Skip to content

Chennai vs Bangalore

Chennai runs about 23% cheaper than Bangalore for this household, a difference of 157 USD a month.

Bird's-eye view of Chennai city from Chennai Lighthouse near Marina Beach
Chennai
$695/month · India
SlowPhoton · CC BY-SA 4.0
View from Visvesvaraya Industrial and Technological Museum (2025)
Bangalore
$852/month · India
Gpkp · CC BY-SA 4.0
Chennai monthly
$695
Index 11 (NYC = 100)
Bangalore monthly
$852
Index 13 (NYC = 100)
Difference
+23%
Bangalore relative to Chennai
Rent gap
$120
Bangalore costs more for a central 1-bed
By category

Where the gap actually is

ChennaiBangalore
  • Housing
    Housing: Chennai $300, Bangalore $420. Cheaper in Chennai.
  • Food
    Food: Chennai $226, Bangalore $250. Cheaper in Chennai.
  • Transport
    Transport: Chennai $19, Bangalore $23. Cheaper in Chennai.
  • Utilities
    Utilities: Chennai $57, Bangalore $55. Cheaper in Bangalore.
  • Healthcare
    Healthcare: Chennai $6.31, Bangalore $7.02. Cheaper in Chennai.
  • Lifestyle
    Lifestyle: Chennai $58, Bangalore $65. Cheaper in Chennai.
  • Other
    Other: Chennai $29, Bangalore $32. 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

MetricChennaiBangalore
Cost
Total monthly cost695 USD✓852 USD
Cost index (New York = 100)11✓13
Housing300 USD✓420 USD
Utilities57 USD55 USD✓
Food226 USD✓250 USD
Transport19 USD✓23 USD
Healthcare6 USD✓7 USD
Lifestyle58 USD✓65 USD
Income & tax
Take-home on 100,000 USD/yr6,137 USD6,137 USD
Effective tax + social rate26.4%26.4%
Left over each month5,442 USD✓5,285 USD
Average local net salary470 USD620 USD✓
Housing
1-bed rent, city centre300 USD✓420 USD
3-bed rent, city centre750 USD✓1,000 USD
Buy price per m², centre2,100 USD✓3,000 USD
Quality of life
Safety66/100✓62/100
Healthcare64/10066/100✓
Air quality28/10032/100✓
Public transport52/100✓40/100
Walkability46/100✓44/100
English proficiency74/10080/100✓
Nightlife66/10084/100✓
Family friendliness68/100✓66/100
Median broadband85 Mbps90 Mbps✓
Climate
Average temperature29°C24°C✓
Summer high37°C33°C✓
Winter low21°C✓15°C
Sunshine hours per year2,700 h✓2,400 h
Annual rainfall1400 mm970 mm✓
Practicalities
Remote-work visaNoNo
Beach access25 min✓300 min
CurrencyINRINR
Time zoneAsia/KolkataAsia/Kolkata

Chennai runs about 23% cheaper than Bangalore for this household, a difference of 157 USD a month.

Next

Go deeper

Cost of living in ChennaiCost of living in BangaloreConvert a salary between themFlip the comparison
Chennai vs HyderabadChennai vs PuneChennai vs Delhi
FAQ

Frequently asked

Is Chennai or Bangalore cheaper?

Chennai runs about 23% cheaper than Bangalore for this household, a difference of 157 USD a month.

What salary do you need in Bangalore compared with Chennai?

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

Which has better quality of life, Chennai or Bangalore?

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