Cost of Living Comparison Between Chennai (Madras) and Delhi Cost of Living Comparison Between Chennai (Madras) and Delhi

🙂 Solo nomad: Chennai (Madras) is 6.7% cheaper than Delhi without rent, and 9% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Chennai (Madras) is 13.2% cheaper than Delhi without rent, and 14.2% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chennai (Madras)
Delhi
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.27 ₹209
$4.77 ₹439
-52.41%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$11.82 ₹1,089
$20.14 ₹1,855
-41.31%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.12 ₹379
$4.00 ₹368
3.00%
Cappuccino
$2.08 ₹191
$2.10 ₹194
-0.95%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.45 ₹41.28
$0.48 ₹43.87
-6.25%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.17 ₹15.85
$0.15 ₹14.01
13.33%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.04 ₹188
$2.07 ₹191
-1.45%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.08 ₹376
$3.47 ₹320
17.58%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chennai (Madras)
Delhi
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.63 ₹58.2
$0.79 ₹72.8
-20.25%
White Bread (500g)
$0.49 ₹45.18
$0.56 ₹51.1
-12.50%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.73 ₹66.9
$0.93 ₹85.7
-21.51%
Eggs
$0.88 ₹80.9
$1.12 ₹104
-21.43%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$6.96 ₹641
$4.70 ₹433
48.09%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.44 ₹317
$3.45 ₹318
-0.29%
Apples (1kg)
$2.95 ₹272
$2.06 ₹189
43.20%
Banana (1kg)
$0.85 ₹78.3
$0.83 ₹76.8
2.41%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.27 ₹117
$0.94 ₹86.7
35.11%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.49 ₹44.96
$0.65 ₹59.7
-24.62%
Potato (1kg)
$0.51 ₹46.95
$0.42 ₹38.56
21.43%
Onion (1kg)
$0.51 ₹46.87
$0.54 ₹49.48
-5.56%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.59 ₹54.1
$0.60 ₹55.1
-1.67%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.35 ₹32.52
$0.36 ₹33.55
-2.78%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.05 ₹373
$4.17 ₹384
-2.88%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.64 ₹704
$10.44 ₹961
-26.82%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.81 ₹167
$1.78 ₹164
1.69%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.48 ₹321
$2.75 ₹253
26.55%
Buffalo Round (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat) (1kg)
$6.04 ₹556
$5.46 ₹503
10.62%
🚌 Getting Around
Chennai (Madras)
Delhi
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.36 ₹33.20
$0.51 ₹46.86
-29.41%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$11.42 ₹1,052
$11.47 ₹1,057
-0.44%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.61 ₹148
$0.57 ₹52.4
182.46%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.30 ₹27.86
$0.28 ₹25.78
7.14%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$1.71 ₹158
$1.24 ₹115
37.90%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.22 ₹112
$1.17 ₹108
4.27%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.2K ₹1.6M
$17.3K ₹1.6M
-0.83%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.9K ₹2.2M
$23.9K ₹2.2M
-0.05%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chennai (Madras)
Delhi
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$47.91 ₹4,413
$67.4 ₹6,210
-28.94%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.82 ₹444
$4.30 ₹396
12.09%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$9.33 ₹859
$8.04 ₹740
16.04%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chennai (Madras)
Delhi
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$17.77 ₹1,637
$20.21 ₹1,861
-12.07%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.99 ₹644
$10.12 ₹932
-30.93%
Cinema Ticket
$2.84 ₹261
$4.54 ₹418
-37.44%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chennai (Madras)
Delhi
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$80.1 ₹7,378
$79.7 ₹7,343
0.48%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$1,742 ₹160.5K
$2,008 ₹185.0K
-13.25%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chennai (Madras)
Delhi
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$25.91 ₹2,386
$27.57 ₹2,539
-6.02%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$23.73 ₹2,186
$31.82 ₹2,931
-25.42%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$48.67 ₹4,483
$49.11 ₹4,523
-0.90%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$36.53 ₹3,365
$35.92 ₹3,309
1.70%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chennai (Madras)
Delhi
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$194 ₹17.8K
$238 ₹21.9K
-18.57%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$118 ₹10.9K
$138 ₹12.7K
-14.56%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$432 ₹39.8K
$592 ₹54.5K
-26.93%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$265 ₹24.4K
$323 ₹29.7K
-17.80%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,752 ₹161.4K
$2,565 ₹236.3K
-31.70%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$701 ₹64.6K
$1,003 ₹92.4K
-30.07%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chennai (Madras)
Delhi
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$751 ₹69.2K
$542 ₹49.9K
38.64%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
9.42
9
4.67%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Chennai (Madras): March 1, 2026

Last update for Delhi: March 1, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated December 2025)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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