Cost of Living Comparison Between Mumbai (Bombay) and Chennai (Madras) Cost of Living Comparison Between Mumbai (Bombay) and Chennai (Madras)

😐 Solo nomad: Mumbai (Bombay) is 16.2% more expensive than Chennai (Madras) without rent, and 58.1% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Mumbai (Bombay) is 25% more expensive than Chennai (Madras) without rent, and 68.7% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mumbai (Bombay)
Chennai (Madras)
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.26 ₹484
$2.27 ₹209
131.72%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$21.90 ₹2,017
$11.82 ₹1,089
85.28%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.55 ₹419
$4.12 ₹379
10.44%
Cappuccino
$2.64 ₹243
$2.08 ₹191
26.92%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.47 ₹43.69
$0.45 ₹41.28
4.44%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.17 ₹15.25
$0.17 ₹15.85
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.26 ₹208
$2.04 ₹188
10.78%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.98 ₹367
$4.08 ₹376
-2.45%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mumbai (Bombay)
Chennai (Madras)
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.79 ₹72.6
$0.63 ₹58.2
25.40%
White Bread (500g)
$0.49 ₹45.01
$0.49 ₹45.18
-
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.82 ₹75.3
$0.73 ₹66.9
12.33%
Eggs
$1.03 ₹94.8
$0.88 ₹80.9
17.05%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.16 ₹660
$6.96 ₹641
2.87%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.96 ₹365
$3.44 ₹317
15.12%
Apples (1kg)
$2.39 ₹221
$2.95 ₹272
-18.98%
Banana (1kg)
$0.77 ₹71.0
$0.85 ₹78.3
-9.41%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.27 ₹117
$1.27 ₹117
-
Tomato (1kg)
$0.70 ₹64.6
$0.49 ₹44.96
42.86%
Potato (1kg)
$0.53 ₹48.38
$0.51 ₹46.95
3.92%
Onion (1kg)
$0.63 ₹58.4
$0.51 ₹46.87
23.53%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.68 ₹62.5
$0.59 ₹54.1
15.25%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.35 ₹32.53
$0.35 ₹32.52
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.15 ₹382
$4.05 ₹373
2.47%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.78 ₹716
$7.64 ₹704
1.83%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.16 ₹199
$1.81 ₹167
19.34%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.31 ₹305
$3.48 ₹321
-4.89%
Buffalo Round (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat) (1kg)
$7.18 ₹662
$6.04 ₹556
18.87%
🚌 Getting Around
Mumbai (Bombay)
Chennai (Madras)
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.24 ₹22.20
$0.36 ₹33.20
-33.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$4.69 ₹432
$11.42 ₹1,052
-58.93%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.36 ₹33.20
$1.61 ₹148
-77.64%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
-
$0.30 ₹27.86
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$1.37 ₹126
$1.71 ₹158
-19.88%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.19 ₹110
$1.22 ₹112
-2.46%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.3K ₹1.6M
$17.2K ₹1.6M
0.92%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.7K ₹2.3M
$23.9K ₹2.2M
3.33%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mumbai (Bombay)
Chennai (Madras)
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$50.2 ₹4,627
$47.91 ₹4,413
4.84%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$5.04 ₹465
$4.82 ₹444
4.56%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$8.64 ₹796
$9.33 ₹859
-7.40%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mumbai (Bombay)
Chennai (Madras)
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$22.88 ₹2,108
$17.77 ₹1,637
28.76%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.97 ₹1,102
$6.99 ₹644
71.24%
Cinema Ticket
$4.61 ₹425
$2.84 ₹261
62.32%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mumbai (Bombay)
Chennai (Madras)
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$118 ₹10.9K
$80.1 ₹7,378
47.69%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$3,348 ₹308.3K
$1,742 ₹160.5K
92.14%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mumbai (Bombay)
Chennai (Madras)
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$30.03 ₹2,766
$25.91 ₹2,386
15.90%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$30.73 ₹2,831
$23.73 ₹2,186
29.50%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$55.5 ₹5,115
$48.67 ₹4,483
14.12%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$40.77 ₹3,755
$36.53 ₹3,365
11.61%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mumbai (Bombay)
Chennai (Madras)
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$709 ₹65.4K
$194 ₹17.8K
266.13%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$349 ₹32.2K
$118 ₹10.9K
196.28%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,774 ₹163.4K
$432 ₹39.8K
310.14%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$827 ₹76.2K
$265 ₹24.4K
211.93%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$6,908 ₹636.3K
$1,752 ₹161.4K
294.30%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,614 ₹240.8K
$701 ₹64.6K
272.82%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mumbai (Bombay)
Chennai (Madras)
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$746 ₹68.7K
$751 ₹69.2K
-0.67%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
9.22
9.42
-2.12%

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

Last update for Mumbai (Bombay): 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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