Loading
Assembling your view…
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
New Delhi vs Chennai in 2026: cost index 128 vs 112, rent ₹22,000 vs ₹18,000, income ₹6,80,000 vs ₹5,80,000, QoL 46 vs 55.
New Delhi vs Chennai in 2026: cost index 128 vs 112, rent ₹22,000 vs ₹18,000, income ₹6,80,000 vs ₹5,80,000, QoL 46 vs 55.
New Delhi ranks #1 with a cost index of 128 and rent of ₹22,000/month.
Average cost index across these cities: 120 (+27 vs national average of 93).
Average quality of life: 51/100. Top: New Delhi at 46/100.
Safest city: Chennai (62/100 safety score).
Here's the finding that keeps coming up in different analyses: New Delhi stands out as the top-ranked city in this analysis. With a cost index of 128 and median income of ₹6,80,000, it offers competitive value despite costs slightly above the national median. For anyone running the numbers, this is where it clicks.
On quality of life, Chennai leads with a composite score of 55/100 — reflecting its safety (62), healthcare (85), and walkability (50) metrics. But here's the flip side: affordability and QoL don't always move in the same direction, and India is a good example of that tension.
The country average QoL score is 57/100. New Delhi leads with 46/100, reflecting its safety, healthcare access, walkability, and green space.
Our index is benchmarked to 100 (national median). Sub-categories cover housing, food, transport, utilities, and healthcare. Data sources include MoSPI CPI, RBI, NHB RESIDEX, PLFS.
New Delhi (ranked #1) has a cost index of 128 and rent of ₹22,000/mo. Chennai (#2) has index 112 and rent ₹18,000/mo — a 16-point gap.