Climate change poses an urgent global challenge, with urban household consumption patterns contributing significantly to carbon emissions. In rapidly urbanizing cities such as Chennai, understanding the socio-economic and infrastructural drivers of household emissions is vital for developing equitable and effective climate policies. This study compares the carbon footprints of two socio-economically distinct neighbourhoods in Chennai: Saidapet Slum, representing a low-income community, and the Olympia Gated Community in Pallavaram, representing a high-income enclave. Data were collected from 100 households, examining energy consumption, transportation choices, waste management practices, and the adoption of eco-friendly behaviours. While the average carbon footprint was higher among gated community households (398.35 kg CO2e) than among slum households (267.15 kg CO2e), Welch’s t-test showed that this difference was not statistically significant (t = -0.2764, p > 0.05). This suggests that income, although influential, is not the sole determinant of household emissions. Furthermore, the study identifies infrastructural challenges in slum areas that hinder the adoption of sustainable practices, despite lower average emissions. These findings advocate for climate interventions that move beyond income-based targeting, focusing instead on improving infrastructure, enabling behaviour change, and implementing tailored sustainability strategies across diverse urban settings.