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Chennai vs Mumbai

Chennai runs about 52% cheaper than Mumbai for this household, a difference of 358 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 of the Parshuram Mandir on the bank of the ancient Banganga tank at Walkeshwar area in the Malabar Hill residencial area of Mumbai.
Mumbai
$1,054/month · India
Sntshkumar750 · CC BY-SA 4.0
Chennai monthly
$695
Index 11 (NYC = 100)
Mumbai monthly
$1,054
Index 17 (NYC = 100)
Difference
+52%
Mumbai relative to Chennai
Rent gap
$300
Mumbai costs more for a central 1-bed
By category

Where the gap actually is

ChennaiMumbai
  • Housing
    Housing: Chennai $300, Mumbai $600. Cheaper in Chennai.
  • Food
    Food: Chennai $226, Mumbai $266. Cheaper in Chennai.
  • Transport
    Transport: Chennai $19, Mumbai $25. Cheaper in Chennai.
  • Utilities
    Utilities: Chennai $57, Mumbai $52. Cheaper in Mumbai.
  • Healthcare
    Healthcare: Chennai $6.31, Mumbai $8.05. Cheaper in Chennai.
  • Lifestyle
    Lifestyle: Chennai $58, Mumbai $70. Cheaper in Chennai.
  • Other
    Other: Chennai $29, Mumbai $34. 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

MetricChennaiMumbai
Cost
Total monthly cost695 USD✓1,054 USD
Cost index (New York = 100)11✓17
Housing300 USD✓600 USD
Utilities57 USD52 USD✓
Food226 USD✓266 USD
Transport19 USD✓25 USD
Healthcare6 USD✓8 USD
Lifestyle58 USD✓70 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✓5,083 USD
Average local net salary470 USD550 USD✓
Housing
1-bed rent, city centre300 USD✓600 USD
3-bed rent, city centre750 USD✓1,500 USD
Buy price per m², centre2,100 USD✓5,500 USD
Quality of life
Safety66/100✓56/100
Healthcare64/100✓60/100
Air quality28/100✓22/100
Public transport52/10062/100✓
Walkability46/10058/100✓
English proficiency74/10074/100
Nightlife66/10080/100✓
Family friendliness68/100✓60/100
Median broadband85 Mbps✓80 Mbps
Climate
Average temperature29°C27°C✓
Summer high37°C33°C✓
Winter low21°C✓18°C
Sunshine hours per year2,700 h✓2,600 h
Annual rainfall1400 mm✓2300 mm
Practicalities
Remote-work visaNoNo
Beach access25 min20 min✓
CurrencyINRINR
Time zoneAsia/KolkataAsia/Kolkata

Chennai runs about 52% cheaper than Mumbai for this household, a difference of 358 USD a month.

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Go deeper

Cost of living in ChennaiCost of living in MumbaiConvert a salary between themFlip the comparison
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FAQ

Frequently asked

Is Chennai or Mumbai cheaper?

Chennai runs about 52% cheaper than Mumbai for this household, a difference of 358 USD a month.

What salary do you need in Mumbai compared with Chennai?

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

Which has better quality of life, Chennai or Mumbai?

Chennai scores 66/100 on safety and 64/100 on healthcare; Mumbai scores 56 and 60. Chennai averages 29°C against 27°C in Mumbai.