Cost of Living in Chennai, India

Recently I read an article in the Sunday Express where in, the Cheapest cities in the world were categorised. Chennai, Capital city of Tamil Nadu had been given the 7th place in the order of cheapest cities. I was also under the same impression that Chennai is cheaper compared to other Indian Cities like Mumbai, New Delhi, Calcutta, Bangalore etc., But my opinion about Chennai's cost of living was short lived. Recently I had been to Chennai. First my surprise was how people live in such a hot climate. In spite of very hot weather people swarm the shopping areas especially T.Nagar. I too visited the famous cloth shop Pothis and another Departmental Store Saravana Stores. I wondered whether the entire city population has come for shopping to T.Nagar. Now coming to the cost of living : nothing is cheaper. Everything is as costlier as in any other place and some items still more costly too. Only thing is people can spend their shopping time in A/c atmosphere and purchase most of the items undr one roof, provided your legs are stronger. These malls are nothing but explitation centres. People fall pray. the most shocking matter about Chennai is the cfost of food items. Once the city was known for its cheaper food items like Idly, dosai, vadai, and rice preparations. Today these items also have become more costly. There are two names in Chennai that make the public visit as a tourist attraction. Whoever comes to Chennai for shopping or for any other purpose would certainly visit any one of the chain ofhotels/restaurants run by these names. The foremost being Saravana Bhavan and next is Adyar Ananda Bhavan. Apart from these two another popular hotel is Triplcane Ratna Cafe. This hotel is having a branch in Chennai Central. These hotels/restaurants have made Chennai one of the costliest cities. What is available for Rs.15/- in Bangalore , another metropolitan centre, is priced @ Rs.25 or 30/- in Chennai hotels. Not only that, the size of the items also smaller than in Bangalore. I ordered for Onion Uthappam in Saravana Bhavan thinking the size would be as big as in Bangalore, but alas when it was brought by the waiter I was shocked to see that it was half the size of bangalore's uthappam. Price also Rs.30.25ps. How they worked out 0.25 ps and 0.75 paise god alone knows. It should be either Rs.25/- or Rs.30/-. Further I ordered for Idiappam . The waiter brought 2 idiappam with in sufficient side dish. that cost Rs.25.75ps. The same idiappam I took in Thrissur, Kerala, about ten days ago. There it cost Rs.20/- only for 4 nos. and it was quite sufficient. The side dish also was given in a reasonably big bowl instead of small cup. The big names of Chennai swindle the public . Public are the victims of exploitation of all sorts in Chennai. The only consoling factor is,the Bus fares are cheaper. Even by mistake one should not take an auto there. The auto drivers demand exhorbitantly and they cheat also. Though in other places also autodrivers exploit it is restricted to new visitors and at Railway Station and Bus stand. Otherwise they charge according to meter. In Chennai meters are only a fitting. The autos and taxis are run by the politicians, police and Government officers and rowdies. Public has no voice to point out the grievences. Who said Chennai is one of the cheapest cities. It is a cheat City.