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Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Chennai safety score: 62/100 (crime rate 45.2/1k) — above the India average of 62/100. Here's how Chennai compares to cities in Tamil Nadu and what the data means for everyday life.
Chennai safety score: 62/100 (crime rate 45.2/1k) — above the India average of 62/100. Here's how Chennai compares to cities in Tamil Nadu and what the data means for everyday life.
Chennai: cost index 112 (+19 vs national avg 93), rent ₹18,000/month.
Tamil Nadu region average cost index: 93. Chennai is +19 vs region peers.
Quality of life: 55/100 — safety 62, healthcare 85, walkability 50.
Safety score: 62/100 (crime rate 45.2/1k). National average: 62/100.
| # | City | Cost Index | Rent/mo | Income | QoL | Safety |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chennai | 112 | ₹18,000 | ₹5,80,000 | 55 | 62 |
| 2 | Thiruvananthapuram | 88 | ₹10,000 | ₹4,40,000 | 70 | 75 |
| 3 | Coimbatore | 82 | ₹10,000 | ₹4,20,000 | 65 | 72 |
| 4 | Surat | 82 | ₹10,000 | ₹4,50,000 | 59 | 72 |
| 5 | Indore | 75 | ₹9,000 | ₹3,80,000 | 63 | 72 |
| 6 | Kochi | 95 | ₹12,000 | ₹4,80,000 | 67 | 72 |
| 7 | Chandigarh | 98 | ₹14,000 | ₹5,20,000 | 64 | 72 |
| 8 | Panaji | 105 | ₹15,000 | ₹4,80,000 | 64 | 72 |
| 9 | Nagpur | 78 | ₹10,000 | ₹4,20,000 | 61 | 68 |
| 10 | Bhubaneswar | 72 | ₹8,000 | ₹3,60,000 | 63 | 68 |
| 11 | Dehradun | 82 | ₹10,000 | ₹4,20,000 | 65 | 68 |
| 12 | Ahmedabad | 88 | ₹12,000 | ₹4,80,000 | 56 | 65 |
| 13 | Bhopal | 72 | ₹8,500 | ₹3,60,000 | 63 | 65 |
| 14 | Visakhapatnam | 82 | ₹10,000 | ₹4,20,000 | 61 | 65 |
| 15 | Pune | 108 | ₹18,000 | ₹6,20,000 | 53 | 62 |
| 16 | Raipur | 68 | ₹7,000 | ₹3,40,000 | 59 | 62 |
| 17 | Hyderabad | 110 | ₹18,000 | ₹6,80,000 | 53 | 60 |
| 18 | Bengaluru | 132 | ₹25,000 | ₹8,50,000 | 50 | 58 |
| 19 | Jaipur | 85 | ₹11,000 | ₹4,20,000 | 52 | 55 |
| 20 | Guwahati | 75 | ₹9,000 | ₹3,80,000 | 61 | 55 |
Here's where the conversation shifts from 'affordable' to 'strategic': Chennai has a cost index of 112 — 19 points above the India national average of 93. Median income is ₹5,80,000 with rent at ₹18,000/month, putting the rent-to-income ratio at 37%. Financially, that's significant.
Zooming out, looking at Tamil Nadu as a whole, the spread across all 28 cities is 16 points on the cost index. New Delhi sits at the other end with index 128 and rent of ₹22,000/mo. This stands out as genuinely impressive.
On quality of life, Chennai scores a composite score of 55/100 — reflecting its safety (62), healthcare (85), and walkability (50) metrics. That said, affordability and QoL don't always move in the same direction, and India is a good example of that tension.
Chennai — cost index 112, rent ₹18,000/mo, income ₹5,80,000, QoL 55/100.
Thiruvananthapuram — cost index 88, rent ₹10,000/mo, income ₹4,40,000, QoL 70/100.
Coimbatore — cost index 82, rent ₹10,000/mo, income ₹4,20,000, QoL 65/100.
Surat — cost index 82, rent ₹10,000/mo, income ₹4,50,000, QoL 59/100.
Indore — cost index 75, rent ₹9,000/mo, income ₹3,80,000, QoL 63/100.
Chennai has a safety score of 62/100 and a crime rate of 45.2/1,000 residents. The India average safety score is 62/100.
The Tamil Nadu region of average QoL score is 57/100. Chennai leads with 55/100, reflecting 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.
Chennai: cost index 112, rent ₹18,000/mo, income ₹5,80,000/yr, QoL 55/100. Thiruvananthapuram: cost index 88, rent ₹10,000/mo, income ₹4,40,000/yr, QoL 70/100.
This analysis uses data from MoSPI CPI, RBI, NHB RESIDEX, PLFS to rank cities in India. The cost of living index is benchmarked to 100 (national median). Quality of life scores combine safety, healthcare, walkability, air quality, green space, and transit metrics. Salary ranges use national occupation data adjusted for local cost differences. Data is updated regularly to reflect current market conditions.