Chennai: HRA, TA and Estimated 8th Pay Commission Salary
Chennai, Tamil Nadu, is an X-class place for central government House Rent Allowance: 30% of basic pay today. The Department of Expenditure's list (OM of 21 July 2015, Census 2011) names "Chennai (UA)" as X class.
Chennai is one of the 19 cities with the higher Transport Allowance: ₹1,350 a month plus DA for Levels 1 and 2 (₹3,600 if basic pay is ₹24,200 or more), ₹3,600 for Levels 3 to 8 and ₹7,200 for Levels 9 and above.
HRA is paid at Chennai's rate across its Census urban agglomeration, including Ambattur, Avadi, Tiruvottiyur, Pallavaram, Tambaram, Alandur, Madhavaram (DoE HRA compendium of 30 December 2022, para 3.4(iv)). The higher transport allowance list names "Chennai (UA)", which we read as covering the same area; confirm with your office's DDO.
HRA and transport allowance depend on where your office is, not where you live.
CGHS is available in Chennai (14 allopathic wellness centres). Cover depends on living within a centre's notified area; serving employees pay the CGHS contribution for their level. Includes the centre at Avadi.
| Level | HRA today | In hand today | HRA, 8th CPC | In hand, 8th CPC |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Level 1 | ₹5,400 | ₹33,200 | ₹8,304 | ₹41,324 |
| Level 2 | ₹5,970 | ₹36,506 | ₹9,168 | ₹45,428 |
| Level 3 | ₹6,510 | ₹43,238 | ₹10,008 | ₹53,018 |
| Level 4 | ₹7,650 | ₹49,850 | ₹11,760 | ₹61,340 |
| Level 5 | ₹8,760 | ₹56,288 | ₹13,464 | ₹69,434 |
| Level 6 | ₹10,620 | ₹66,846 | ₹16,320 | ₹82,770 |
| Level 7 | ₹13,470 | ₹83,176 | ₹20,688 | ₹1,03,318 |
| Level 8 | ₹14,280 | ₹87,874 | ₹21,936 | ₹1,09,246 |
| Level 9 | ₹15,930 | ₹1,03,204 | ₹24,480 | ₹1,27,090 |
| Level 10 | ₹16,830 | ₹1,08,364 | ₹25,848 | ₹1,33,528 |
| Level 11 | ₹20,310 | ₹1,28,548 | ₹31,200 | ₹1,58,950 |
| Level 12 | ₹23,640 | ₹1,47,512 | ₹36,312 | ₹1,82,882 |
| Level 13 | ₹36,930 | ₹2,24,594 | ₹56,736 | ₹2,79,896 |
| Level 14 | ₹43,260 | ₹2,61,308 | ₹66,456 | ₹3,26,066 |
8th CPC columns are estimates: basic × 1.92, DA reset to 0, HRA at 24% as from July 2017. In hand is after NPS, CGHS, and CGEGIS, before income tax and professional tax. Level 14 uses the ordinary transport allowance, not the official-car option.
CGHS wellness centres in Chennai
From the CGHS directory (cghs.mohfw.gov.in), checked 22 October 2026. Check timings with the centre.
Show all 14
- TRIPLICANE
CPT QUATERS NAPIER BRIDGE A1 BLOCK TRIPLICANE CHENNAI - MEENAMBAKKAM
DGQA Complex Meenambakkam Chennai - NUNGAMBAKKAM
C&B Block 1st Floor Shastri Bhavan Haddows Rd - GUINDY
Block No 6/1-5 Bcg Staff Quarters Guindy - RA PURAM
No 6 Kamaraj Saalai Ra Puram Chennai - PERAMBUR
No 1 SRP KOIL STREET, AGARAM JUNCTION, PERAMBUR, CHENNAI - ANNA NAGAR
Central Revenue Qtr No 15, Ranganathan Garden Anna Nagar - ROYAPURAM
No. 1 NSC Bose Road, Amenity Block, Ground Floor, BSNL Telephone Exchange Complex, Flower Bazar, Chennai 600001 - VEPERY
NO 10 Vasu Street , Backside of EGA Theatre .Kilpauk Chennai 600010 - NANDAMBAKKAM
No 16-19 Cda Res Complex Nandambakkam - GOPALAPURAM
No 1, 1st Street, Gopalapuram, Chennai - KK NAGAR
Cpwd Quarters Kk Nagar Chennai 600078 - ADYAR
26th Cross Street, Cpwd Qtrs, Indira Nagar, Adyar - AVADI
Heavy Vehicles Factory Complex, Avadi
Tamil Nadu government employees: their DA and pay revision →
Other cities in Tamil Nadu
Is Chennai an X, Y or Z city for HRA?
Chennai is an X-class city for central government HRA. The Department of Expenditure's list (OM of 21 July 2015, Census 2011) names "Chennai (UA)" as X class.
Is there a CGHS wellness centre in Chennai?
Yes. The CGHS directory lists 14 allopathic wellness centres or polyclinics here, including TRIPLICANE, MEENAMBAKKAM, NUNGAMBAKKAM.
Do central employees in Ambattur get Chennai's HRA?
Yes, if their office is in Ambattur: it is part of Chennai's urban agglomeration, and HRA is paid at the classified city's rate across its UA (HRA compendium, para 3.4(iv)). HRA follows the place of duty, not the home address.