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Chennai vs Delhi

Chennai runs about 27% cheaper than Delhi for this household, a difference of 185 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
A view of the Hyderabad House, before Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III meets with National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, New Delhi, India, March 19, 2021. (DoD photo by Lisa Ferdinando)
Delhi
$880/month · India
U.S. Secretary of Defense Intensity bumped up for Delhi infobox picture · Public domain
Chennai monthly
$695
Index 11 (NYC = 100)
Delhi monthly
$880
Index 14 (NYC = 100)
Difference
+27%
Delhi relative to Chennai
Rent gap
$150
Delhi costs more for a central 1-bed
By category

Where the gap actually is

ChennaiDelhi
  • Housing
    Housing: Chennai $300, Delhi $450. Cheaper in Chennai.
  • Food
    Food: Chennai $226, Delhi $249. Cheaper in Chennai.
  • Transport
    Transport: Chennai $19, Delhi $21. Cheaper in Chennai.
  • Utilities
    Utilities: Chennai $57, Delhi $58. Cheaper in Chennai.
  • Healthcare
    Healthcare: Chennai $6.31, Delhi $6.96. Cheaper in Chennai.
  • Lifestyle
    Lifestyle: Chennai $58, Delhi $63. Cheaper in Chennai.
  • Other
    Other: Chennai $29, Delhi $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

MetricChennaiDelhi
Cost
Total monthly cost695 USD✓880 USD
Cost index (New York = 100)11✓14
Housing300 USD✓450 USD
Utilities57 USD✓58 USD
Food226 USD✓249 USD
Transport19 USD✓21 USD
Healthcare6 USD✓7 USD
Lifestyle58 USD✓63 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✓5,257 USD
Average local net salary470 USD480 USD✓
Housing
1-bed rent, city centre300 USD✓450 USD
3-bed rent, city centre750 USD✓1,200 USD
Buy price per m², centre2,100 USD✓3,600 USD
Quality of life
Safety66/100✓48/100
Healthcare64/100✓60/100
Air quality28/100✓10/100
Public transport52/10066/100✓
Walkability46/10050/100✓
English proficiency74/100✓72/100
Nightlife66/10078/100✓
Family friendliness68/100✓58/100
Median broadband85 Mbps85 Mbps
Climate
Average temperature29°C25°C✓
Summer high37°C✓40°C
Winter low21°C✓7°C
Sunshine hours per year2,700 h2,800 h✓
Annual rainfall1400 mm790 mm✓
Practicalities
Remote-work visaNoNo
Beach access25 min✓None nearby
CurrencyINRINR
Time zoneAsia/KolkataAsia/Kolkata

Chennai runs about 27% cheaper than Delhi for this household, a difference of 185 USD a month.

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

Frequently asked

Is Chennai or Delhi cheaper?

Chennai runs about 27% cheaper than Delhi for this household, a difference of 185 USD a month.

What salary do you need in Delhi compared with Chennai?

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

Which has better quality of life, Chennai or Delhi?

Chennai scores 66/100 on safety and 64/100 on healthcare; Delhi scores 48 and 60. Chennai averages 29°C against 25°C in Delhi.