daily budget survey

DianeShen · May 28th, 2004, 16:28

Howdy!

I do benefits from this forum a lot. Thanks folks!

Well I'm going to spend 6 month in India (Chennai) since this July for a traineeship. For planning a more accurate budget before I take off, I tried to dive in this site and try to find as much as possible info about budgeting.

The following are some items I collected from previous posts. Any of your contribution will be appreciated

¡´FOOD
A breakfast local 5-10 egg/toast and tea 12-30
A basic veggie meal 15-30
A bottle of mineral water 10-15
A coke 5-15
A beer 35-100(2001 YEAR: Beer rs:75(650ml kingfisher in HP))
A tandoori chicken with rice or chips 50-120
Tea: rs.3-5(cuppa)
Indian dishes from a menu 30-120

¡´LIVING
A decent hotel will cost between 100- 300

¡´COMMUNICATION
Internet access: rs.20/hr(very fast connection, calcutta)

¡´TRANSPORTATION
A rickshaw to get around town 8-10 per Kilometer
Second class travel on trains and buses is dirt cheap!!E.g. Goa to Delhi second class around 550

Bryan · May 28th, 2004, 17:26

Can't give a daily breakdown because we never kept tabs on daily expenses but for me my partner and young son we averaged £300 GBP a month without scrimping or doing without

Thats the best I can do
Cheers
Bryan

radz · May 28th, 2004, 20:46

Food at Chennai is very reasonable.Your observation of costs more or less correct.
Transport for local Chennai has best Buses&local train service.

pooch · May 28th, 2004, 21:47

All just about there for Chennai I'd say but are you planning to live in a 100-300 rs. hotel for 6 whole months ??

1WorldinaCave · May 28th, 2004, 21:55

Why Pooch?
Do you reckon this would be unbearable?
I was planning on this sort of budget range myself...
with some brief stays in more upmarket
places...is that mad?

pooch · May 28th, 2004, 22:03

As a traveller it should be fine but dianeshen will be in Chennai for a different purpose. For 6 months you could rent yourself a nice pad for about US$100 a month and aircon it. Six months in a 100-300 room in Chennai sounds dreadful when you have some routine and not just passing by or travelling.

sudheer poppa · May 28th, 2004, 22:41

You can consider moving to a hostel or a paying guest accommodation that can come a lot cheaper on a monthly basis. The place you are heading for training shall help you with the arrangements. Incase you get to stay with a family, that shall help you get great insights into an Indian family.

DianeShen · Jun 1st, 2004, 13:27

pooch,
I will be staying either at a homestay or a flat that AIESEC arranges for me (AIESEC is the organization who raises this exchange program). So far I'm not sure how much I should pay for the homestay.. but I'd like to know how much does a regular flat cost in Chennai if I don't stay with the family at last.. $100 would not be my choice because I only get 10,000 Rs stipend per month for this traineeship (well....).

My company is located around White Road @ Chennai... If AIESEC couldn't arrange a suitable homestay for me or the homestay is too far away from the office... I prefer to find a flat nearby to same time and transportation fee.

Thanks you guys.

Findian · Jun 15th, 2004, 15:27

¡´FOOD
A breakfast local 5-10 egg/toast and tea 12-30
A basic veggie meal 15-30
No Non veg stuff - Just Vegatarian stuff Lotsa Rice(UNLIMITED), Rasam(Indian Soup comes in a variety of flavours), Sambar, Papad, Pickles and buttermilk or yoghurt

A bottle of mineral water 10-15
(1 Litre 10 Rs so is 1.2 Litres, 25 Litres: 35 Rs)
A coke 5-15(Recommended not to drink. Indian Coke and Pepsi have been found to contain pesticides)
Tea: rs.3-5(cuppa)
Coffee Rs. 6 - 8
Indian dishes from a menu 30-120

¡´LIVING
A decent hotel will cost between 100- 300 without Aircon. Food extra. Hotel is not feasible coz u wont be meeting the trainees and u will alone and lonely. and with Rs. 10000 in ur pocket u wont be able to do much. Imagine 250Rs/Day for a Hotel with out Airconditioner. U will lose 7500 /Month in Hotels and then food.

¡´COMMUNICATION
Internet access: rs.30/hr(very fast connection, Chennai) at SIFY or IWay Outlets. Also Prepaid cards for GSM fones range from rs. 50 to 1000Rs....

¡´TRANSPORTATION
A rickshaw to get around town 8-10 per Kilometer
Rickshaws In Chennai will cheat you to the core while buses are good but over crowded, In case u are planning to Stay close to the company which is Whites Road then the rent for a flat is very high...

Findian

guerik · Jun 15th, 2004, 15:40

(Recommended not to drink. Indian Coke and Pepsi have been found to contain pesticides)
I thought that was all fixed up these days?
Either way, Kingfishers are a lot bigger and not too much more expensive comparitively, so who needs Coke?

Findian · Jun 15th, 2004, 17:05

Well most stuff in India is contaminated thanks to the years of DDT and Pesticides used. Our vegetables contain more pesticides than Coke or Pepsi. But then I guess that is why Indians can withstand the High Quality Indian Germs....

The better reason not to drink COke Pepsi or even Indian CArbonated stuff is that they are diuretics and they end up making u more thirsty in the Great Indian Summer. So water is the best alternative to Coke or just about anything to quench your thirst.

So Diane all in all become an Indian Camel (WATER) and an Indian Cow (VEGETARIAN). U will find so much varieties of Vegetarian stuff making you ask for more. Non veg stuff in hotels is not cooked in hygenic conditions. so it is better to stay Vegetarian. U can turn into an Indian TIGRESS when u want as there are plenty of non veg varieties available....

Findian

Bryan · Jun 15th, 2004, 17:09

If you're thirsty you can do a lot worse than to drink a green coconut

federica · Jun 15th, 2004, 19:29

Thanks for starting this helpful topic! I go for a traineeship in August and will stay mostly in rural/small city areas (not really tourist places) in Kerala. So my question is: Is it more expensive in rural areas or in the bigger cities? Sounds strange, but I made different experiences in different countries.

May 28th, 2004, 16:28	#1
DianeShen Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: taipei , taiwan Posts: 5	daily budget survey Howdy! I do benefits from this forum a lot. Thanks folks! Well I'm going to spend 6 month in India (Chennai) since this July for a traineeship. For planning a more accurate budget before I take off, I tried to dive in this site and try to find as much as possible info about budgeting. The following are some items I collected from previous posts. Any of your contribution will be appreciated ¡´FOOD A breakfast local 5-10 egg/toast and tea 12-30 A basic veggie meal 15-30 A bottle of mineral water 10-15 A coke 5-15 A beer 35-100(2001 YEAR: Beer rs:75(650ml kingfisher in HP)) A tandoori chicken with rice or chips 50-120 Tea: rs.3-5(cuppa) Indian dishes from a menu 30-120 ¡´LIVING A decent hotel will cost between 100- 300 ¡´COMMUNICATION Internet access: rs.20/hr(very fast connection, calcutta) ¡´TRANSPORTATION A rickshaw to get around town 8-10 per Kilometer Second class travel on trains and buses is dirt cheap!!E.g. Goa to Delhi second class around 550

May 28th, 2004, 17:26	#2
Bryan Mega Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Scotland Posts: 638	Can't give a daily breakdown because we never kept tabs on daily expenses but for me my partner and young son we averaged £300 GBP a month without scrimping or doing without Thats the best I can do Cheers Bryan __________________ Then let us pray that come it may (As come it will for a' that), That Sense and Worth o'er a' the earth, Shall bear the gree an a' that. For a' that, an a' that, It's coming yet for a' that, That man to man, the world, o'er Shall brithers be for a' that. - Burns

May 28th, 2004, 20:46	#3
radz Maha Guru Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: India Posts: 748	Food at Chennai is very reasonable.Your observation of costs more or less correct. Transport for local Chennai has best Buses&local train service. __________________ My Photo gallery

May 28th, 2004, 22:41	#7
sudheer poppa Senior brick in the wall Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Pole Posts: 1,475	You can consider moving to a hostel or a paying guest accommodation that can come a lot cheaper on a monthly basis. The place you are heading for training shall help you with the arrangements. Incase you get to stay with a family, that shall help you get great insights into an Indian family. __________________ We must learn to live together as brothers or perish together as fools - MLK Pic Page 1 Pic Page 2 When my life changed over a week

Jun 15th, 2004, 17:05	#11
Findian Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Chennai/Pune(A True Indian) Posts: 2	Water as an Alternative Well most stuff in India is contaminated thanks to the years of DDT and Pesticides used. Our vegetables contain more pesticides than Coke or Pepsi. But then I guess that is why Indians can withstand the High Quality Indian Germs.... The better reason not to drink COke Pepsi or even Indian CArbonated stuff is that they are diuretics and they end up making u more thirsty in the Great Indian Summer. So water is the best alternative to Coke or just about anything to quench your thirst. So Diane all in all become an Indian Camel (WATER) and an Indian Cow (VEGETARIAN). U will find so much varieties of Vegetarian stuff making you ask for more. Non veg stuff in hotels is not cooked in hygenic conditions. so it is better to stay Vegetarian. U can turn into an Indian TIGRESS when u want as there are plenty of non veg varieties available.... Findian

May 28th, 2004, 21:47	#4
pooch Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Middle East <---->India Posts: 384	All just about there for Chennai I'd say but are you planning to live in a 100-300 rs. hotel for 6 whole months ??

May 28th, 2004, 21:55	#5
1WorldinaCave Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Dublin, Ireland Posts: 66	Why Pooch? Do you reckon this would be unbearable? I was planning on this sort of budget range myself... with some brief stays in more upmarket places...is that mad?

May 28th, 2004, 22:03	#6
pooch Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Middle East <---->India Posts: 384	As a traveller it should be fine but dianeshen will be in Chennai for a different purpose. For 6 months you could rent yourself a nice pad for about US$100 a month and aircon it. Six months in a 100-300 room in Chennai sounds dreadful when you have some routine and not just passing by or travelling.

Jun 1st, 2004, 13:27	#8
DianeShen Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: taipei , taiwan Posts: 5	pooch, I will be staying either at a homestay or a flat that AIESEC arranges for me (AIESEC is the organization who raises this exchange program). So far I'm not sure how much I should pay for the homestay.. but I'd like to know how much does a regular flat cost in Chennai if I don't stay with the family at last.. $100 would not be my choice because I only get 10,000 Rs stipend per month for this traineeship (well....). My company is located around White Road @ Chennai... If AIESEC couldn't arrange a suitable homestay for me or the homestay is too far away from the office... I prefer to find a flat nearby to same time and transportation fee. Thanks you guys.

Jun 15th, 2004, 15:27	#9
Findian Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Chennai/Pune(A True Indian) Posts: 2	¡´FOOD A breakfast local 5-10 egg/toast and tea 12-30 A basic veggie meal 15-30 No Non veg stuff - Just Vegatarian stuff Lotsa Rice(UNLIMITED), Rasam(Indian Soup comes in a variety of flavours), Sambar, Papad, Pickles and buttermilk or yoghurt A bottle of mineral water 10-15 (1 Litre 10 Rs so is 1.2 Litres, 25 Litres: 35 Rs) A coke 5-15(Recommended not to drink. Indian Coke and Pepsi have been found to contain pesticides) Tea: rs.3-5(cuppa) Coffee Rs. 6 - 8 Indian dishes from a menu 30-120 ¡´LIVING A decent hotel will cost between 100- 300 without Aircon. Food extra. Hotel is not feasible coz u wont be meeting the trainees and u will alone and lonely. and with Rs. 10000 in ur pocket u wont be able to do much. Imagine 250Rs/Day for a Hotel with out Airconditioner. U will lose 7500 /Month in Hotels and then food. ¡´COMMUNICATION Internet access: rs.30/hr(very fast connection, Chennai) at SIFY or IWay Outlets. Also Prepaid cards for GSM fones range from rs. 50 to 1000Rs.... ¡´TRANSPORTATION A rickshaw to get around town 8-10 per Kilometer Rickshaws In Chennai will cheat you to the core while buses are good but over crowded, In case u are planning to Stay close to the company which is Whites Road then the rent for a flat is very high... Findian

Jun 15th, 2004, 15:40	#10
guerik Maha Guru Member Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Australia Posts: 1,038	(Recommended not to drink. Indian Coke and Pepsi have been found to contain pesticides) I thought that was all fixed up these days? Either way, Kingfishers are a lot bigger and not too much more expensive comparitively, so who needs Coke?

Jun 15th, 2004, 17:09	#12
Bryan Mega Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Scotland Posts: 638	If you're thirsty you can do a lot worse than to drink a green coconut

Jun 15th, 2004, 19:29	#13
federica Maha Guru Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Bavaria Posts: 1,081	Thanks for starting this helpful topic! I go for a traineeship in August and will stay mostly in rural/small city areas (not really tourist places) in Kerala. So my question is: Is it more expensive in rural areas or in the bigger cities? Sounds strange, but I made different experiences in different countries.

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