Chennai guide

For families moving within India2026 edition

ChennaiSingara Chennai · The Detroit of India

Chennai for a family moving from another Indian city: OMR or the west of the city, the schools families queue for, and the drive out to the Sriperumbudur plants.

Moving from abroad? Read the guide for international moves

Kapaleeshwarar Temple Mylapore gopuram
Kapaleeshwarar Temple Mylapore gopuramPhoto: PlaneMad, CC BY-SA 3.0

What families ask first

Rent a month ₹35k to 1.5L 3BHK in a gated society, depending on the area Housing School fees a year ₹80k to 2L Padma Seshadri Bala Bhavan (PSBB) Schools A typical commute 35 to 50 min Porur → Sriperumbudur, Mount-Poonamallee Rd / NH48 Neighbourhoods Security deposit 3 months The Tamil Nadu Tenancy Act Housing

Indicative figures from this guide. Your IKAN consultant confirms the exact numbers before you act on them.

In this guide

7 short chapters

Read them in order, or go straight to the one you need.

  1. 01The cityCity Overview, Culture & Heritage, Climate6 min read
  2. 02ArrivingCompare Cities, Settling In, Flights & Connections7 min read
  3. 03Where to liveRecommended Neighbourhoods, Housing Market, The IKAN Method9 min read
  4. 04Schools and healthSchools, Healthcare4 min read
  5. 05Getting aroundTransport & Metro, Apps & Digital Life4 min read
  6. 06Everyday lifeDining, Coffee & Lifestyle, Tamil Language Guide, Weekend Escapes8 min read
  7. 07Before you goAt a glance, Watch Out, Common Questions, IKAN India Essentials6 min read

Where families live

7 neighbourhoods, on one map

The number on each pin is the number in the list. Rents and commutes are this guide's own figures.

The map of Chennai loads here.

  1. PorurWest Chennai IT Belt ₹25k to 70k a month35 to 50 min to Sriperumbudur
  2. TambaramConnected Southern Suburb ₹14k to 45k a month40 to 70 min to Maraimalai Nagar
  3. AdyarLeafy Family Haven ₹45k to 1.5L a month35 to 50 min to Sholinganallur
  4. Besant NagarBeach-Side Living ₹70k to 1.3L a month
  5. Anna NagarNorth Chennai Planned Suburb ₹55k to 1L a month
  6. OMR CorridorIT Belt & Modern High-Rise ₹30k to 85k a month15 to 30 min to Tidel Park
  7. East Coast RoadBeachfront Villa Living ₹45k to 1.4L a month

Open Where to live

Chennai in pictures

The city in twelve frames

Shore Temple Mahabalipuram UNESCO
Shore Temple Mahabalipuram UNESCOPhoto: Rangan Datta Wiki, CC BY-SA 4.0The city
Filter kaapi Saravana Bhavan Chennai
Filter kaapi Saravana Bhavan ChennaiPhoto: Sharvarism, CC BY-SA 4.0Everyday life
Pongal harvest festival Tamil Nadu
Pongal harvest festival Tamil NaduPhoto: Hishampgm, CC BY-SA 4.0The city
The Karl Schmidt memorial on Elliot's Beach, Besant Nagar, Chennai
The Karl Schmidt memorial on Elliot's Beach, Besant Nagar, ChennaiPhoto: Sivahari, CC BY-SA 4.0
Yelagiri Hills weekend
Yelagiri Hills weekendPhoto: L.vivian.richard, Public domainEveryday life
Kanchipuram temple town
Kanchipuram temple townPhoto: Ms Sarah Welch, CC BY-SA 4.0Everyday life
Pondicherry French Quarter
Pondicherry French QuarterPhoto: Dey.sandip, CC BY 3.0Everyday life
The rooftops of T. Nagar at dusk, Chennai
The rooftops of T. Nagar at dusk, ChennaiPhoto: Nishamoney, CC0
The Terminal 1 domestic arrivals entrance, Chennai International Airport
The Terminal 1 domestic arrivals entrance, Chennai International AirportPhoto: Oleg Yunakov, CC BY-SA 4.0
Fort St George Chennai
Fort St George ChennaiPhoto: Jan Van Ryne (1712-60), Public domainThe city
Mahabalipuram Shore Temple UNESCO
Mahabalipuram Shore Temple UNESCOPhoto: Paulwalker96, CC BY-SA 4.0
Ripon Building, the Greater Chennai Corporation headquarters
Ripon Building, the Greater Chennai Corporation headquartersPhoto: Karthikeyan321, CC BY 4.0

The weather, drawn

A year in Chennai

Each month as this guide describes it. Read the seasons in full

  1. 21 to 29°JanPleasant
  2. 22 to 31°FebPleasant
  3. 24 to 33°MarWarm
  4. 27 to 35°AprHot
  5. 28 to 37°MayPeak Hot
  6. 28 to 37°JunHumid
  7. 26 to 35°JulHumid
  8. 26 to 35°AugHumid
  9. 26 to 34°SepHumid
  10. 25 to 32°OctNE Monsoon
  11. 23 to 30°NovHeavy Rain
  12. 22 to 29°DecMargazhi
Best monthsWarmHotMonsoonBest months in Chennai: Jan, Feb, Dec

What a month costs

Add up a month

A 3BHK Gated, plus monthly groceries (family), from this guide's own figures.

₹47k to 1.7L a month

Pick your own home and school

IKAN in Chennai

We find your home in Chennai and sort out the schools.
We also handle the paperwork and the small details.

From your first filter coffee on a Mylapore morning to the keys of a sea-facing flat off the ECR, we coordinate the housing, the schools, the paperwork and the hundred small details of a move within India. IKAN is already here, so all you have to settle into is the city itself.

Already moving with IKAN?

Your homes, dates and papers are in i-Navigate, IKAN's app for families. It opens with the email address your IKAN consultant has for you, then sends you a six digit code.

Open your move Not moving with IKAN yet? Write to relo@ikan.com and a consultant will reply.

My shortlist

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