Which is a better place to live? Comparing pros and cons of Hyderabad, Bangalore and Chennai

It is estimated that over 33% of India’s population lives in its cities and is expected to grow to 40% by 2030; increasing population and massive influx of workforce being the main reason for this unprecedented period of growth. Although the growth brings better services, facilities, and overall prosperity, it has also increased the cost of living in the cities. 

Today, while several cities face severe appreciation, certain cities such as Bangalore, Hyderabad, Chennai, Pune, etc. have grown and managed to meet new demands and keep the cost of living at a competitive level.  

Among all the developed cities, these three have come to be recognised as the tycoons in modern, advanced living standards and tech-driven ways of life.  People often compare these cities from the perspective of transportation, localities, food, jobs, and many more. 

We have compiled a list of 9 basic amenities that are essential factors before deciding to plan your future in any city, here’s a look: 

• Employment 

Bangalore should be considered as one of the best for finding a job because of presence of big companies as well as increase in number of start-ups. If one is seeking for high pay scale, then this is the place for you. Bangalore has highest number of IT companies and is a home for MNCs such as Wipro, Infosys, TCS, Mindtree, Unilever etc. Hyderabad too gives employment opportunities in both government as well as private sector (Infosys, Cognizant, Genpact, etc.) but when compared to Bangalore it has a lesser number of startups and Chennai, dominated by the government sector, ranks the least when compared to Bangalore and Hyderabad.

• Cost of living 

Hyderabad tops the list in terms of living. While Bangalore is considered as one of the costliest cities in India, Chennai ranks the next. 

• Accessibility

All the three cities are well connected via metro and buses. However, shared autos are found in Chennai which isn’t the case in Bangalore and Hyderabad. Bus passes are available in all the three cities and the cheapest is available in Hyderabad. Both Bangalore and Hyderabad have well-maintained plenty of Volvo buses which is not the case in Chennai. 

• Traffic 

Bangalore has the worst traffic when compared to other cities (especially in peak times). Although Chennai and Hyderabad have less traffic, Chennai has more organised traffic. 

• Residential properties

Finding apartments/houses in a decent location is almost impossible without the help of a broker. But, they are quite expensive. However, if you are in the same situation, Chennai is cheaper when compared to Bangalore, but Hyderabad is the cheapest (but finding a good society can be quite difficult).  

• Weather 

Bangalore has the best weather in comparison with the other two cities. Temperature remains high in summer season in Hyderabad and moderate in other seasons. Chennai ranks last in the list. It is extremely hot there almost on all seasons and has humidity.

• Food 

If you are a biryani & spicy food lover then Hyderabad is the best place. You can easily find North Indian food in Bangalore but is great in South Indian food. Chennai on the other hand scores top in seafood & South Indian food but you will hardly find North Indian restaurants. 

• Outings  

Bangalore has the highest number of places which can be visited in a day or two. In addition it has near proximity to tourist places such as Mysore, Mangalore, Coorg, etc. Chennai too has a good outing options, whereas Hyderabad has the least. 

• Culture 

Old Hyderabad has less interactive people and Chennai prefer localities and refuses to adopt other languages except Tamil. Bangalore on the other hand, welcomes people from all over India with a big smile. 

Choosing the ultimate winner among the three isn’t possible. While Hyderabad has low cost of living, Bangalore provides plenty of employment opportunities and Chennai is considered as the safest city. So depending on your needs choose the city you want to live in. (However, make sure you learn Tamil before shifting to Chennai and develop patience to deal with Bangalore’s traffic).