The people of Madurai are amicable, hospitable, and deeply respect and value their tradition. They lead a relaxed and casual lifestyle, and are not seen as very ambitious. Their mindset is conservative and old-fashioned to the extent that most do not see much point in girls' receiving higher education. They like to get their daughters married at the appropriate age, and count on their sons to support them in their old age. This is one reason among others why Madurai is seen by some more as a developed village rather than a city. Conservatism is also evident in clothing; Western outfits have not found much acceptance amongst women as they are considered too revealing. Though Salwar Kameez, a North-Indian ethnic wear for women, has made deep inroads into the city's populace, most Tradition-lovers still prefer Saree (or Sari), a traditional Indian wear to it.

Maduraiites like to entertain themselves by watching movies and visiting amusement parks. The city has plenty of either, with the Movie Halls numbering about 50—a large number for a city Madurai's size. In the recent past, many Movie Halls have either closed down due to Tamil Cinema's continuing poor performance and lack of patronage, or are turning to dubbed English and Hindi movies.