Mid-Range Travel Guide: Chennai

Accommodation

$25-70 per night

Private rooms in mid-range hotels, boutique guesthouses, business hotels with AC and private bathrooms

Food & Dining

$8-20 per day

Mix of local restaurants, hotel dining, popular South Indian chains, occasional upscale meals

Transportation

$6-18 per day

Combination of metro, app-based cabs, auto-rickshaws, occasional private car hire

Activities

$10-35 per day

Paid cultural attractions, guided heritage walks, dance performances, day trips to nearby sites

Eat at local South Indian restaurants instead of hotel dining rooms - typically 60-80% cheaper with authentic flavors

Use public transportation like buses and metro instead of taxis - saves 70-85% on daily transport costs

Visit temples and beaches which are mostly free instead of paid attractions - can reduce activity costs by 50-70%

Stay in areas like T. Nagar or Mylapore rather than beach-front properties - accommodation costs typically 40-60% lower

Shop at local markets like Pondy Bazaar instead of malls - prices generally 30-50% lower for similar items

Take suburban trains for day trips instead of private cars - usually 80-90% cheaper for longer distances

Eat your main meal at lunch when many restaurants offer thali sets - typically 20-40% cheaper than dinner portions

Taking taxis everywhere instead of using excellent public transport - can triple your daily transportation costs

Eating only in tourist areas near Marina Beach - restaurants typically charge 100-200% markup compared to local neighborhoods

Booking accommodation during festival seasons without advance planning - prices can surge 200-400% during Diwali and other major festivals