Cost Of Living For a Couple in Chennai 2025
Average Monthly Expenditure
Currency: INR
Average monthly spending for couples in Chennai
How much money does a couple need in a month to survive in Chennai?
Couples in Chennai spend around 81,000 INR per month on average. Depending on the lifestyle, a couple can survive with a monthly budget as low as 12,000 INR or as high as 750,000 INR. Location and income are very important factors and have a huge influence on expenditure and budget.
Affordable living in Chennai
Income and cost of living compatibility
We asked couples one simple question and recorded their answers.
Is it affordable or economical to live in Chennai?
Around 49% of surveyed couples think that living in Chennai is affordable with proper budgeting while 51% reported that it is just too expensive and not affordable even with frugality and thriftness.
Prices and cost of goods and services in Chennai
Dining, food, and beverages costs
Fast food combo meal
Restaurant meal for one
Fine dining meal for one
| 490 INR | 730 INR | 2,900 INR |
Cappuccino or latte
Grocery and market costs
Milk large bottle
12 eggs
Fresh whole chicken
Pack of beef
Medium bag of rice
Bag of tomatos
Bag of apples
Commute, travel, and transportation costs
20 minutes taxi ride
Average car full tank
Average car 1-day rental
Average car price
| 180,000 INR | 360,000 INR | 480,000 INR |
Bus ticket one way
Car Service
| 480 INR | 720 INR | 1,400 INR |
Utility cost (monthly)
Utility Bill - Couple
| 460 INR | 3,400 INR | 38,000 INR |
Internet and cable
| 380 INR | 750 INR | 1,000 INR |
Mobile phone charges
| 270 INR | 450 INR | 1,400 INR |
Leisure and activities costs
Movie ticket
One month gym membership
| 590 INR | 740 INR | 1,500 INR |
Cloths and accessories costs
Pair of jeans or pants
Woman dress
| 420 INR | 580 INR | 1,900 INR |
Woman shoes
| 390 INR | 520 INR | 1,200 INR |
Men's shoes
Men suit
| 380 INR | 470 INR | 2,500 INR |
Regular t-shirt
Housing costs / monthly rent
Studio apartment
| 6,600 INR | 9,800 INR | 26,000 INR |
1-bedroom apartment
| 10,000 INR | 16,000 INR | 40,000 INR |
2-bedroom apartment
| 13,000 INR | 20,000 INR | 54,000 INR |
Housing costs / Buying
Studio apartment
1-bedroom apartment
| 1.6M INR | 2.7M INR | 10M INR |
2-bedroom apartment
| 2.6M INR | 7.9M INR | 16M INR |
Furniture Costs
King Size Bed
| 7,300 INR | 9,100 INR | 12,000 INR |
Double Bed
| 4,900 INR | 7,400 INR | 9,200 INR |
Single Bed
| 4,400 INR | 5,700 INR | 7,500 INR |
Living Room
| 8,400 INR | 11,000 INR | 38,000 INR |
Dining Table
| 3,600 INR | 4,900 INR | 9,100 INR |
Sofa or Couch
| 4,900 INR | 6,700 INR | 15,000 INR |
Electronics and House Appliance Costs
TV Set
| 4,900 INR | 7,400 INR | 15,000 INR |
Fridge or Freezer
| 4,400 INR | 6,800 INR | 9,400 INR |
Washing Machine
| 5,600 INR | 8,000 INR | 14,000 INR |
Stove or Cooker
| 5,200 INR | 6,600 INR | 9,100 INR |
Mobile Phone
| 6,200 INR | 7,400 INR | 11,000 INR |
Laptop or Computer
| 6,800 INR | 8,300 INR | 15,000 INR |
How do couples spend their money in Chennai?
We asked thousands of couples about their spending habits and expenditure break down.
The percentage figures in this section are percentages of total spending not income. If you would like to see the percentage of expenses as related to income or salary, see other sections.
Housing and accomodation expenditure for couples
Accomodation Cost25%
25% of total expenses on average (18% to 35%)
| LOW | $50 4,100 INR |
| AVERAGE | $320 27,000 INR |
| HIGH | $3,000 250,000 INR |
| Per Month |
Couples in Chennai typically spend from 18% to 35% of their total monthly expenditure on housing with 25% being the average. The average monthly spend on housing is 27,000 INR with expenditure ranging from 4,100 INR to 250,000 INR. This cost mainly goes for rent but it also includes other accommodation-related expenses.
Electricity, utilities, energy, water, internet, and mobile expenditure for couples
Cost of utilities8%
8% of total expenses on average (6% to 12%)
| LOW | $5.5 460 INR |
| AVERAGE | $40 3,400 INR |
| HIGH | $460 38,000 INR |
| Per Month |
Utility expenditure like electricity, water, and gas in Chennai ranges from 6% to 12% of total expenses with 8% being the average for most couples. The average monthly cost of utilities is 3,400 INR with 460 INR and 38,000 INR being the upper and lower limits for a couple of four.
Transport, fuel, and commute expenditure for couples
Cost of transport and fuel8%
8% of total expenses on average (2% to 13%)
| LOW | $17 1,400 INR |
| AVERAGE | $110 9,300 INR |
| HIGH | $1,000 86,000 INR |
| Per Month |
Fuel consumption and cost of transport depend heavily on whether a couple resides near school and work, but roughly speaking a couple would expect to spend from 1,400 INR to 86,000 INR in a month on commuting with 9,300 INR being the norm for most couples. This means that money spent on transport constitutes about 8% of total spending on average but can go as low as 2% or as high as 13%.
Food, groceries, and basic shopping expenditure for couples
Food and Groceries Cost18%
18% of total expenses on average (13% to 23%)
| LOW | $20 1,600 INR |
| AVERAGE | $130 11,000 INR |
| HIGH | $1,200 99,000 INR |
| Per Month |
The average outlay on groceries and basic houshold items for a typical couple in a month in Chennai is 11,000 INR. The cost of groceries can range between 1,600 INR to 99,000 INR. Couples spend on average about 18% on food and groceries with upper and lower bounds of 13% and 23% respectively.
Healthcare and medical services expenditure for couples
Cost of healthcare15%
15% of total expenses on average (9% to 19%)
| LOW | $15 1,200 INR |
| AVERAGE | $95 7,900 INR |
| HIGH | $880 73,000 INR |
| Per Month |
Couples in Chennai allocate 9% to 19% of their total monthly expenditure to healthcare including health insurance and out-of-pocket medical expenses. The average spending on medical services and clinic visits is around 15%. The range of medical expenses range from 1,200 INR to 73,000 INR with 7,900 INR being the norm for most couples.
Leisure and shopping expenditure for couples
Cost of leisure and shopping3%
3% of total expenses on average (1% to 6%)
| LOW | $8.5 700 INR |
| AVERAGE | $55 4,600 INR |
| HIGH | $510 42,000 INR |
| Per Month |
This category mostly contains discretionary or non-essential expenses but also some non-discretionary spending like furniture for example. The monthly expenses range from 700 INR to 42,000 INR with 4,600 INR being the average. Speaking of percentages, that equates to 1% to 6% of total expenses with an average of 3% for most couples.
Education and schooling expenditure for couples
Cost of education and schooling1%
1% of total expenses on average (0.00% to 3%)
| LOW | $2.8 230 INR |
| AVERAGE | $18 1,500 INR |
| HIGH | $170 14,000 INR |
| Per Month |
Spending on education can vary drastically between different couples. On average, education constitutes 1% of the monthly expenditure of couples with 0.00% and 3% being the lower and upper bounds respectively. The average reported education cost is 1,500 INR per month with 230 INR being the minimum spent amount and 14,000 INR being the maximum.
Other Expenses22%
22% of total expenses on average (16% to 28%)
| LOW | $25 2,000 INR |
| AVERAGE | $160 13,000 INR |
| HIGH | $1,500 120,000 INR |
| Per Month |
Couple expenditure to income ratio in Chennai
Analysing the how affordable it is for couples to live in Chennai
One of the most definite ways to determine how affordable a place is measuring the ratio of expenses to salary. A high expense-to-income to ratio indicates a high cost-of-living index while a low expenditure-to-salary ratio means the place is affordable to live in. Couples usually spend a larger chunk of their income than other population groups. A typical and healthy expenditure percentage for a couple of four ranges between 70% to 80%.
Spending to Income Ratio
90%
83% to 99%
( expenditure / income ) x 100
Couples in Chennai spend around 90% of their monthly income.
Some couples spend as low as 83% of their income while some as high as 99%.
What percentage of couples in Chennai are able to save money and how much can they save?
Percentage of couples that reported their ability to save money
Almost 57% of surveyed couples in Chennai said that they can save some money at the end of each month while 44% reported that they have to utilize their whole income to survive.
Savings-to-Income Ratio
The savings-to-income ratio is measured as the percentage of income that people save over a specific period and it is simply calculated by dividing the saved money by total income and then multiplying the result by 100. (Savings / Income) x 100.
How much money do couples manage to add to their savings?
The amount of money that people can afford to save depends hugely on their income. It is better to focus on the percentage when trying to understand saving patterns.
Saving to Income Ratio
Average Monthly Saved Amount
3,700 INR
$44 | 24,000 INR
$290 | 220,000 INR
$2,700 |
Savings to income distribution levels for couples
| Saving To Income Ratio | % Couples |
|---|
| 0% - 10% | 38% |
| 10% - 20% | 29% |
| 20% - 30% | 20% |
| 30% - 40% | 6% |
| 40% - 50% | 5% |
| > 50% | 2% |
Interpretation and Analysis
Couples that are able to save money can put anywhere from 12% to 34% of their monthly income to their savings, with 22% being the average for most couples. The average monthly amount of money that couples can put aside is 24,000 INR with 3,700 INR and 220,000 INR being the minimum and maximum respectively.
Saving Challenges in Chennai
Reasons that make it difficult for couples to save money
We wanted to understand what is stopping couples from maximizing their savings in Chennai. Listed below are the answers given by the survey participants.
| Reason | % People |
|---|
| Low Income | 4% |
| High Expenses | 7% |
| Debt and Loans | 11% |
| Lack of Budgeting Skills | 12% |
| Impulsive Spending | 13% |
| Financial Emergencies | 7% |
| Living the moment | 5% |
| Will do it later | 23% |
| Inflation | 15% |
| Social Pressure | 2% |
| Market Instability | 2% |
Around 4% of the couples said that their salary is too low to accommodate a portion for savings while 7% said that the high cost of living leaves little room for savings. 11% of the residents said that they are burdened with debt and find it challenging to save money. 12% reported that they just don't have the knowledge or discipline to create and stick to a budget, leading to overspending and an inability to save. 13% of couples blamed impulsive spending as the reason for saving inability. Around 7% said that unexpected expenses like medical bills or car repairs are derailing their savings goals. 5% bluntly said that they don't see the purpose of it and prefer to live each day to the fullest. 23% reported that they understand the value of saving but are putting off saving for the future, thinking they have plenty of time to start later. 15% blamed inflation, saying that every time they save some money they end up using it immediately. A surprising 2% said that social pressure and keeping up with peers or social expectations makes them overspend. Lastly, 2% blamed market instability and price fluctuations.
Typical saving choices for couples in Chennai
Where do people choose to put their savings?
| Saving Type | % People |
|---|
| Emergency Funds | 13% |
| Gold | 14% |
| Savings Accounts | 16% |
| Retirement Accounts | 9% |
| Cash Savings | 23% |
| Real Estate | 9% |
| Investment | 5% |
| Stocks | 3% |
| Bonds | 4% |
| Mutual Funds | 2% |
| Certificates of Deposit | 2% |
A typical and healthy budgeting structure
The 50/30/20 rule
Spending among different people can vary significantly based on factors such as their income, lifestyle,
location, and personal preferences. A commonly used guideline for budgeting is the 50/30/20 rule,
which suggests allocating your income into three main categories in the following percentages.
50% for needs and financial obligations
This category includes essential expenses like housing, utilities, groceries, transportation, and healthcare.
30% for wants and discretionary spending
This category covers discretionary spending on non-essential items, such as dining out, entertainment, travel, and other lifestyle choices.
20% for savings and emergency fund
This is the percentage that must be allocated to savings, emergency funds, and retirement accounts.
About financial planning, money management, and household budgeting
The 50/30/20 rule is used as a general guideline but may not be the best choice for all people. There are in fact many budgeting plans out there like the 70/20/10 and the 60/20/20 rules, all claiming to be the best. More important than all of this is to establish financial discipline by creating a budget tailored to your specific financial goals and situation. It is very important that your financial outflow be less than your income to maintain a healthy cash flow.
Low-cost alternatives in Chennai
People are always looking for ways to cut down expenses and reduce expenditures. The hallmark of any affordable place is the availability of discount stores, bargain deals, smart or secondhand shopping, refurbished items, and couponing. We asked couples how easily cost-cutting is and the answers were distributed as follows:
Plenty of low-cost options56%
Few low-cost options44%
Based on the survey, 56% of the couples living in Chennai have no problem finding low-cost alternatives to support a frugal lifestyle while 44% think that thriftness is difficult due to scarcity in discount markets and secondhand outlets.
Emergency Funds For Couples
An emergency fund is a financial safety net comprised of easily accessible savings set aside to cover unexpected expenses or financial emergencies, typically amounting to three to six months' worth of living expenses. We asked couples whether they have an emergency fund and the answers were as follows.
Yes49%
No51%
Based on the survey, 51% of the couples living in Chennai said that they don't have an emergency fund while 49% said that they do.
Financial Literacy in
Financial literacy is the knowledge of concepts and principles related to personal finance that allow individuals to make informed decisions regarding their money such as budgeting, saving, investing, borrowing, managing debt, financial risk management, and planning.
Financial Leteracy44%
We asked couple guardians and parents in Chennai whether they acquired any adequate personal financial training in their lives. Approximately 56% of the people who participated in the survey said that they are not well informed about the topics of budgeting, saving, etc., and just manage things based on their own experience, while 44% said that they know about the general principles of personal finance from sources other than their own experience.
Difficulty in Budgeting and Financial Planning
We wanted to understand whether couples of have problems or difficulties in managing their expenditures and savings so we asked people one simple question: do you struggle with your personal finances? 46% of the participants reported that they indeed struggle in creating budgets and in organizing their finances while 54% said that they have everything under control.
Struggles with finance46%
Easily manages finances54%
Financial goals of couples in Chennai
In an attempt to understand the economic situation in Chennai, we asked participants about their financial targets. By knowing what the population in general is trying to achieve, we can shed light on the economic outlook, cost of living, and quality of life in general.
| Financial Goal | % People |
|---|
| Emergency Fund | 9% |
| Debt Reduction | 48% |
| Retirement Savings | 12% |
| Education Funding | 6% |
| Homeownership | 19% |
| Investing | 5% |
| Travel or Lifestyle | 4% |
| Healthcare Expenses | 16% |
| Financial Independence | 3% |
Around 9% of couples said that their main goal is to establish an emergency fund to cover unexpected expenses while 48% said their number one priority is to pay off high-interest debt or loans and improve credit. 12% of surveyed people confirmed that saving for retirement to ensure a comfortable lifestyle in the final years is their main target. Around 6% reported that their priority is saving for the tuition fees and education costs of their children while 19% choose to buy a home or pay off existing mortgage before other things. 5% of the population would like to build wealth through investments such as stocks, bonds, mutual funds, or real estate. For 4% of people, saving for vacations or upgrading their lifestyle is the number one concern. Approximately 16% of the residents said that saving for healthcare expenses including insurance premiums is their main goal.
Monthly costs and expenses of energy and basic utilities in Chennai
Utilities expenditure can vary slightly between different areas and locations.
Energy, electricity, water, gas, internet, and mobile cost in Chennai
Utility Bill Cost / Electricity + Water + Gas / Couple
| 460 INR | 3,400 INR | 38,000 INR |
Internet and cable cost
| 380 INR | 750 INR | 1,000 INR |
Mobile phone bill and charges
| 270 INR | 450 INR | 1,400 INR |
Because most utility bills club electricity, water, and gas costs in one bill, we can't provide a breakup for each type of utility and will display electricity, gas, and water as single cost.
The average monthly energy and water consumption of couples is around 3,400 INR. The cost of internet and WiFi ranges from 380 INR to 1,000 INR with 750 INR being the average internet bill. Finally, the average monthly mobile charges is around 450 INR but can range between 270 INR and 1,400 INR depending on consumption. Mobile charges include both calling minutes as well as data packages.
Energy / Utility expense to income ratio
( monthly utility expenses / monthly income ) x 100
The average utility-to-income ratio in Chennai is around 6.5%. This means that people pay 6.5% of their income for energy, water, internet, and mobile charges. Those figures can range from 3.3% to 11% depending on salary and location.
Debt, loans, and mortgages in Chennai
Percentage of couples who are in debt
According to the survey, 27% of the couples in Chennai have some kind of debt, loan, mortgage, or credit card payments while 73% reported that they don't have financial obligations to banks.
Debt-to-income ratio in Chennai
Debt to income ratio
31%
23% to 40%
( monthly debt payment / monthly income ) x 100
Interpretation
The debt-to-income ratio measures the percentage of income being paid as debt settlement across the population. It is calculated by dividing the monthly debt settlement payment of an individual by their monthly income. Based on collected data, approximately 31% of a couple's monthly income in Chennai goes to debt settlement.
Debt levelsMonthly debt settlement payment as percentage of monthly income
| Debt-to-income ratio | % People |
|---|
| > 60% | 4% |
| 50% - 60% | 21% |
| 40% - 50% | 16% |
| 30% - 40% | 18% |
| 20% - 30% | 8% |
| 10% - 20% | 9% |
| 0% - 10% | 24% |
According to our data, 4% of the debtors in Chennai pay 60%+ of their income as debt settlement while 21% of the people pay 50% to 60% of their income for the same, which is quite an alarming financial situation for those individuals. 16% of people in debt dedicate 40% to 50% of their income to loan and mortgage payments while 18% dedicated 30% to 40% of income for same. Things are looking brighter for 8% of individuals as they only pay 20% to 30% of their income for loan and credit card repayment.
Distribution by type of debt in Chennai
| Debt | % People |
|---|
| Real Estate Mortgage | 6% |
| Auto Loan | 11% |
| Student Loan | 4% |
| Credit Card | 32% |
| Personal Loan | 46% |
6% of debtors in Chennai confirm that real estate mortgages constitutes the main part of their outstanding debt while 32% say that credit card payments are the reason they are in debt. Auto loans were the main type of debt for 11% of people and personal loans rose at 46%. Lastly, student loans are the main source of debt for 4% of debtors in Chennai.
About credit score and debt managementManaging debt is a critical aspect of maintaining a favorable credit score. Debt reduction is the first thing you should do improve your financial situation. Getting rid of debt takes precedence over saving money because of interest rates.
Good debt vs. Bad debt
Not all debt is bad. Good debt typically refers to borrowing money for investments that can increase in value or generate income over time like purchasing a home or acquiring student loans. On the other hand, bad debt involves borrowing for things that fail to generate lasting value like high-interest credit card debt used for non-essential expenses like luxury items or vacations.
Loan Affordability Index in Chennai
Besides measuring the loan-to-income ratio, we asked couples how many times in a year they defaulted or were unable to pay their due credit card or loan payments on time. Understanding how often people default on their due payments is one of the indicators of the cost of living and economic situation.
Frequency and percentage of people who failed to pay their monthly credit card or loan payments on time last year.
| Frequency | % People |
|---|
| Never | 48% |
| Once a year | 25% |
| Twice a year | 13% |
| Three times a year | 9% |
| Four times a year | 5% |
Housing costs, accommodation, and housing affordability in Chennai
Rental costs and house/apartment prices can vary drastically between different areas and locations.
Rent Cost in Chennai
Monthly Rent Prices
Studio apartment monthly rent cost
| 6,600 INR | 9,800 INR | 26,000 INR |
1-bedroom apartment monthly rent cost
| 10,000 INR | 16,000 INR | 40,000 INR |
2-bedroom apartment monthly rent cost
| 13,000 INR | 20,000 INR | 54,000 INR |
3-bedroom apartment monthly rent cost
| 16,000 INR | 27,000 INR | 74,000 INR |
Furnished apartment monthly rent cost
| 32,000 INR | 80,000 INR | 160,000 INR |
Townhouse monthly rent cost
| 26,000 INR | 39,000 INR | 110,000 INR |
House monthly rent cost
| 32,000 INR | 80,000 INR | 160,000 INR |
Villa monthly rent cost
| 39,000 INR | 98,000 INR | 160,000 INR |
The monthly rental cost of a studio apartment in Chennai ranges between 6,600 INR and 26,000 INR, meanwhile the cost of monthly rental of a one-bedroom apartment can be anywhere from 10,000 INR to 40,000 INR. Two-bedroom rentals rate ranges between 13,000 INR and 54,000 INR per month. The monthly rental for a three-bedroom apartment ranges from 16,000 INR to 74,000 INR. The average rent of a townhouse in Chennai is around 39,000 INR while house rental costs can be as high as 80,000 INR per month. Finally, if you want to rent a villa, expect to pay anywhere from 39,000 INR to 160,000 INR per month.
Apartment and house prices in Chennai
Cost of buying a property
Studio apartment price
1-bedroom apartment price
| 1.6M INR | 2.7M INR | 10M INR |
2-bedroom apartment price
| 2.6M INR | 7.9M INR | 16M INR |
3-bedroom apartment price
| $110,000 | $160,000 | $480,000 |
Townhouse price
House price
Villa price
The average price of a studio apartment in Chennai can range from 1.3M INR to 4M INR depending on location. One bedroom cost can be anywhere from 1.6M INR to 10M INR. A villa can cost you 91M INR on average with prices ranging from 16M INR to 140M INR.
If you're leasing or purchasing, housing costs in Chennai will probably constitute your biggest expenditure, yet it's an area where you wield considerable influence. This is due to the substantial variance in housing prices across communities. Keep in mind the location of your workplace and the accessibility of essential amenities to prevent negating the savings from lower rental rates with increased transportation expenses.
House / apartment prices to income ratio
Property price to income ratio
( average property price / average monthly income ) x 100
| 39 | x110 monthly income | 230 |
Property prices in Chennai can be x110 to x230 multiples of the monthly income depending on the property and the income of the person. On average, property prices are approximately x110 multiples of the average monthly salary in Chennai.
Rent to income ratio
Rent to income ratio
( monthly rental / monthly income ) x 100
The average rent-to-income ratio in Chennai is around 32%. This means that people pay 32% of their income for rent. Those figures can range from 21% to 43% depending on the salary, location, and type of property.
The housing-to-income ratio is a very important metric to evaluate and measure how affordable living is in a particular area, city, or country since housing comprises the biggest chunk of expenditure. A higher housing to income ratio means that the place is relatively expensive. The figure by itself does tell much. It only starts to make sense when comparing the housing to income ratio across different locations.
Housing affordability index
The housing affordability index measures how affordable accommodation is in a particular place. This can measured in multiple ways, the most common being housing expenditure to total expenditure ratio and the rent to income ratio. The housing expenditure ratio is a figure reported by individuals on the percentage they allocate for housing. Rent to income ratio is calculated by dividing the average monthly rent by the average income. Because these values are both percentages, we can find their average and get the best of the two worlds.
Housing Affordability Index
27% Property Taxes
Real estate owners pay property taxes to local tax authorities, which are determined by the assessed value of their property. Typically, these taxes are paid once a year. Property tax funds contribute to community development, financing infrastructure improvements, public services, and local education initiatives.
Home Maintenance Costs
Home maintenance costs encompass various expenses associated with the upkeep and repair of a residence. These expenditures include regular tasks such as lawn care, pest control, and HVAC system servicing, as well as occasional repairs and renovations like fixing leaks, painting, or replacing appliances.
| 120 INR | 1,200 INR | 18,000 INR |
Urban vs. rural living costs
Urban living typically entails higher housing and transportation costs due to demand and limited space, while rural areas generally offer lower housing expenses but may have higher prices for goods and services. The differnce in rental rates between urban areas and rural areas can be as high as 300% in some cases.
Food Prices, Dining Expenses, and Grocery Costs in Chennai
Grocery / Food expenditure and prices can vary drastically between different areas and locations.
Prices and cost of goods and services in Chennai
Dining out, food, and beverages costs. Price variations for common food items.
Fast food combo meal price
The average price of a regular combo meal at a fast food outlet or chain like McDonald's, Pizzahut, or KFC in Chennai is approximatly 150 INR with meal cost ranging from 73 INR to 240 INR. The typical combo meal consists of a burger, french fries, and a drink.
Restaurant meal for one price
If you are planning to have a nice meal at a mid-range restaurant, expect to pay anywhere between 250 INR and 750 INR with 370 INR being the average price of a plate for one person at a regular restaurant in Chennai.
Fine dining meal for one price
| 490 INR | 730 INR | 2,900 INR |
The price range of a meal at fine-dining restaurant is 490 INR to 2,900 INR with the average cost being 730 INR for one person. This is what you would expect to pay a top-tier diner in Chennai.
Beverage prices, cappuccino, latte etc..
The average price of a regular beverage like cappuccino or latte at Starbucks, Costa, or similar coffee shops and cafes in Chennai is around 99 INR. Price ranges between 62 INR and 150 INR depending on the type of beverage, the size, and optional add-ons.
Grocery and market costs
Large bottle of milk price
The average price of a large bottle of milk in Chennai is 60 INR. The maximum what you would pay for milk is 75 INR and the minimum being 50 INR depending on the brand of milk and other properties.
12 eggs price
A dozen eggs costs around 49 INR on average with 37 INR and 73 INR being the lower and upper limits respectively.
Fresh whole chicken price
The price range of a fresh whole chicken in Chennai is between 85 INR and 160 INR depending on the size of the chicken and whether it is oraganic or not. The average price is approximatly 110 INR.
Pack of beef price
The price of a regular pack of beef or meat is around 150 INR. A pack of beef contains around 1Kg or 1lb depending on packing.
Medium bag of rice price
A bag of rice in Chennai costs around 53 INR on average with prices rangeing between 39 INR and 76 INR depending on the brand and quality.
Bag of tomatos price
A bag of tomatoes costs anywhere from 15 INR to 37 INR. A bag of tomatoes denotes 1Kg or 1lb depending on location.
Bag of apples price
A bag of apples costs 35 INR on average. A bag of apples denotes 1Kg or 1lb depending on location.
Grocery and food expenditure to income ratio
( monthly grocery expenses / monthly income ) x 100
The average grocery-to-income ratio in Chennai is around 29%. This means that couples spend 29% of their income on grocery and basic household items. The expenditure can range from 20% to 35% depending on salary and location.
Expenditure on food and grocery for couples
Couples' spending on grocery ranges from 1,600 INR to 99,000 INR with the location, income, and size of the couple being the most determinite factors.
Published: March 6, 2024 Last Update: April 6, 2025
