🙂A single person spends $423 per month in Hubli vs $484 in Chennai (Madras), rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $669 per month in Hubli vs $754 in Chennai (Madras), rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $915 per month in Hubli vs $1,024 in Chennai (Madras), rent included.
🙂Hubli is about 12% cheaper than Chennai (Madras), driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.
📊Both Hubli and Chennai (Madras) are more affordable than the global median – Hubli68% lower, Chennai (Madras)64% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Hubli
Chennai (Madras)
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.37₹512
$2.23₹212
140.81%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$14.39₹1,371
$11.73₹1,118
22.68%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$2.39₹228
$3.96₹377
-39.65%
Cappuccino
$1.41₹135
$2.11₹201
-33.18%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.40₹38.52
$0.49₹46.89
-18.37%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.17₹16.55
$0.19₹18.28
-10.53%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.18₹112
$2.08₹198
-43.27%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.64₹537
$4.18₹398
34.93%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Hubli
Chennai (Madras)
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.68₹64.9
$0.63₹59.8
7.94%
White Bread(500g)
$0.42₹40.12
$0.50₹47.15
-16.00%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.87₹82.6
$0.77₹73.1
12.99%
Eggs
$0.85₹81.3
$0.87₹83.1
-2.30%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.48₹1,094
$6.99₹666
64.23%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.70₹448
$3.45₹329
36.23%
Apples(1kg)
$2.12₹202
$2.94₹280
-27.89%
Banana(1kg)
$0.67₹63.8
$0.82₹77.8
-18.29%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.06₹101
$1.34₹127
-20.90%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.28₹26.52
$0.45₹42.73
-37.78%
Potato(1kg)
$0.46₹43.34
$0.55₹52.1
-16.36%
Onion(1kg)
$0.54₹51.3
$0.54₹51.2
-
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.45₹42.59
$0.55₹52.0
-18.18%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.30₹28.93
$0.33₹31.27
-9.09%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.11₹392
$4.00₹381
2.75%
Wine(Bottle)
-
$7.68₹731
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.96₹187
$1.91₹182
2.62%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.35₹224
$3.49₹333
-32.66%
Buffalo Round(or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat)(1kg)
$5.21₹496
$6.12₹583
-14.87%
🚌 Getting Around
Hubli
Chennai (Madras)
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.20₹19.11
$0.34₹32.11
-41.18%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$8.68₹827
$11.49₹1,095
-24.46%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.85₹80.6
$1.53₹146
-44.44%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.26₹24.90
$0.30₹28.64
-13.33%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$0.86₹81.6
$1.76₹168
-51.14%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.16₹111
$1.16₹110
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$14.0K₹1.3M
$17.2K₹1.6M
-18.94%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.7K₹2.1M
$24.5K₹2.3M
-11.36%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Hubli
Chennai (Madras)
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$34.85₹3,319
$47.37₹4,512
-26.43%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$3.52₹335
$4.73₹451
-25.58%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$11.28₹1,075
$9.77₹931
15.46%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Hubli
Chennai (Madras)
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$7.06₹673
$17.53₹1,669
-59.73%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$3.55₹338
$7.26₹691
-51.10%
Cinema Ticket
$2.96₹282
$2.84₹271
4.23%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Hubli
Chennai (Madras)
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$58.7₹5,591
$80.3₹7,650
-26.91%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$879₹83.7K
$1,756₹167.3K
-49.94%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Hubli
Chennai (Madras)
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$24.23₹2,308
$25.19₹2,399
-3.81%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$25.44₹2,423
$23.56₹2,244
7.98%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$43.48₹4,142
$49.44₹4,709
-12.06%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$31.50₹3,000
$35.35₹3,367
-10.89%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Hubli
Chennai (Madras)
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$126₹12.0K
$190₹18.1K
-33.58%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$93.0₹8,861
$117₹11.1K
-20.41%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$193₹18.4K
$435₹41.4K
-55.70%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$180₹17.2K
$263₹25.0K
-31.38%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$478₹45.5K
$1,736₹165.3K
-72.46%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$263₹25.0K
$724₹69.0K
-63.71%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Hubli
Chennai (Madras)
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$379₹36.1K
$718₹68.4K
-47.22%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
8.13
9.42
-13.69%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Hubli: June 2, 2026
Last update for Chennai (Madras): June 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $126 in Hubli versus $190 in Chennai (Madras). 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 $14.00 in Hubli versus $12.00 in Chennai (Madras). Groceries tell a different story – $119 in Hubli vs $124 in Chennai (Madras) – 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
Hubli vs Chennai (Madras): Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Hubli or Chennai (Madras)?
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 Hubli vs Chennai (Madras)?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $635 per month in Hubli and $726 in Chennai (Madras). That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Hubli or Chennai (Madras)?
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 Hubli compared to Chennai (Madras)?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $423 in Hubli and $484 in Chennai (Madras). The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
How expensive is transport in Hubli vs Chennai (Madras)?
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 Hubli or Chennai (Madras)?
$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $423 in Hubli and $484 in Chennai (Madras), leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Hubli or Chennai (Madras)?
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 Hubli or Chennai (Madras)?
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.