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

😐 Solo nomad: Delhi is 7.2% more expensive than Chennai (Madras) without rent, and 9.8% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Delhi is 15.2% more expensive than Chennai (Madras) without rent, and 16.5% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Delhi
Chennai (Madras)
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.77 ₹439
$2.27 ₹209
110.13%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$20.14 ₹1,855
$11.82 ₹1,089
70.39%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.00 ₹368
$4.12 ₹379
-2.91%
Cappuccino
$2.10 ₹194
$2.08 ₹191
0.96%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.48 ₹43.87
$0.45 ₹41.28
6.67%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.15 ₹14.01
$0.17 ₹15.85
-11.76%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.07 ₹191
$2.04 ₹188
1.47%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.47 ₹320
$4.08 ₹376
-14.95%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Delhi
Chennai (Madras)
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.79 ₹72.8
$0.63 ₹58.2
25.40%
White Bread (500g)
$0.56 ₹51.1
$0.49 ₹45.18
14.29%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.93 ₹85.7
$0.73 ₹66.9
27.40%
Eggs
$1.12 ₹104
$0.88 ₹80.9
27.27%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.70 ₹433
$6.96 ₹641
-32.47%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.45 ₹318
$3.44 ₹317
0.29%
Apples (1kg)
$2.06 ₹189
$2.95 ₹272
-30.17%
Banana (1kg)
$0.83 ₹76.8
$0.85 ₹78.3
-2.35%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.94 ₹86.7
$1.27 ₹117
-25.98%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.65 ₹59.7
$0.49 ₹44.96
32.65%
Potato (1kg)
$0.42 ₹38.56
$0.51 ₹46.95
-17.65%
Onion (1kg)
$0.54 ₹49.48
$0.51 ₹46.87
5.88%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.60 ₹55.1
$0.59 ₹54.1
1.69%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.36 ₹33.55
$0.35 ₹32.52
2.86%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.17 ₹384
$4.05 ₹373
2.96%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.44 ₹961
$7.64 ₹704
36.65%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78 ₹164
$1.81 ₹167
-1.66%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.75 ₹253
$3.48 ₹321
-20.98%
Buffalo Round (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat) (1kg)
$5.46 ₹503
$6.04 ₹556
-9.60%
🚌 Getting Around
Delhi
Chennai (Madras)
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.51 ₹46.86
$0.36 ₹33.20
41.67%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$11.47 ₹1,057
$11.42 ₹1,052
0.44%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.57 ₹52.4
$1.61 ₹148
-64.60%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.28 ₹25.78
$0.30 ₹27.86
-6.67%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$1.24 ₹115
$1.71 ₹158
-27.49%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.17 ₹108
$1.22 ₹112
-4.10%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.3K ₹1.6M
$17.2K ₹1.6M
0.84%
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
Delhi
Chennai (Madras)
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$67.4 ₹6,210
$47.91 ₹4,413
40.72%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.30 ₹396
$4.82 ₹444
-10.79%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$8.04 ₹740
$9.33 ₹859
-13.83%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Delhi
Chennai (Madras)
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$20.21 ₹1,861
$17.77 ₹1,637
13.73%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$10.12 ₹932
$6.99 ₹644
44.78%
Cinema Ticket
$4.54 ₹418
$2.84 ₹261
59.86%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Delhi
Chennai (Madras)
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$79.7 ₹7,343
$80.1 ₹7,378
-0.47%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$2,008 ₹185.0K
$1,742 ₹160.5K
15.27%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Delhi
Chennai (Madras)
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$27.57 ₹2,539
$25.91 ₹2,386
6.41%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.82 ₹2,931
$23.73 ₹2,186
34.09%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$49.11 ₹4,523
$48.67 ₹4,483
0.90%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$35.92 ₹3,309
$36.53 ₹3,365
-1.67%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Delhi
Chennai (Madras)
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$238 ₹21.9K
$194 ₹17.8K
22.80%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$138 ₹12.7K
$118 ₹10.9K
17.04%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$592 ₹54.5K
$432 ₹39.8K
36.85%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$323 ₹29.7K
$265 ₹24.4K
21.65%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,565 ₹236.3K
$1,752 ₹161.4K
46.41%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,003 ₹92.4K
$701 ₹64.6K
43.00%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Delhi
Chennai (Madras)
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$542 ₹49.9K
$751 ₹69.2K
-27.87%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
9
9.42
-4.46%

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

Last update for Delhi: March 1, 2026

Last update for Chennai (Madras): 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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