significantly lower than other major metropolitans. 

Moreover, this city houses several prime educational institutes and offices, thus attracting students and job seekers from all over India. If you plan on relocating to this city, one of the first things you should do is get an idea of its living costs. 

Scroll down to find a detailed guide on the cost of living in Chennai.

Table of Contents

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What is the Average Cost of Living in Chennai?

The average cost of living in Chennai tends to vary across individuals based on location, lifestyle, and personal expenses. It includes rent, groceries, utilities, transportation, and more.

Find the average cost of living in Chennai in the table below:

Area of Expense Cost
Rent ₹6,000 - ₹40,000
Entertainment ₹2,000 - ₹6,000
Groceries ₹2,000 - ₹10,000
Transportation ₹1,000 - ₹1,500
Utilities ₹2,000 - ₹5,000
Schooling of children ₹4,000 - ₹10,000

Cost of Living in Chennai for Bachelors

The cost of living in Chennai for a single person ranges from ₹19,000 to ₹32,000 per month. However, it tends to differ across individuals based on factors like accommodation type, location, personal spending habits, etc. 

The following are the key expenses for bachelors living in Chennai:

Area of Expense Price Range
Accommodation ₹6,000 - ₹12,000
Groceries ₹2,000 - ₹3,000
Transportation ₹1,000 - ₹1,500
Utilities ₹2,000 - ₹3,000
Entertainment and Shopping ₹2,000 - ₹3,000
Housemaid Starting ₹2,000
Wi-Fi Starting ₹399
Bus Pass/Metro Pass Starting ₹1,000
Miscellaneous ₹2,000 - ₹4,000

Cost of Living in Chennai for Students

For students, the cost of living in Chennai usually ranges from ₹21,000 to ₹38,000 per month. It includes components like accommodation, utilities, food, transportation, and more. 

Listed below are the key expenses for students living in Chennai:

Area of Expense Price Range
Rent (shared apartment) ₹2,000 to ₹15,000
Rent (single room PG) ₹6,000 to ₹30,000
Food (monthly) ₹5,000 to ₹8,000
Transportation (monthly) ₹1,000 to ₹1,500
Utilities (monthly) ₹2,000 to ₹3,000
Wi-Fi Starting ₹399
Miscellaneous ₹2,000 - ₹4,000
Bus Pass/Metro Pass Starting ₹1,000

Cost of Living in Chennai for a Family

The cost of living in Chennai for a family of 4 (husband, wife and two kids) approximately ranges from ₹63,000 to ₹1,25,000 every month. This includes accommodation, groceries, transportation, utilities, children’s education, entertainment, and more.   

Here are the key components that contribute to the living costs in Chennai for a family:

Area of Expense Price Range
Accommodation ₹15,000 - ₹40,000
Groceries & Food ₹6,000 - ₹10,000
Transportation ₹4,000 - ₹6,000
Utilities ₹3,000 - ₹5,000
Entertainment & Shopping ₹3,000 - ₹6,000
Education & Daycare ₹4,000 - ₹10,000
Housemaid Starting ₹2,000
Wi-Fi Starting ₹399
Miscellaneous ₹8,000 - ₹12,000

Cost of Living in Chennai for Couples

The cost of living in Chennai generally ranges from ₹34,000 to ₹55,000 per month for couples. However, it tends to differ among individuals based on accommodation type, lifestyle, personal expenses, etc. 

Find the key expenses for couples living in Chennai below:

Area of Expense Price Range
1 BHK apartment for rent ₹8,000 onwards
2 BHK apartments for rent ₹12,000 onwards
Electricity bill ₹2,000 - ₹4,000
Bus pass Starting ₹1,000
Wi-Fi Starting ₹399
Groceries ₹3,000 - ₹5,000
Meal for two ₹800 onwards
Housemaid Starting ₹2,000
Miscellaneous ₹4,000 - ₹8,000

Factors That Determine the Cost of Living in Chennai

Following are some of the key factors that determine the cost of living in Chennai:

1.  Accommodation

Finding a decent place to stay is the first thing you do when you 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 ₹8,000 - ₹15,000
2 BHK ₹12,000 - ₹25,000
3 BHK ₹15,000 - ₹40,000
Paying Guest ₹6,000 - ₹12,000

 

 

Best Areas to Live in Chennai

The table below shows the top affordable, posh 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 expenses of commuting around Chennai can range between ₹1,000 and ₹6,000. It tends to vary across individuals based on factors like travel distance, transportation, etc.  

In this regard, staying close to your educational institution or workplace can be an ideal way to save both your 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 ₹ 25
Price of diesel (as of 8th July) ₹92.44 per litre
Price of petrol (as of 8th July) ₹100.75 per litre
Rental bikes and scooters ₹4 - ₹20 per km
Cabs (minimum cost) ₹12 - ₹ 19 per km

3.  Groceries

From local markets to supermarkets, Chennai offers many options for buying daily necessities. 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) ₹ 53.63
White bread (1 loaf) ₹ 44.87
Rice (1 kg) ₹ 60.89
Regular eggs (1 dozen) ₹ 74.53
Local cheese (1 kg) ₹ 651.38
Chicken fillets (1 kg) ₹ 275.54
Apples (1 kg) ₹ 218.71
Bananas (1 kg) ₹ 74.28
Oranges (1 kg) ₹ 125.62
Tomato (1 kg) ₹ 44.15
Potato (1 kg) ₹ 39.92
Onion (1 kg) ₹ 40.41
Lettuce (1 head) ₹ 47.95

5.  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 water scarcity in Chennai, these charges vary from place to place.

Utilities Approximate Cost
Electricity, cooling, heating, water, garbage ₹ 3,379.56
Local prepaid mobile tariff (1 min) ₹ 1
Unlimited internet package ₹ 788.30

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 in Chennai where you can go with your family and enjoy the weekend.

Area of Expense Approximate Cost
1 month gym membership ₹ 1,325.60
1 hour rent for a tennis court ₹ 457
1 seat at a cinema hall ₹ 250.00
Meal in an affordable restaurant (1 person) ₹ 150
Three-course meal in a mid-range restaurant ₹ 800
McMeal at McDonald's ₹ 350

6.  Childcare and Schooling

Chennai is popular for its well-known educational system. This city has several prestigious government and private schools, colleges and high-education institutes, making it a prime destination for students from all over the country.

Check out the average costs for childcare and schooling in Chennai in the table below:  

Schools and Childcare Approximate Cost
Preschool, private, full-day for 1 child ₹6,920 per month
International primary school for 1 child ₹121,731 yearly

Tips on Reducing the Cost of Living in Chennai

Here are some tips you can follow to reduce your overall cost of living in Chennai:

  • Go for PGs or other shared accommodations if you are a student or a bachelor. 
  • If you have a family, choosing a flat based on the number of members will be an ideal choice. 
  • Choose areas which are near your workplace or educational institute. 
  • Shop from local markets for your everyday needs. 
  • Cook meals at home and consider doing your housework to avoid the costs of hiring a maid. 
  • Use the free recreational facilities in your area. 
  • Make a budget based on your income and track your expenses regularly.
  • Get a health insurance plan in advance to cover the cost of rising healthcare services. 

Cost of Living in Chennai vs Other Metro Cities

The cost of living in Chennai is the lowest when compared to the cost of living in Delhi, living cost in Bangalore, and Mumbai living expenses, regarding accommodation, groceries, utilities, or transportation.

 

Find more details in the table below:  

Area of Expense Chennai (₹) Delhi (₹) Bangalore (₹) Mumbai (₹)
Accommodation ₹12,000 - ₹35,000 ₹15,000 - ₹45,000 ₹15,000 - ₹40,000 ₹25,000 - ₹60,000
Utilities ₹3,000 - ₹5,000 ₹3,500 - ₹6,000 ₹3,000 - ₹5,000 ₹4,000 - ₹7,000
Groceries ₹4,500 - ₹9,000 ₹5,500 - ₹11,000 ₹5,000 - ₹10,000 ₹6,000 - ₹12,000
Transportation ₹1,500 - ₹3,000 ₹2,000 - ₹4,000 ₹1,500 - ₹3,000 ₹3,000 - ₹5,500
Dining Out ₹3,000 - ₹6,000 ₹4,000 - ₹8,000 ₹3,000 - ₹6,000 ₹4,500 - ₹9,000
Entertainment ₹2,000 - ₹5,000 ₹3,000 - ₹6,000 ₹2,000 - ₹5,000 ₹3,500 - ₹7,000
Education ₹5,000 - ₹15,000 ₹6,000 - ₹20,000 ₹5,000 - ₹15,000 ₹8,000 - ₹25,000
Healthcare ₹2,500 - ₹5,500 ₹3,000 - ₹6,000 ₹2,000 - ₹5,000 ₹4,000 - ₹8,000
Overall Cost ₹33,500 - ₹83,500 ₹42,000 - ₹106,000 ₹36,500 - ₹89,000 ₹58,000 - ₹134,500
Overall Verdict Moderate High Moderate Very High

Important Things to Know Before Moving to Chennai

Listed below are some of the essential pointers that you must know regarding monthly expenses in Chennai before relocating: 

Job Market and Economy

Chennai, also known as the Detroit of Asia, has a booming automobile manufacturing sector that accounts for a major portion of India’s passenger vehicles, commercial vehicles and auto components.

Moreover, several other industries, like FinTech, SaaS, data centres, medical tourism, hardware manufacturing, etc., contribute to the city’s strong economy. Thus, there is no dearth of opportunities in Chennai, making it an ideal destination for job seekers.   

Climate and Weather

Chennai has a tropical wet and dry climate, with the weather remaining hot and humid for most of the year. However, as the city is located near the sea, there are no extreme variations in the seasonal temperatures. Thus, if you are relocating to Chennai, you need to search for well-ventilated accommodations and consider getting an AC. 

Accommodation Options

You will find various accommodation options in Chennai, such as studio apartments, flats in gated communities, builder floors, independent houses, villas, etc. 

Thus, whether you are a bachelor looking for shared accommodations or a family man searching for a spacious apartment, there are numerous options.

Transportation Challenges

Chennai's traffic can be a real menace during office hours. Thus, it is advisable to take the Chennai Mass Rapid Transit System (MRTS) trains. They facilitate easy access to all parts of the city and the surrounding suburbs. 

Apart from this, you can also use the metro to commute to your workplace easily, decreasing the average cost of living in Chennai.

Language and Communication

In Chennai, most people speak Tamil. However, most professionals speak English, enabling you to communicate with them efficiently.  

Now that you have a clear idea of the cost of living in Chennai, you are all set to plan your move. Just remember, everyone will not have the same average monthly expenses. It solely depends on your location, the type of accommodation, the number of family members, lifestyle, and personal spending habits. 

 

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