NEW DELHI: As admissions gather pace, the cost of pursuing higher education in Delhi is proving to be much more than just college fees for students who move to the capital. Beyond tuition, families often have to budget for accommodation, food, transport, utilities and other day-to-day expenses, all of which significantly increase the overall cost of earning a degree.
While tuition fees remain a predictable expense, accommodation is often the largest financial burden for students living away from home. Rent in neighbourhoods close to colleges, coupled with spending on meals, local transport, groceries and other essentials, can substantially raise the annual cost of studying.
In contrast, students living with their families are largely spared these expenses, relying instead on homecooked meals and existing household resources.Parents say these recurring living expenses are often underestimated while planning for higher education.
Nitin Goyal, parent of an outstation child said the monthly costs extend far beyond what families initially anticipate.“When we planned for college, we accounted for tuition fees. What we hadn’t fully anticipated was how much accommodation and everyday living expenses would add up. Rent alone takes up a significant part of our annual budget, and then there are food, transport and other daily costs. Supporting a child studying away from home requires careful financial planning every month,” he said.
Parents also point out that, unlike tuition fees, which are usually known in advance, the cost of accommodation and everyday living varies depending on the locality, type of housing and lifestyle, making it difficult to estimate the true financial commitment. As a result, they say, the real cost of studying in Delhi often begins only after a student secures admission.