Chennai, India
Live cost-of-living data for Chennai — rent, groceries, transport, healthcare and more, sourced and cross-checked by AI and refreshed regularly.
Cost Breakdown by Category
Each score runs 0–100, where higher means pricier. Representative prices shown per category.
Digital Nomad Profile
Best neighborhoods: Mylapore, Besant Nagar, Adyar
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Chennai cheap to live in?
Chennai has a cost of living index of 16/100, where New York = 100. It is 84% cheaper than New York. A single person can live comfortably for approximately $560–$784 per month.
How much does rent cost in Chennai?
A 1-bedroom apartment in the city center of Chennai costs approximately $179/month. Outside the center, expect to pay around $111/month.
Is Chennai good for digital nomads?
Chennai has a growing digital nomad community. Average internet speed is 45 Mbps, café wifi reliability is fair, and coworking spaces run about $120/month. English proficiency is moderate.
What is the average salary in Chennai?
The median net monthly salary in Chennai is approximately $1,710 USD. The income tax rate is around 20%.
How does Chennai compare to New York for cost of living?
Chennai (cost index 16) is 84% cheaper than New York (cost index 100). You could save roughly $2,100/month by moving from New York to Chennai.
Compare Chennai with…
Popular head-to-heads — see exactly where Chennai wins or loses.
Cities that cost about the same as Chennai
Same spending tier, different part of the world — the head-to-heads people actually weigh when relocating.
Compare Chennai with another city
See exactly how Chennai stacks up against your current city or next destination.
Free to start · No credit card needed