At a glance
| Factor | Beijing | New Delhi |
|---|---|---|
| Average international school fees (secondary) | RMB 200,000 to 380,000 (USD 28,000 to 53,000) | INR 8,00,000 to 15,00,000 (USD 9,500 to 18,000) |
| Dominant curricula | American, IB, British, Chinese bilingual | British, IB, Indian (CBSE and ICSE) |
| Cost of living (Numbeo, May 2026) | Premium housing, lower groceries | About 50 percent lower overall |
| Family visa | Z work visa, residence permit, S1 dependant | Employment visa with X dependant visa |
| Expat share of population | About 1 percent (concentrated) | Under 1 percent (large absolute community) |
| Typical relocation timeline | 10 to 14 weeks | 10 to 14 weeks |
Beijing is the more expensive, more polished, more regulated of the two postings. New Delhi runs at roughly half the cost on schooling and significantly less on daily life, with deeper British curriculum heritage and richer cultural immersion. Both deliver excellent IB Diploma provision for families on the move.
Schools landscape side by side
Beijing has about 25 international schools concentrated in the northeast and east of the city. Flagships parents shortlist include the International School of Beijing (ISB), Western Academy of Beijing (WAB), Dulwich College Beijing, the British School of Beijing, Beijing City International School (BCIS), Yew Chung International School and the German Embassy School. Foreign passport holders are required to attend international schools, which keeps the market tight. See Beijing schools hub for ratings.
New Delhi has roughly 25 international and premium private schools, mostly in South Delhi and Gurgaon. Names families recognise include the British School (Chanakyapuri), the American Embassy School (AES), Pathways World School (Aravali and Gurgaon), Shiv Nadar School, Lancers International, the German School (DSND) and Step by Step. The British School and AES are the long-standing flagships. See New Delhi schools hub.
Not sure which city fits your family?
Take the 5 minute school finder quiz, then run the cost calculator for both cities. You get shortlisted schools plus a side by side relocation budget for Beijing and New Delhi in under ten minutes.
Fees and value for money
Beijing pricing is at the upper end of Asia. Premium schools (ISB, WAB, Dulwich) publish secondary fees of RMB 280,000 to RMB 380,000 (USD 39,000 to USD 53,000). Mid-tier options run RMB 200,000 to RMB 260,000. Add a capital levy of RMB 25,000 to RMB 60,000 a year at the top schools, plus registration deposits, bus, lunch and exam fees that add 15 to 25 percent.
New Delhi runs materially cheaper. The British School publishes secondary fees of INR 12,00,000 to INR 15,00,000 (USD 14,500 to USD 18,000). AES is in a similar range at the top, with mid-tier schools (Pathways, Shiv Nadar) at INR 7,00,000 to INR 11,00,000. The British School has a one-off development fee of INR 6,25,000 that families need to plan for. Use the cost calculator for a multi-year projection.
Curriculum availability
Beijing covers American (the dominant English-medium stream), IB at WAB, Dulwich and BCIS, British at Dulwich and the British School, plus Chinese bilingual programmes. The IB Diploma is the safest portable credential. Read our IB hub for details.
New Delhi covers British (the dominant international stream), IB at AES, Pathways, Lancers and others, plus the Indian CBSE and ICSE pathways at premium private schools. The IB Diploma sits alongside Cambridge A Levels at the most internationally oriented schools.
Neighbourhoods families pick
In Beijing, families with school-age children cluster in Shunyi for ISB, WAB and Dulwich, in Chaoyang for the British School and BCIS, and in Liangmaqiao for the embassy district. Shunyi villa compounds (Capital Paradise, Beijing Riviera, Quanfa) are the family default. A four-bedroom villa runs RMB 30,000 to RMB 55,000 per month, often furnished.
In New Delhi, expat families gravitate to Vasant Vihar, Shanti Niketan, Anand Niketan and Jor Bagh for proximity to the British School and AES, plus DLF Golf Links and Camellias in Gurgaon for Pathways and Shiv Nadar families. A three-bedroom bungalow in Shanti Niketan runs INR 3,50,000 to INR 7,00,000 a month. Gurgaon villas are cheaper at INR 2,00,000 to INR 4,50,000.
Lifestyle and climate
Beijing has cold dry winters, hot humid summers and seasonal air-quality challenges that have improved markedly since 2018 but still require monitoring. The expat community is organised, compound-based and used to managing logistics. Domestic helpers (ayis) are accessible and relatively affordable. Mandarin exposure for children is one of the great long-term gifts of the posting.
New Delhi has hot summers above 40 degrees Celsius, a monsoon from July to September and cool winters with persistent air quality concerns from October to February. Domestic help is plentiful and affordable, which materially eases family logistics. Diplomatic and corporate compounds anchor the foreign family scene, and weekend escapes to Rishikesh, Jaipur and Goa are easy.
Verdict: who picks which city
Choose Beijing if your career is China-anchored, your employer covers the premium school fees and you want a regulated, polished posting with deep Mandarin exposure. It suits families with younger children who will benefit most from bilingual immersion.
Choose New Delhi if cost matters, your career is India-anchored or South Asia regional, and your family values rich cultural immersion over polished compound life. See Mumbai vs New Delhi for the in-India comparison.
Frequently asked questions
Is Beijing or New Delhi cheaper for international school families in 2026?
New Delhi is materially cheaper, roughly half the cost on tuition and 50 percent cheaper on daily life. The British School and AES are still substantial outlays for families paying privately, but Beijing's top schools remain significantly more expensive.
Which city has better international schools?
Beijing has higher quality consistency at the top end, with ISB and WAB delivering some of the strongest IB outcomes in Asia. New Delhi has more breadth, with The British School and AES leading and a deep mid-tier including Pathways and Shiv Nadar.
Is the family visa easier in Beijing or New Delhi?
Both require employer sponsorship and are workable but procedural. Beijing's Z visa plus residence permit cycle takes 4 to 8 weeks. New Delhi's employment visa with X dependant visas runs slightly longer. Neither is dramatic with a competent relocation agent.
How long is the school admissions process in each city?
Beijing top schools (ISB, WAB, Dulwich) often have waiting lists at primary and middle school intake. Apply 9 to 12 months ahead. New Delhi's British School and AES move faster but still maintain waiting lists at premium year groups.
Where do most international school families live in each city?
In Beijing, Shunyi villa compounds, Chaoyang central, and Liangmaqiao. In New Delhi, Vasant Vihar, Shanti Niketan, Anand Niketan and Jor Bagh, plus DLF Golf Links and Camellias in Gurgaon.
