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Chennai vs London

Chennai runs about 482% cheaper than London for this household, a difference of 3,355 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
Palace of Westminster, Big Ben, and Westminster Bridge as seen from the south bank of the River Thames.
London
$4,050/month · United Kingdom
Terry Ott from Washington, DC Metro Area, United States of America · CC BY 2.0
Chennai monthly
$695
Index 11 (NYC = 100)
London monthly
$4,050
Index 63 (NYC = 100)
Difference
+482%
London relative to Chennai
Rent gap
$2,300
London costs more for a central 1-bed
By category

Where the gap actually is

ChennaiLondon
  • Housing
    Housing: Chennai $300, London $2,600. Cheaper in Chennai.
  • Food
    Food: Chennai $226, London $617. Cheaper in Chennai.
  • Transport
    Transport: Chennai $19, London $282. Cheaper in Chennai.
  • Utilities
    Utilities: Chennai $57, London $267. Cheaper in Chennai.
  • Healthcare
    Healthcare: Chennai $6.31, London $8.03. Cheaper in Chennai.
  • Lifestyle
    Lifestyle: Chennai $58, London $169. Cheaper in Chennai.
  • Other
    Other: Chennai $29, London $107. 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

MetricChennaiLondon
Cost
Total monthly cost695 USD✓4,050 USD
Cost index (New York = 100)11✓63
Housing300 USD✓2,600 USD
Utilities57 USD✓267 USD
Food226 USD✓617 USD
Transport19 USD✓282 USD
Healthcare6 USD✓8 USD
Lifestyle58 USD✓169 USD
Income & tax
Take-home on 100,000 USD/yr6,137 USD✓5,953 USD
Effective tax + social rate26.4%✓28.6%
Left over each month5,442 USD✓1,902 USD
Average local net salary470 USD3,600 USD✓
Housing
1-bed rent, city centre300 USD✓2,600 USD
3-bed rent, city centre750 USD✓5,200 USD
Buy price per m², centre2,100 USD✓15,000 USD
Quality of life
Safety66/10066/100
Healthcare64/10084/100✓
Air quality28/10060/100✓
Public transport52/10092/100✓
Walkability46/10090/100✓
English proficiency74/100100/100✓
Nightlife66/10094/100✓
Family friendliness68/10072/100✓
Median broadband85 Mbps90 Mbps✓
Climate
Average temperature29°C12°C✓
Summer high37°C23°C✓
Winter low21°C✓3°C
Sunshine hours per year2,700 h✓1,480 h
Annual rainfall1400 mm600 mm✓
Practicalities
Remote-work visaNoNo
Beach access25 min✓90 min
CurrencyINRGBP
Time zoneAsia/KolkataEurope/London

Chennai runs about 482% cheaper than London for this household, a difference of 3,355 USD a month.

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

Frequently asked

Is Chennai or London cheaper?

Chennai runs about 482% cheaper than London for this household, a difference of 3,355 USD a month.

What salary do you need in London compared with Chennai?

On a $100,000 gross salary you would take home $6,137 a month in Chennai and $5,953 in London, before local costs. Use the salary converter for an exact equivalent.

Which has better quality of life, Chennai or London?

Chennai scores 66/100 on safety and 64/100 on healthcare; London scores 66 and 84. Chennai averages 29°C against 12°C in London.