At a glance
| Factor | Shanghai | New Delhi |
|---|---|---|
| Average international school fees (secondary) | CNY 137,800 to 390,000 (USD 19,000 to 54,000) | INR 8,00,000 to 15,00,000+ (USD 9,500 to 18,000) |
| Dominant curricula | American, British, IB, Australian, Canadian, German, French | IB, Cambridge IGCSE and A Level, American, ICSE, CBSE |
| Cost of living (Numbeo, May 2026) | New Delhi is the baseline. Shanghai runs roughly 113 percent more expensive on a full basket including rent, and around 72 percent more expensive ex-rent (Numbeo, May 2026) | |
| Family visa | Chinese Z-visa with foreigner work permit, accompanying family S2 visa, Permanent Residence for senior talent | Indian Employment Visa with dependant visa, Business Visa, OCI Card for spouses of Indian origin |
| Expat share of population | Around 1 to 2 percent of Shanghai population are foreign passport holders, mostly Korean, Japanese, American and European | Around 1 percent of New Delhi population are foreign passport holders, with a significant returning NRI cohort |
| Flagship schools (selection) | Shanghai American School (SAS), Dulwich College Shanghai (Puxi and Pudong), Wellington College International Shanghai, Yew Chung International School (YCIS), Concordia International School, Western International School of Shanghai (WISS) | American Embassy School (AES), The British School Delhi (BSD), Pathways School Noida and Gurgaon, GD Goenka World School, Vasant Valley School, Sanskriti School |
Shanghai delivers a deep international market across multiple curricula, with SAS, Dulwich and Wellington at the very top. Foreign passports are required at most international schools (a regulatory feature). New Delhi delivers a smaller premium international tier (AES and BSD at the top) plus a strong IB and IGCSE layer at Pathways and GD Goenka. Indian schools below the international tier are world-class for returning NRI families. The fees and cost-of-living gap is wide. The right call depends on the brief and the long-term plan.
Schools landscape side by side
Shanghai's international market is among the deepest in Asia. Shanghai American School (SAS) Puxi and Pudong campuses is the largest US international in China. Dulwich College Shanghai Puxi and Pudong campuses run the full British curriculum plus IB Diploma at Sixth Form. Wellington College International Shanghai offers full British including A Level. Yew Chung International School (YCIS) and Concordia International School round out a deep top tier. Foreign passports are typically required for enrolment at international schools in China, which shapes the market. See the Shanghai schools hub.
New Delhi's international market is anchored by American Embassy School (AES) in Chanakyapuri, founded in 1952, offering the full US Diploma plus IB Diploma at senior level. The British School Delhi (BSD) in Chanakyapuri runs the full British curriculum plus IB Diploma. Pathways School Noida and Gurgaon, GD Goenka World School in Sohna and Step by Step in Noida deliver the IB at scale. The Indian-curriculum tier (Vasant Valley, Sanskriti, Modern School, Shri Ram) is strong for returning NRI families. 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
Shanghai premium fees at SAS, Dulwich Pudong and Wellington sit between RMB 336,000 and RMB 390,000 at IBDP or Grade 12 (USD 46,500 to 54,000). Mid-tier internationals (YCIS, Concordia, WISS) run RMB 200,000 to 300,000. Add RMB 25,000 to 33,000 capital fee, RMB 2,000 to 3,500 application. Most expat packages absorb tuition.
New Delhi premium fees at AES sit between USD 30,000 and USD 35,000 once new-student capital deposits are amortised. BSD runs INR 864,000 to INR 1,384,000 per year (USD 10,500 to 17,000), with a one-time development fee of INR 625,000 for self-funding families. Pathways and GD Goenka sit at INR 700,000 to INR 1,200,000. New Delhi's mid-tier IB is roughly one third of Shanghai's. The fees database shows the comparison.
Curriculum availability
Both cities cover IB well. Shanghai has the broader curriculum spread, with US at SAS and Concordia, British at Dulwich and Wellington, and IB Diploma layered into most senior schools. New Delhi tilts IB at Pathways, GD Goenka and AES, with full IGCSE and A Level at BSD. The IB Diploma is the safest portable credential in either city. Mandarin exposure in Shanghai schools and Hindi exposure in Delhi schools are real long-term bonuses for younger children. See the IB hub.
Neighbourhoods families pick
In Shanghai families cluster in the former French Concession for inner-city Concordia and YCIS proximity, Jinqiao in Pudong for SAS Pudong and Dulwich Pudong catchments, Hongqiao and Gubei for SAS Puxi and Yew Chung, and Lujiazui for downtown high-rise living. A three-bedroom French Concession lane house runs RMB 30,000 to RMB 80,000 per month.
In Delhi families pick Chanakyapuri and Shanti Niketan for proximity to AES and BSD, Vasant Vihar and Westend for Vasant Valley catchment, Defence Colony and Jor Bagh for central living, and Gurgaon (DLF Phases, Aralias) for Pathways World School and corporate proximity. A four-bedroom Vasant Vihar villa runs INR 2,00,000 to INR 5,50,000 per month.
Lifestyle and climate
Shanghai runs humid subtropical, 1 to 33 degrees, with hot humid summers and chilly damp winters. Family life centres on the Bund and Pudong skyline, weekend trips to Hangzhou, Suzhou and Moganshan, and a deep food and arts scene. Air quality has improved significantly since 2015 but remains moderate. New Delhi runs hot semi-arid, 7 to 42 degrees, with brutal heat April to June, monsoon July to September and cool winters December to February. Air quality November to February is the single biggest issue for relocating families. Family life leans on Lutyens' Delhi, the Aravalli Biodiversity Park, weekend escapes to Jaipur, Agra and Rishikesh, and a very strong cultural and historical scene.
Verdict: who picks which city
Choose Shanghai if your career is anchored to China or Northeast Asia, you want the depth of the SAS, Dulwich and Wellington tier, and you can absorb premium fees and housing. Air quality and infrastructure are clearly better than Delhi.
Choose New Delhi if your work is India-facing, you have NRI roots or family ties, you want the IB and IGCSE pathway at one third the Shanghai price, and you can navigate the air quality challenge with strict indoor protocols November to February. AES and BSD outcomes are competitive at any global benchmark. Most families model both through the cost calculator.
Frequently asked questions
Is Shanghai or New Delhi cheaper for international school families in 2026?
New Delhi by a wide margin. School fees at the premium tier are roughly one third of Shanghai, housing is around half, and overall living costs are around 50 percent lower. Shanghai's tax efficiency for foreign experts has narrowed since 2024 changes.
Which city has stronger international schools?
Shanghai has greater depth and a broader top tier. SAS, Dulwich Puxi and Pudong, Wellington and Concordia are an unusually strong cluster. New Delhi is narrower but AES and BSD compete with anything globally on outcomes.
Is the family visa easier in Shanghai or New Delhi?
Both are workable through employer sponsorship. Shanghai via the Z-visa plus foreigner work permit is well-documented but paperwork-heavy. India's Employment Visa is similar in shape and processing time, with OCI for spouses of Indian origin adding optionality.
How does the climate compare for families?
Shanghai is humid subtropical with seasonal extremes. Delhi is hot semi-arid with brutal April to June heat and serious winter air quality. Shanghai is the more comfortable family climate over a full year, though both cities have hard months.
Where do most expat families live in each city?
In Shanghai families cluster in the French Concession, Jinqiao (Pudong), Hongqiao and Gubei, and Lujiazui. In Delhi they pick Chanakyapuri, Shanti Niketan, Vasant Vihar, Defence Colony, and Gurgaon's DLF Phases for newer villa living.
