Cost Of Living For a Student in Chennai 2025
Average Monthly Expenditure
Currency: INR
Average monthly spending for students in Chennai
How much money does a student need in a month to survive in Chennai?
Students in Chennai spend around 41,000 INR per month on average. Depending on the lifestyle, a student can survive with a monthly budget as low as 6,100 INR or as high as 450,000 INR. Location is a very important factor and has a huge influence on expenditure and budget.
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.
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 - Student
| 230 INR | 1,500 INR | 17,000 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 |
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.
How do students spend their money in Chennai?
We asked thousands of students about their spending habits and expenditure break down.
Housing and accomodation expenditure for students
Accomodation Cost16%
16% of total expenses on average (11% to 22%)
| LOW | $18 1,500 INR |
| AVERAGE | $120 9,700 INR |
| HIGH | $1,300 110,000 INR |
| Per Month |
Students in Chennai typically spend from 11% to 22% of their total monthly expenditure on housing with 16% being the average. The average monthly spend on housing is 9,700 INR with expenditure ranging from 1,500 INR to 110,000 INR. This cost mainly goes for rent but it also includes other accommodation-related expenses.
Electricity, utilities, energy, water, internet, and mobile expenditure for students
Cost of utilities7%
7% of total expenses on average (5% to 11%)
| LOW | $2.8 230 INR |
| AVERAGE | $18 1,500 INR |
| HIGH | $200 17,000 INR |
| Per Month |
Utility expenditure like electricity, water, and gas in Chennai ranges from 5% to 11% of total expenses with 7% being the average for most students. The average monthly cost of utilities is 1,500 INR with 230 INR and 17,000 INR being the upper and lower limits for a student of four.
Transport, fuel, and commute expenditure for students
Cost of transport and fuel3%
3% of total expenses on average (4% to 9%)
| LOW | $5 420 INR |
| AVERAGE | $33 2,800 INR |
| HIGH | $370 31,000 INR |
| Per Month |
Fuel consumption and cost of transport depend heavily on whether a student resides near school and work, but roughly speaking a student would expect to spend from 420 INR to 31,000 INR in a month on commuting with 2,800 INR being the norm for most students. This means that money spent on transport constitutes about 3% of total spending on average but can go as low as 4% or as high as 9%.
Food, groceries, and basic shopping expenditure for students
Food and Groceries Cost24%
24% of total expenses on average (18% to 28%)
| LOW | $14 1,200 INR |
| AVERAGE | $94 7,800 INR |
| HIGH | $1,000 87,000 INR |
| Per Month |
The average outlay on groceries and basic houshold items for a typical student in a month in Chennai is 7,800 INR. The cost of groceries can range between 1,200 INR to 87,000 INR. Students spend on average about 24% on food and groceries with upper and lower bounds of 18% and 28% respectively.
Healthcare and medical services expenditure for students
Cost of healthcare10%
10% of total expenses on average (7% to 13%)
| LOW | $4 330 INR |
| AVERAGE | $27 2,200 INR |
| HIGH | $300 25,000 INR |
| Per Month |
Students in Chennai allocate 7% to 13% 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 10%. The range of medical expenses range from 330 INR to 25,000 INR with 2,200 INR being the norm for most students.
Leisure and shopping expenditure for students
Cost of leisure and shopping2%
2% of total expenses on average (1% to 6%)
| LOW | $3.5 290 INR |
| AVERAGE | $24 2,000 INR |
| HIGH | $260 22,000 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 290 INR to 22,000 INR with 2,000 INR being the average. Speaking of percentages, that equates to 1% to 6% of total expenses with an average of 2% for most students.
Education and schooling expenditure for students
Cost of education and schooling18%
18% of total expenses on average (11% to 23%)
| LOW | $13 1,100 INR |
| AVERAGE | $90 7,400 INR |
| HIGH | $1,000 83,000 INR |
| Per Month |
Spending on education can vary drastically between different students. On average, education constitutes 18% of the monthly expenditure of students with 11% and 23% being the lower and upper bounds respectively. The average reported education cost is 7,400 INR per month with 1,100 INR being the minimum spent amount and 83,000 INR being the maximum.
Other Expenses20%
20% of total expenses on average (14% to 26%)
| LOW | $11 900 INR |
| AVERAGE | $73 6,000 INR |
| HIGH | $810 67,000 INR |
| Per Month |
Affordable living in Chennai
Income and cost of living compatibility
We asked students one simple question and recorded their answers.
Is it affordable or economical to live in Chennai?
Around 49% of surveyed students 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.
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 students 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 students 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 Students
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 students whether they have an emergency fund and the answers were as follows.
Yes49%
No51%
Based on the survey, 51% of the students 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 student 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 students 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%
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 / Student
| 230 INR | 1,500 INR | 17,000 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 students is around 1,500 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.
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.
Expenditure on food and grocery for students
Students' spending on grocery ranges from 1,200 INR to 87,000 INR with the location, income, and size of the student being the most determinite factors.
Published: August 26, 2024 Last Update: March 19, 2025
