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

😐 Solo nomad: Madurai is 1.4% more expensive than Chennai (Madras) without rent, and 11.5% cheaper with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Madurai is 2% more expensive than Chennai (Madras) without rent, and 4.2% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Madurai
Chennai (Madras)
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.72 ₹158
$2.27 ₹209
-24.23%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$11.77 ₹1,084
$11.82 ₹1,089
-0.42%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.29 ₹488
$4.12 ₹379
28.40%
Cappuccino
$1.71 ₹157
$2.08 ₹191
-17.79%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.68 ₹62.2
$0.45 ₹41.28
51.11%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.20 ₹18.41
$0.17 ₹15.85
17.65%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.90 ₹175
$2.04 ₹188
-6.86%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.98 ₹275
$4.08 ₹376
-26.96%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Madurai
Chennai (Madras)
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.61 ₹56.1
$0.63 ₹58.2
-3.17%
White Bread (500g)
$0.54 ₹49.44
$0.49 ₹45.18
10.20%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.79 ₹72.4
$0.73 ₹66.9
8.22%
Eggs
$0.86 ₹79.2
$0.88 ₹80.9
-2.27%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$6.72 ₹619
$6.96 ₹641
-3.45%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.71 ₹342
$3.44 ₹317
7.85%
Apples (1kg)
$3.21 ₹295
$2.95 ₹272
8.81%
Banana (1kg)
$0.85 ₹78.5
$0.85 ₹78.3
-
Oranges (1kg)
$1.96 ₹181
$1.27 ₹117
54.33%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.61 ₹56.2
$0.49 ₹44.96
24.49%
Potato (1kg)
$0.81 ₹74.9
$0.51 ₹46.95
58.82%
Onion (1kg)
$0.83 ₹76.1
$0.51 ₹46.87
62.75%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.76 ₹70.0
$0.59 ₹54.1
28.81%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.49 ₹45.33
$0.35 ₹32.52
40.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.43 ₹408
$4.05 ₹373
9.38%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.04 ₹649
$7.64 ₹704
-7.85%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.32 ₹214
$1.81 ₹167
28.18%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.42 ₹407
$3.48 ₹321
27.01%
Buffalo Round (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat) (1kg)
$6.74 ₹621
$6.04 ₹556
11.59%
🚌 Getting Around
Madurai
Chennai (Madras)
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.24 ₹22.15
$0.36 ₹33.20
-33.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$11.55 ₹1,063
$11.42 ₹1,052
1.14%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.07 ₹98.6
$1.61 ₹148
-33.54%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.24 ₹22.20
$0.30 ₹27.86
-20.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$1.20 ₹111
$1.71 ₹158
-29.82%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.21 ₹112
$1.22 ₹112
-0.82%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.1K ₹1.7M
$17.2K ₹1.6M
5.59%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.0K ₹2.1M
$23.9K ₹2.2M
-4.04%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Madurai
Chennai (Madras)
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$31.86 ₹2,934
$47.91 ₹4,413
-33.50%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.08 ₹376
$4.82 ₹444
-15.35%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$7.76 ₹715
$9.33 ₹859
-16.83%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Madurai
Chennai (Madras)
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$17.46 ₹1,608
$17.77 ₹1,637
-1.74%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$7.19 ₹662
$6.99 ₹644
2.86%
Cinema Ticket
$2.66 ₹245
$2.84 ₹261
-6.34%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Madurai
Chennai (Madras)
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$61.4 ₹5,651
$80.1 ₹7,378
-23.41%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$1,869 ₹172.2K
$1,742 ₹160.5K
7.30%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Madurai
Chennai (Madras)
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$26.66 ₹2,456
$25.91 ₹2,386
2.89%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.86 ₹2,474
$23.73 ₹2,186
13.19%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$49.11 ₹4,523
$48.67 ₹4,483
0.90%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$49.13 ₹4,525
$36.53 ₹3,365
34.49%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Madurai
Chennai (Madras)
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$114 ₹10.5K
$194 ₹17.8K
-40.94%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$74.8 ₹6,889
$118 ₹10.9K
-36.56%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$320 ₹29.5K
$432 ₹39.8K
-26.03%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$210 ₹19.3K
$265 ₹24.4K
-20.84%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,242 ₹114.4K
$1,752 ₹161.4K
-29.10%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$496 ₹45.7K
$701 ₹64.6K
-29.31%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Madurai
Chennai (Madras)
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$358 ₹33.0K
$751 ₹69.2K
-52.29%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
9.8
9.42
4.03%

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

Last update for Madurai: March 2, 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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