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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $484 per month in Chennai (Madras) vs $423 in Hubli, rent included.

A couple spends around $754 per month in Chennai (Madras) vs $669 in Hubli, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,024 per month in Chennai (Madras) vs $915 in Hubli, rent included.

Chennai (Madras) costs about 14% more than Hubli, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both Chennai (Madras) and Hubli are more affordable than the global median – Chennai (Madras) 64% lower, Hubli 68% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chennai (Madras)
Hubli
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.23 ₹212
$5.37 ₹512
-58.47%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$11.73 ₹1,118
$14.39 ₹1,371
-18.49%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$3.96 ₹377
$2.39 ₹228
65.69%
Cappuccino
$2.11 ₹201
$1.41 ₹135
49.65%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.49 ₹46.89
$0.40 ₹38.52
22.50%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.19 ₹18.28
$0.17 ₹16.55
11.76%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.08 ₹198
$1.18 ₹112
76.27%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.18 ₹398
$5.64 ₹537
-25.89%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chennai (Madras)
Hubli
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.63 ₹59.8
$0.68 ₹64.9
-7.35%
White Bread (500g)
$0.50 ₹47.15
$0.42 ₹40.12
19.05%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.77 ₹73.1
$0.87 ₹82.6
-11.49%
Eggs
$0.87 ₹83.1
$0.85 ₹81.3
2.35%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$6.99 ₹666
$11.48 ₹1,094
-39.11%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.45 ₹329
$4.70 ₹448
-26.60%
Apples (1kg)
$2.94 ₹280
$2.12 ₹202
38.68%
Banana (1kg)
$0.82 ₹77.8
$0.67 ₹63.8
22.39%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.34 ₹127
$1.06 ₹101
26.42%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.45 ₹42.73
$0.28 ₹26.52
60.71%
Potato (1kg)
$0.55 ₹52.1
$0.46 ₹43.34
19.57%
Onion (1kg)
$0.54 ₹51.2
$0.54 ₹51.3
-
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.55 ₹52.0
$0.45 ₹42.59
22.22%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.33 ₹31.27
$0.30 ₹28.93
10.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.00 ₹381
$4.11 ₹392
-2.68%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.68 ₹731
-
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.91 ₹182
$1.96 ₹187
-2.55%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.49 ₹333
$2.35 ₹224
48.51%
Buffalo Round (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat) (1kg)
$6.12 ₹583
$5.21 ₹496
17.47%
🚌 Getting Around
Chennai (Madras)
Hubli
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.34 ₹32.11
$0.20 ₹19.11
70.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$11.49 ₹1,095
$8.68 ₹827
32.37%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.53 ₹146
$0.85 ₹80.6
80.00%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.30 ₹28.64
$0.26 ₹24.90
15.38%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$1.76 ₹168
$0.86 ₹81.6
104.65%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.16 ₹110
$1.16 ₹111
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.2K ₹1.6M
$14.0K ₹1.3M
23.36%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.5K ₹2.3M
$21.7K ₹2.1M
12.82%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chennai (Madras)
Hubli
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$47.37 ₹4,512
$34.85 ₹3,319
35.93%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.73 ₹451
$3.52 ₹335
34.38%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$9.77 ₹931
$11.28 ₹1,075
-13.39%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chennai (Madras)
Hubli
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$17.53 ₹1,669
$7.06 ₹673
148.30%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$7.26 ₹691
$3.55 ₹338
104.51%
Cinema Ticket
$2.84 ₹271
$2.96 ₹282
-4.05%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chennai (Madras)
Hubli
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$80.3 ₹7,650
$58.7 ₹5,591
36.81%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$1,756 ₹167.3K
$879 ₹83.7K
99.77%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chennai (Madras)
Hubli
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$25.19 ₹2,399
$24.23 ₹2,308
3.96%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$23.56 ₹2,244
$25.44 ₹2,423
-7.39%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$49.44 ₹4,709
$43.48 ₹4,142
13.71%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$35.35 ₹3,367
$31.50 ₹3,000
12.22%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chennai (Madras)
Hubli
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$190 ₹18.1K
$126 ₹12.0K
50.55%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$117 ₹11.1K
$93.0 ₹8,861
25.64%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$435 ₹41.4K
$193 ₹18.4K
125.73%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$263 ₹25.0K
$180 ₹17.2K
45.72%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,736 ₹165.3K
$478 ₹45.5K
263.10%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$724 ₹69.0K
$263 ₹25.0K
175.53%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chennai (Madras)
Hubli
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$718 ₹68.4K
$379 ₹36.1K
89.48%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
9.42
8.13
15.87%

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

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

Last update for Hubli: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $190 in Chennai (Madras) versus $126 in Hubli. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 89% higher in Chennai (Madras), which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $12.00 in Chennai (Madras) versus $14.00 in Hubli. Groceries tell a different story – $124 in Chennai (Madras) vs $119 in Hubli – so Hubli wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Chennai (Madras) vs Hubli: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Chennai (Madras) or Hubli?
Chennai (Madras) costs about 14% more than Hubli, with the gap driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Chennai (Madras) vs Hubli?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $726 per month in Chennai (Madras) and $635 in Hubli. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Chennai (Madras) or Hubli?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Hubli, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How much does it cost to live in Chennai (Madras) compared to Hubli?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $484 in Chennai (Madras) and $423 in Hubli. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
How expensive is transport in Chennai (Madras) vs Hubli?
Public transport costs about 32% less in Hubli. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Chennai (Madras) or Hubli?
$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $484 in Chennai (Madras) and $423 in Hubli, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Chennai (Madras) or Hubli?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Hubli costs $423 versus $484 in Chennai (Madras). Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
Should I move to Chennai (Madras) or Hubli?
If budget matters most, go with Hubli. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Chennai (Madras) makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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