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Bangalore vs Chennai

Chennai runs about 18% cheaper than Bangalore for this household, a difference of 157 USD a month.

View from Visvesvaraya Industrial and Technological Museum (2025)
Bangalore
$852/month · India
Gpkp · CC BY-SA 4.0
Bird's-eye view of Chennai city from Chennai Lighthouse near Marina Beach
Chennai
$695/month · India
SlowPhoton · CC BY-SA 4.0
Bangalore monthly
$852
Index 13 (NYC = 100)
Chennai monthly
$695
Index 11 (NYC = 100)
Difference
-18%
Chennai relative to Bangalore
Rent gap
$120
Bangalore costs more for a central 1-bed
By category

Where the gap actually is

BangaloreChennai
  • Housing
    Housing: Bangalore $420, Chennai $300. Cheaper in Chennai.
  • Food
    Food: Bangalore $250, Chennai $226. Cheaper in Chennai.
  • Transport
    Transport: Bangalore $23, Chennai $19. Cheaper in Chennai.
  • Utilities
    Utilities: Bangalore $55, Chennai $57. Cheaper in Bangalore.
  • Healthcare
    Healthcare: Bangalore $7.02, Chennai $6.31. Cheaper in Chennai.
  • Lifestyle
    Lifestyle: Bangalore $65, Chennai $58. Cheaper in Chennai.
  • Other
    Other: Bangalore $32, Chennai $29. Cheaper in Chennai.
Each row is one category priced in both cities for the same household. The bar is the gap; exact figures are in the table below.
Interactive — adjust the household

Full comparison

MetricBangaloreChennai
Cost
Total monthly cost852 USD695 USD✓
Cost index (New York = 100)1311✓
Housing420 USD300 USD✓
Utilities55 USD✓57 USD
Food250 USD226 USD✓
Transport23 USD19 USD✓
Healthcare7 USD6 USD✓
Lifestyle65 USD58 USD✓
Income & tax
Take-home on 100,000 USD/yr6,137 USD6,137 USD
Effective tax + social rate26.4%26.4%
Left over each month5,285 USD5,442 USD✓
Average local net salary620 USD✓470 USD
Housing
1-bed rent, city centre420 USD300 USD✓
3-bed rent, city centre1,000 USD750 USD✓
Buy price per m², centre3,000 USD2,100 USD✓
Quality of life
Safety62/10066/100✓
Healthcare66/100✓64/100
Air quality32/100✓28/100
Public transport40/10052/100✓
Walkability44/10046/100✓
English proficiency80/100✓74/100
Nightlife84/100✓66/100
Family friendliness66/10068/100✓
Median broadband90 Mbps✓85 Mbps
Climate
Average temperature24°C✓29°C
Summer high33°C✓37°C
Winter low15°C21°C✓
Sunshine hours per year2,400 h2,700 h✓
Annual rainfall970 mm✓1400 mm
Practicalities
Remote-work visaNoNo
Beach access300 min25 min✓
CurrencyINRINR
Time zoneAsia/KolkataAsia/Kolkata

Chennai runs about 18% cheaper than Bangalore for this household, a difference of 157 USD a month.

Next

Go deeper

Cost of living in BangaloreCost of living in ChennaiConvert a salary between themFlip the comparison
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FAQ

Frequently asked

Is Bangalore or Chennai cheaper?

Chennai runs about 18% cheaper than Bangalore for this household, a difference of 157 USD a month.

What salary do you need in Chennai compared with Bangalore?

On a $100,000 gross salary you would take home $6,137 a month in Bangalore and $6,137 in Chennai, before local costs. Use the salary converter for an exact equivalent.

Which has better quality of life, Bangalore or Chennai?

Bangalore scores 62/100 on safety and 66/100 on healthcare; Chennai scores 66 and 64. Bangalore averages 24°C against 29°C in Chennai.