At a glance
| Factor | Doha | New Delhi |
|---|---|---|
| Average international school fees (secondary) | QAR 30,000 to 90,000 (USD 8,200 to 24,700) for premium British, American or IB | INR 4.5 lakh to 15 lakh (USD 5,400 to 18,000) at top schools |
| Dominant curricula | British, IB, American, Indian (CBSE), French | American, IB, British (IGCSE), CBSE, Cambridge |
| Cost of living (Numbeo, May 2026) | See narrative below for index detail | See narrative below for index detail |
| Family visa | Employment residency permit with spouse and child sponsorship | Employment X-Visa with spouse and dependent provisions |
| Expat share of population | Roughly 88 percent of Qatar's residents are expatriates | Diplomatic and corporate expat community of roughly 80,000 to 100,000 |
| Typical relocation timeline | 3 to 6 weeks | 8 to 12 weeks |
Doha and New Delhi both deliver world-class IB and British pathways. The deciding factors are climate, cost of living, visa, and which curriculum your family wants to commit to for the next five to ten years.
Schools landscape side by side
Doha's international school market is led by Doha College, ACS Doha International School, Qatar Academy Doha (a member of Qatar Foundation), Park House English School, Compass International School Doha, DESS. See the Doha schools hub for the full landscape.
New Delhi's market is led by American Embassy School (AES) in Chanakyapuri, The British School in Chanakyapuri, Pathways World School Aravali (IB), Vasant Valley School, Step by Step School Noida (CBSE/IB), GD Goenka. See the New Delhi schools hub for the full landscape.
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 in under ten minutes.
Fees and value for money
Doha fees in 2026: Premium British and IB names run QAR 55,000 to 90,000 per year, with mid-tier American and Indian options at QAR 30,000 to 55,000. Add QAR 4,000 to 8,000 for transport and QAR 1,000 to 1,800 for uniform. See the fees explorer for distribution across year groups.
New Delhi fees in 2026: AES runs INR 9 lakh to 15 lakh by year group plus a USD 2,000 advance deposit, BSD INR 4.5 lakh to 11 lakh, and Pathways INR 10 lakh to 15 lakh. Add INR 1.5 lakh to 2.5 lakh in one-off enrolment fees. Doha runs roughly 60 to 80 percent more expensive than Delhi on rent and 40 to 55 percent on groceries, according to Numbeo's May 2026 indices. Corporate-funded families rarely feel the difference; self-funded families absolutely do, especially through the IB Diploma years.
Curriculum availability
Doha offers British, IB, American, Indian (CBSE), French. New Delhi offers American, IB, British (IGCSE), CBSE, Cambridge. The IB Diploma remains the safest portable credential in either city for university entry to the US, UK, Canada, Australia and continental Europe. See the IB hub for cross-city analysis.
Neighbourhoods families pick
In Doha families cluster in The Pearl-Qatar for waterfront apartments close to Doha College, West Bay Lagoon for villas and ACS shuttles, Lusail's marina district for the newer projects, Al Waab and Education City for Qatar Academy, Onaiza for embassy-belt living. A four-bedroom villa in West Bay Lagoon or Al Waab runs QAR 16,000 to QAR 26,000 per month, with The Pearl apartments at QAR 11,000 to QAR 22,000.
In New Delhi families pick Chanakyapuri for AES and BSD inside the diplomatic enclave, Vasant Vihar and Vasant Kunj for staff-quartered families, Defence Colony and Greater Kailash for upmarket south Delhi, Gurgaon DLF or Golf Course Road for corporate expat commuters, Noida for Pathways and Step by Step access. A four-bedroom Chanakyapuri or Vasant Vihar home runs INR 4 lakh to INR 9 lakh per month, with serviced flats at INR 2.5 lakh to INR 5 lakh.
Lifestyle and climate
Doha climate: Hot desert: 13 to 24 degrees from December to February, 32 to 43 in peak summer. Outdoor sport thrives between October and April. Tax-free pay, the Corniche, Souq Waqif, Education City museums, weekend dune trips and short hops to Oman and the Subcontinent.
New Delhi climate: Subtropical: 7 to 21 degrees in January, 27 to 41 in May, monsoon July to September. Winter air quality is a recurring concern. Vast diplomatic community, Lutyens architecture, Lodi Gardens, Khan Market dining, weekend trips to Agra, Jaipur and the Himalayas.
Verdict: who picks which city
Choose Doha if you want tax-free pay, Doha College or ACS at QAR 60,000 to 90,000 and the convenience of a small city with a global airport hub.
Choose New Delhi if your roots, business or extended family are in India, if you want the American Embassy School pipeline to US universities, or if you need CBSE alongside an international option. Total compensation should always be compared net of housing and tuition. Most families we work with model both options through the cost calculator.
Frequently asked questions
Is Doha or New Delhi cheaper for international school families in 2026?
Doha runs roughly 60 to 80 percent more expensive than Delhi on rent and 40 to 55 percent on groceries, according to Numbeo's May 2026 indices. On schools, Doha sits at QAR 30,000 to 90,000 (USD 8,200 to 24,700) and New Delhi at INR 4.5 lakh to 15 lakh. The right comparison depends on whether your package is corporate-funded or self-funded.
Which city has stronger international schools?
Doha flagships include Doha College. New Delhi flagships include American Embassy School (AES) in Chanakyapuri. Both cities deliver strong IB Diploma pathways; choice between them turns more on curriculum mix and neighbourhood logistics than on quality at the top end.
Is the family visa easier in Doha or New Delhi?
Doha typically uses the Employment residency permit with spouse and child sponsorship pathway, with relocation in 3 to 6 weeks. New Delhi uses the Employment X-Visa with spouse and dependent provisions pathway, in 8 to 12 weeks. Both are well-trodden routes for relocating families.
How does the climate compare for families?
Doha: Hot desert: 13 to 24 degrees from December to February, 32 to 43 in peak summer. Outdoor sport thrives between October and April. New Delhi: Subtropical: 7 to 21 degrees in January, 27 to 41 in May, monsoon July to September. Winter air quality is a recurring concern. The climate difference is one of the most underestimated factors in long-stay family decisions.
Where do most expat families live in each city?
In Doha families cluster in The Pearl-Qatar for waterfront apartments close to Doha College and other expat-heavy districts. In New Delhi the picks are Chanakyapuri for AES and BSD inside the diplomatic enclave and similar school-proximity neighbourhoods.
