The New Delhi fee landscape
New Delhi's international school market is shaped by the diplomatic and development sector concentration in the capital. American Embassy School (AES) and British School New Delhi (BSND) sit in Chanakyapuri's diplomatic enclave with strong American and British curricula respectively. Pathways World School, Step by Step, and Vasant Valley deliver IB and IGCSE pathways. Premium tier sits at INR 9-15 lakhs per year. Mid-tier at INR 4-9 lakhs. Indian-curriculum schools sit at INR 1-4 lakhs.
2026 fee tiers (New Delhi / NCR)
| Tier | Annual fee range (INR) | Annual fee range (USD) | Typical schools |
|---|---|---|---|
| Premium international | INR 9L - 15L | USD 10,800 - 18,000 | American Embassy School (AES), British School New Delhi (BSND), Pathways World School, Vasant Valley School, Step by Step Noida |
| Upper-mid international | INR 5L - 9L | USD 6,000 - 10,800 | Genesis Global, Lancers International, Heritage Xperiential, Shiv Nadar School, GD Goenka World School |
| Premium Indian-curriculum (CBSE/ICSE) | INR 1.5L - 4L | USD 1,800 - 4,800 | Modern School, DPS RK Puram, Sanskriti School, Springdales, Mother's International |
| Mid Indian-curriculum | INR 0.4L - 1.5L | USD 480 - 1,800 | Various CBSE/ICSE schools across Delhi NCR |
The development fee question
AES charges development fees of INR 4-8 lakhs (USD 4,800-9,600) one-time, generally non-refundable. BSND charges INR 3-6 lakhs. Pathways and Step by Step charge INR 5-10 lakhs depending on year. These represent meaningful capital commitments. Most expat employer education allowances cover them but worth checking at offer stage.
Hidden extras
Total cost-of-place adds 12-18% to headline tuition. Largest line items: registration fees (INR 5,000-50,000), school bus (INR 50,000-1L per year), uniform (INR 10,000-25,000), iPad/laptop programmes (INR 25,000-70,000), exam entries (INR 20,000-65,000 in IGCSE/IB years), trips (INR 25,000-1.2L for higher year groups), lunch (INR 20,000-50,000).
New Delhi vs. Mumbai
Premium IB at AES or Pathways New Delhi runs INR 12-15 lakhs (USD 14,500-18,000). The Mumbai equivalent at DAIS or ASB runs INR 14-18 lakhs (USD 16,800-21,600). New Delhi is roughly 15-20% cheaper at the premium tier. Mid-tier and Indian-curriculum schools are similar. The diplomatic school concentration in Delhi makes it particularly attractive for diplomatic and development sector families.
Year-on-year fee inflation
New Delhi school fees rose 6.5% on average across 2025-26, near Mumbai. Premium international schools tracked 6.5-8.0%; ICSE/CBSE schools 5.0-6.5%. Budget at least 6-7% annual fee inflation in your forward planning.
Sibling discounts
Most New Delhi schools offer 5-10% sibling discounts. AES offers no formal sibling discount. See our sibling discount table.
Currency exposure
INR-denominated. USD, GBP and EUR-paid families have meaningful currency risk on multi-year horizons. The rupee's gradual depreciation has made New Delhi cheaper in USD terms over time.