Arriving
Compare Cities, Settling In, Flights & Connections. 7 min read.
01Compare Cities
How Chennai compares with other cities
If you are thinking about Chennai, you are probably weighing it against South India's other big cities. Here they are side by side, on the things that matter for a move within India in 2026.
| Category | Chennai | Bangalore | Hyderabad | Mumbai |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cost of Living Index | Moderate (62) | High (72) | Moderate (56) | Very High (100) |
| 3BHK Rent (Gated) | ₹35k to 1.5L/month | ₹80k to 1.8L/month | ₹65k to 1.5L/month | ₹1.5L to 3.5L/month |
| Auto / Manufacturing | · Detroit of India | · Growing | · Moderate | · Limited |
| IT Sector Depth | · Strong (4th in India) | · Dominant | · HITEC City | · Strong |
| Healthcare | · Apollo HQ | · Strong | · Strong | · JCI hospitals |
| International Schools | KC High + IGCSE/IB options | 6+ IB schools | 4+ IB schools | 8+ flagship IB schools |
| Traffic Severity | Moderate-High (OMR pressure) | Severe (no real rail) | Moderate (MMTS improving) | Severe (rail saves you) |
| Climate Comfort | Hot & humid (Apr-Jun brutal) | Best in India (mild) | Hot summers; dry otherwise | Humid; monsoon intense |
| Cultural Life / Heritage | · Carnatic capital | · Growing | · Strong Nizami | · Deepest variety |
| Beach Access | · Marina, ECR | - | - | · Juhu, Versova |
| Weekend Escapes | Mahabalipuram 1hr, Pondy 3hr | Coorg 5hr, Mysore 3hr | Warangal, Hyd lakes | Goa 1hr, Lonavala 2hr |
| Salary Premium | ₹85k avg auto/IT | ₹80k avg | ₹75k avg | ₹95k avg, highest |
Choose Chennai if...
Chennai Wins
- Your role is in auto, manufacturing, engineering, or industrial supply chain
- You want OMR-grade modern apartment value (large 3BHK for ₹55k to 85k)
- Healthcare matters, Apollo, MIOT, Gleneagles, SRMC are all here
- You love classical music, dance, and Tamil cultural depth
- Beach access in your daily life appeals (Besant Nagar, ECR)
Consider Bangalore if...
Bangalore Wins
- Your role is in deep tech, SaaS, or product engineering
- Climate is the deciding factor (Bangalore is mildest in India)
- Your company's India HQ is on Bangalore's Outer Ring Road or in Whitefield
- You prefer a garden-city pace
- You don't need beach access
Consider Hyderabad if...
Hyderabad Wins
- You are in pharma, life sciences, or HITEC City tech
- You want India's best value-for-money premium living
- You value Hyderabadi culinary heritage and Nizami culture
- You want more apartment space for the same budget
- You are building a longer-term India base and want lower overall costs
02Settling In
Your first 30 days
Do these steps in this order. IKAN handles the ones with deadlines, so none of them is missed.
1
within48 hours
Rental Agreement & Move-in
IKAN's property advisors arrange viewings within 48 hours of your arrival and negotiate Lease terms, the deposit (the TN tenancy Act caps it at 3 months, though ~6 months remains common in practice), 11-month tenure, 5-10% renewal escalation. We coordinate move-in date, society NOC, and society move-in formalities. Most premium gated communities also require a brief move-in interview with the Resident Welfare Association.
2
Indian SIM
If you don't already have an Indian SIM, register at any Jio or Airtel store. Already on an Indian number from another state? You don't need a new SIM, keep your existing number through Mobile Number Portability (MNP): SMS PORT <your number> to 1900, take the code to any Jio / Airtel / Vi store in Chennai, and your number ports to a Tamil Nadu connection within a few days, contacts unchanged. A local Chennai number makes utility setup, deliveries, and society coordination far smoother in your first weeks.
3
Tamil Nadu Vehicle Re-registration
IKANIf you're bringing a personal vehicle from another state, you'll need to re-register with the Tamil Nadu RTO and pay applicable road tax. The NOC from your previous state's RTO is the prerequisite. IKAN coordinates and assists with the RTO re-registration.
4
School Admissions (if applicable)
For intra-India families with school-age children, Chennai's top CBSE schools (PSBB, Chettinad Vidyashram, DAV, Sankara, Chinmaya, MOP Vaishnav) maintain 3-6 month waitlists. Carry your child's Transfer Certificate (TC) from the previous school, attested by the issuing board where required, as it is a mandatory admission document for inter-state transfers, alongside recent report cards and the birth certificate. Begin applications before your move whenever possible. IKAN recommends schools based on your corridor (Adyar / Anna Nagar / OMR) and curriculum preference.
5
Utility & Broadband Setup
TANGEDCO for electricity (auto-pay via app). Metro Water (CMWSSB) if your building uses the municipal supply. ACT Fibernet or Airtel Xstream for home broadband, 100-300 Mbps is standard in premium gated communities. Verify the building's existing infrastructure with the society manager.
6
onDay 1
Build Your Local Network
Engage a maid / cook / driver as needed, IKAN's vendor network has vetted providers used by other senior assignees. Insist on police verification for any household staff: submit the worker's Aadhaar / ID and a photo at your local police station (Tamil Nadu Police run a domestic-help verification process, also reachable through the e-Sevai / Kavalan SOS channels), standard practice in Chennai gated communities. Ask IKAN for current maid / cook / driver salary benchmarks in your area so you pay the going rate. Identify your local kirana shop, dry-cleaner, vegetable vendor, and chemist within walking distance. Get on your building's WhatsApp group on Day 1. Introductions to neighbours matter in Chennai, the community feel is stronger here than in many Indian metros.
7
Update Aadhaar Address & KYC
YouOnce your Chennai rental agreement is in hand, update the address on your Aadhaar, online at myaadhaar.uidai.gov.in (a registered mobile number and an address proof such as the registered rental agreement or a utility bill are needed) or at any Aadhaar Seva Kendra. Then refresh your address and KYC with your bank, demat, and insurance providers so OTPs, statements, and deliveries all follow you to Tamil Nadu.
Transport Setup
Chennai Mobility
Ola Corporate · Metro Blue + Green Lines · MRTS Beach-Velachery · MTC AC buses · Rapido for solo hops. During NE monsoon (Oct-Dec): check road status before leaving. Many intra-India families use Ola/Uber + driver hire for the first 6 months while learning Chennai's traffic culture.
Traffic Reality
Peak Hour Guide
GST Road (airport): 8-11am. OMR (Madhya Kailash → Sholinganallur): 8-10am, 6-9pm. Anna Salai (Mount Road): 9-11am, 5-8pm. Build your diary around these windows. OMR employers generally allow flexible start times, negotiate this early.
Community
Build Your Network
Madras Club Adyar · Boat Club · Cosmopolitan Club Anna Salai · Your building's RWA / WhatsApp group · OMR Avenue community events · Margazhi sabha memberships are excellent ways to meet established Chennai residents · Indo-Japanese / Indo-Korean / Indo-German Chambers for corporate networking
Key Portals
Essential Links
TANGEDCO (electricity): tnebltd.gov.in · Metro Water (CMWSSB): chennaimetrowater.tn.gov.in · Chennai Metro: chennaimetrorail.org · IRCTC: irctc.co.in · Greater Chennai Corporation: chennaicorporation.gov.in · Tamil Nadu Aadhaar: aadhaar.uidai.gov.in
03Flights & Connections
The airport and flights
Chennai International Airport (MAA) is one of India's best-connected airports, especially for Southeast Asia, the Gulf, Sri Lanka and the Maldives.
As of May 2026, 34 airlines fly from MAA to 94 destinations. The Terminal-3 expansion is due to open in 2026 and will make the airport much better for passengers. For a move within India, MAA has very frequent flights to every major city.
| Destination | Airlines | Frequency | Duration | Approx Fare (Economy) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bangalore | IndiGo, Air India | 25+ daily | 1h 00m | ₹3,500 to 8,500 |
| Mumbai | IndiGo, Air India, SpiceJet | 20+ daily | 2h 00m | ₹5,500 to 13,000 |
| Hyderabad | IndiGo, Air India | 15+ daily | 1h 15m | ₹4,000 to 9,500 |
| Delhi | IndiGo, Air India | 20+ daily | 2h 45m | ₹7,500 to 16,000 |
| Kolkata | IndiGo, Air India | 10+ daily | 2h 30m | ₹6,500 to 13,000 |
| Kochi | IndiGo, Air India | 10+ daily | 1h 15m | ₹4,500 to 10,000 |
| Singapore | SIA, IndiGo, Scoot | Multiple daily | 4h 30m | ₹18,000 to 35,000 |
| Colombo | SriLankan, IndiGo | Multiple daily | 1h 15m | ₹9,000 to 20,000 |
Train
Chennai → Bangalore
4h 30m
Vande Bharat Express
Train
Chennai → Mysore
6h 30m
Shatabdi / Vande Bharat
Train
Chennai → Coimbatore
7h 00m
Multiple express services
Train
Chennai → Madurai
8h 00m
Pandyan Express / Tejas
Chennai International Airport
About Your Airport
Chennai International Airport (MAA), Meenambakkam. Terminal 2 handles international flights; Terminals 1 and 4 handle domestic. The Terminal-3 expansion (₹2,467 crore) is due to open in 2026. Distance to Nungambakkam: 14 km / 30 to 55 min. Distance to OMR (Sholinganallur): 24 km / 45 to 70 min. Domestic frequency to every major Indian metro is exceptional, IndiGo alone runs 25+ Chennai-Bangalore daily services.
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.