At a glance
| Factor | New Delhi | Bangalore |
|---|---|---|
| Average international school fees (secondary) | INR 9 to 15 lakh at British School Delhi and Pathways; USD 22,000 to 38,000 at American Embassy School | INR 5 to 15 lakh at Stonehill, Indus, TISB, Greenwood and Inventure |
| Dominant curricula | IB Diploma, IGCSE plus A Level, CBSE international stream | IB Diploma, IGCSE plus A Level, CBSE international stream |
| Cost of living (Numbeo, May 2026) | Roughly 8 to 12 percent cheaper than Bangalore on rent in central neighbourhoods | Marginally pricier on rent in Whitefield and Indiranagar, cheaper on dining |
| Family visa | Employment Visa with X dependant visa for spouse and children | Employment Visa with X dependant visa for spouse and children |
| Expat share of population | Larger absolute diplomatic community, smaller commercial expat base | Largest commercial expat base in India, tech driven |
| Typical relocation timeline | 8 to 14 weeks for visa and school place | 8 to 14 weeks for visa and school place |
Schools landscape side by side
New Delhi anchors on the American Embassy School in Chanakyapuri, which serves the diplomatic community and Indian families with American-only pathways through grade 12, plus the IB Diploma. The British School Delhi runs the full English National Curriculum, IGCSE and the IB Diploma in Chanakyapuri. Pathways World School Aravali, Pathways School Noida and Pathways School Gurgaon ring the National Capital Region with IB continuum schools. Add Shiv Nadar School, Vasant Valley and DPS International for further depth. See the New Delhi schools hub.
Bangalore has the deepest IB cluster in India. Stonehill International School in Tarahunise runs PYP, MYP and IB Diploma with strong residential provision. Indus International School in Sarjapur is the legacy IB residential school. The International School Bangalore is a long-standing IB Diploma provider. Canadian International School in Yelahanka covers PYP through DP. Greenwood High and Inventure Academy serve mid-tier IB and IGCSE. See the Bangalore 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
The American Embassy School in Delhi is the priciest school in India at USD 22,000 to USD 38,000 per year. The British School Delhi runs INR 9 to 14 lakh annually, with admission, capital and exam fees adding 15 to 25 percent. Pathways and Shiv Nadar sit at INR 4 to 9 lakh in primary, rising in IGCSE and IBDP. Mid-tier and CBSE international streams price at INR 1.8 to 3.5 lakh and are popular with Indian-passport families. See the fees explorer for breakdown.
Bangalore's premium IB schools are price-competitive with Delhi. Stonehill ranges INR 6 to 15 lakh, Indus INR 5 to 14 lakh day and more for boarding, and TISB INR 6 to 12 lakh. Mid-tier IB and IGCSE schools such as Greenwood and Inventure sit at INR 2.5 to 7 lakh. Year one one-off fees of INR 75,000 to INR 4 lakh apply at most premium options. Net of admission costs, Bangalore is similar or slightly cheaper than Delhi at every tier.
Curriculum availability
Both cities are IB strongholds with deep IGCSE plus A Level coverage. Delhi has the only embassy school in India and so retains a unique American-only pathway through grade 12. Bangalore's residential IB schools (Stonehill, Indus, TISB) attract families relocating from outside India for the full PYP, MYP and DP continuum. CBSE international streams at established Indian schools serve families targeting Indian university entry. The IB hub covers global comparators.
Neighbourhoods families pick
In New Delhi families cluster in Vasant Vihar, Shanti Niketan and Chanakyapuri for diplomatic-quarter living near the embassy schools, Defence Colony and Greater Kailash for central villa life, and Gurgaon (DLF Phase 1 to 5, Golf Course Road) or Noida (Sector 50, Sector 128) for NCR-edge gated communities. A four-bedroom house in Vasant Vihar rents at INR 4 to 8 lakh a month.
In Bangalore international families pick Whitefield for proximity to TISB, Greenwood and many tech campuses, Sarjapur Road for Indus and a newer master planned belt, Indiranagar and Koramangala for central walkable life, and Yelahanka or Hennur for Canadian International and Bangalore International School. A four-bedroom apartment in Whitefield runs INR 80,000 to INR 2.5 lakh a month.
Lifestyle and climate
New Delhi runs an extreme climate, 5 degrees on cold January nights to 45 degrees in May, with a heavy June to September monsoon. Air quality is the city's persistent issue and most expat families invest in HEPA filtration and outdoor PM2.5 monitors. Cultural depth is unmatched: Mughal heritage, museums, an active diplomatic social calendar and weekend escapes to Agra, Jaipur and the Himalayan foothills. Bangalore enjoys India's mildest climate of any major city, 18 to 32 degrees year round, courtesy of the 900 metre Deccan Plateau elevation. Air quality is better than Delhi, though traffic congestion is severe. Weekend access to Coorg, the Western Ghats and Kerala is excellent.
Verdict: who picks which city
Choose New Delhi if you are on a diplomatic, NGO or political consulting posting, you want American Embassy School or British School Delhi, and you can manage the air quality and seasonal extremes. Cultural and travel depth in north India is unmatched, and Delhi's expat compensation packages typically include air filtration and dependent visas as standard.
Choose Bangalore if you are on a tech, research or product posting, you want IB residential or day schools at INR 5 to 15 lakh, and you prefer the mildest weather of any major Indian city. Most expat families come on three to five year assignments. Use the school finder quiz for a shortlist or the cost calculator for a budget.
Frequently asked questions
Is New Delhi or Bangalore cheaper for international school families in 2026?
Bangalore is marginally cheaper at the very top, with Stonehill and Indus IB Diploma fees running INR 12 to 15 lakh versus INR 13 to 14 lakh at British School Delhi. Delhi is unique in offering the American Embassy School at USD 22,000 to 38,000, which has no Bangalore equivalent. Rents in central Bangalore tech corridors can match central Delhi diplomatic enclaves.
Which city has stronger international schools?
Delhi has the only American embassy school in India and the strongest diplomatic concentration. Bangalore has the deepest IB cluster, with Stonehill, Indus, TISB, Canadian International and Bangalore International all running PYP through DP. For a continuous IB residential pathway Bangalore wins on options.
Is the family visa easier in New Delhi or Bangalore?
Both cities use the same Indian Employment Visa with the X dependant visa for spouse and children. Processing is identical at 8 to 14 weeks. Local FRRO (Foreigners Regional Registration Office) registration is required in both cities within 14 days of arrival.
How does the climate compare for families?
Delhi has India's most extreme climate at 5 to 45 degrees with severe winter air quality. Bangalore has the country's mildest major-city weather at 18 to 32 degrees year round thanks to the Deccan Plateau elevation. Bangalore air quality is consistently better than Delhi though traffic is worse.
Where do most expat families live in each city?
In Delhi they cluster in Vasant Vihar, Shanti Niketan and Chanakyapuri for embassy access, plus Gurgaon DLF and Noida Sector 128 for NCR-edge gated living. In Bangalore they pick Whitefield, Sarjapur Road, Indiranagar, Koramangala and Yelahanka.
