At a glance
| Factor | Lisbon | New Delhi |
|---|---|---|
| Average international school fees (secondary) | EUR 14,000 to EUR 29,000 | INR 7 to 15 lakh (USD 8,400 to USD 18,000) |
| Dominant curricula | British, IB, American, Portuguese bilingual | American, British, IB, Indian CBSE international |
| Cost of living vs New Delhi (Numbeo, May 2026) | Roughly 3 times more expensive | Baseline |
| Family visa | D7 passive income, D8 digital nomad or EU Blue Card | Employer-sponsored E visa or X dependant visa |
| Expat share of population | About 11 percent of metro | About 0.5 percent of metro |
| Typical relocation timeline | 10 to 16 weeks | 12 to 20 weeks |
Schools landscape side by side
Lisbon has around 12 international schools serving expat families. The flagships are St Julian's School in Carcavelos (the only fully through-train IB Continuum school in Portugal), Carlucci American International School of Lisbon (CAISL) in Sintra, the British School of Lisbon, Park International School and TASIS Portugal. Lyceum Lusitania and the German School DSL add European-language depth. See our Lisbon schools hub for the city pillar.
Delhi has around 25 international or English-medium schools serving the expat market. The flagships are the American Embassy School (AES) in Chanakyapuri, British School Delhi in Chanakyapuri, Pathways World School in Aravali, Step by Step World School in Noida and the Shri Ram School. Several Indian premium schools (Vasant Valley, Sanskriti, DPS RK Puram) operate at international standard. See the 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 in under ten minutes.
Fees and value for money
Lisbon fees are modest by European premium standards. St Julian's runs EUR 12,400 to EUR 29,000 across year groups. CAISL EUR 11,700 to EUR 22,800. British School of Lisbon EUR 14,000 to EUR 25,000 and Park International EUR 12,000 to EUR 22,000. Add a EUR 1,500 to EUR 3,500 enrolment fee in year one and an annual capital fund of EUR 500 to EUR 2,500 at premium schools. Most schools offer a sibling discount.
Delhi fees split sharply. AES at the premium end runs USD 22,000 to USD 30,000 per year at secondary. British School Delhi INR 7 to 11 lakh (roughly USD 8,400 to USD 13,200). Pathways Aravali and Step by Step USD 18,000 to USD 25,000 at IBDP. Indian premium schools offering CBSE international or IBDP (Vasant Valley, Pathways Noida) sit INR 4 to 8 lakh. Add a one-off entrance fee of INR 50,000 to INR 5 lakh at premium schools.
Curriculum availability
Lisbon is IB- and British-heavy with strong Portuguese bilingual provision at lower tiers. St Julian's runs the full IB Continuum (PYP, MYP, Diploma) and is the historic IB anchor in Portugal. Delhi is broader: American AP through AES, full IB at Pathways and Step by Step, British IGCSE at British School Delhi, and the Indian CBSE international stream at premium Indian schools. See the IB hub and the British curriculum hub for guidance.
Neighbourhoods families pick
In Lisbon expat families cluster in Cascais and Estoril (near St Julian's), Sintra and Beloura (near CAISL), and central neighbourhoods like Lapa, Estrela and Restelo. A three-bedroom apartment in Cascais or Lapa runs EUR 2,200 to EUR 4,000 per month, with villas in Sintra or Quinta da Marinha EUR 2,800 to EUR 5,500. Lisbon housing tightened sharply between 2020 and 2024 but has plateaued.
In Delhi expat families pick Chanakyapuri (the diplomatic enclave near AES and British School), South Extension, Vasant Vihar, Shanti Niketan and parts of Noida and Gurgaon for Pathways and Step by Step. A four-bedroom house in Vasant Vihar or Shanti Niketan runs INR 3 to 7 lakh per month, with secure compounds and full domestic staffing standard. Compound and staff costs add significantly to total household budget.
Lifestyle and climate
Lisbon offers mild Atlantic weather, summers around 28 degrees, very low crime, world-class beach access at Cascais and Carcavelos and walkable historic neighbourhoods. New Delhi has hot summers above 40 degrees from April to June, heavy monsoon from July to September and a brief mild winter. Air quality is the central concern: PM2.5 routinely exceeds 200 from October to February, and most expat families fit homes with high-grade air purifiers and choose schools with indoor air filtration.
Verdict: who picks which city
Choose Lisbon if you want the easiest soft-landing relocation in the EU, lower fees than London or Paris, ocean and weather, and the D7 or D8 visa route. It suits families with primary-age children and digital-nomad incomes, plus retiring or semi-retired parents who can fund private fees.
Choose New Delhi if your relocation is package-driven, your work is regional, and you accept the trade on air quality for tax efficiency and a deep cultural experience. Run both through the cost calculator to compare net household spend including air filtration and healthcare cover.
Frequently asked questions
Is Lisbon or New Delhi cheaper for international school families in 2026?
Delhi is cheaper on most line items, with Numbeo putting Lisbon roughly 3 times more expensive overall including rent. But premium Delhi school fees at AES (USD 22,000 to USD 30,000) sit above most Lisbon options. Total household budgets are typically 35 to 55 percent lower in Delhi at mid-tier school choice.
Can I move to Lisbon without an employer sponsor?
Yes. Portugal's D7 passive-income visa requires monthly income of around EUR 870 plus 50 percent per dependant. The D8 digital-nomad visa requires monthly remote income above EUR 3,480. Either route grants residence and access to private and public schools. Most international school families on the D8 land in Cascais or Estoril near St Julian's.
Is the family visa easier in Lisbon or New Delhi?
Lisbon is far easier and more flexible. Portugal's D7 and D8 routes do not require employer sponsorship and process in 8 to 12 weeks. India's employer-sponsored E visa is faster (4 to 8 weeks) but binds you to one company. Dependants follow on X visas. Both countries require annual renewal in the early years.
How serious is the air quality issue in New Delhi for children?
Serious from October to February, when PM2.5 routinely exceeds 200 micrograms per cubic metre, eight times the WHO limit. Most international school families fit homes with HEPA air purifiers and choose schools with indoor air filtration and limited outdoor PE in winter. Families with asthmatic children should weigh this carefully and consider Gurgaon or Noida with similar pollution but more outdoor compounds.
Where do most expat families live in each city?
In Lisbon families pick Cascais, Estoril, Sintra (near CAISL), Lapa, Estrela and Restelo. In New Delhi the heartlands are Chanakyapuri, Vasant Vihar, Shanti Niketan, South Extension, plus Noida and Gurgaon for Pathways and Step by Step.
