Most Expensive Cities in the World for Students to Study Abroad

Discover which of the ten most expensive cities in the world are for students. The monthly housing rent in the most expensive cities worldwide for studying abroad is included in the table below.

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The price of studying in a nation is determined by a number of factors that impact the cost of living and overall expenses while living there. The most well-known essential components are health insurance, living expenses, travel charges, and tuition fees. Each has a significant influence on the cost of studying abroad. Everyone is aware that tuition fees vary depending on the university and the nation.

Living outside a city involves different living expenses, such as rent for accommodation. Health insurance is a key component of the overall expense of studying outside of India. Health insurance covers the total medical expense if a student is hurt or becomes ill while studying in another nation, and there are various other factors that define the reason behind expensive cities of the world. 

Without a doubt, significant money is required to attend the top colleges, which are situated in the most expensive cities in the world. Some of the well-known scholarships for Indian students to study abroad are listed here. This list will include government and private scholarships along with additional relevant details.

• The Ministry of Education of India offers Commonwealth Scholarships for the United Kingdom, New Zealand, Israel, China, Japan, and other countries.

• GREAT Scholarships (UK)

• Manmohan Singh Scholarships (UK)

• Global Study Awards (USA)

• Tata Scholarship (USA) 

The most expensive cities in the world are Singapore and Zurich, per the Economist Intelligence unit's cost of living according to the latest survey. Together, they've taken the 1 spot on the list. Singapore has appeared nine times in the top 10 most expensive cities worldwide in the past eleven years.

See the list of the most expensive cities in the world in 2025 (based on an EIU poll) below.

Due to the higher cost of living and increased value of the currency, New York, London, Geneva, Zurich and Singapore are the most expensive cities for Indian students. The main expenses for Indians residing in those mentioned cities are housing rent, groceries, and travel expenditures.

We have included some important information below to help you understand why living expenses are rising in these cities.

• Many nations have a high cost of living due to their popularity as tourist locations, and the place's popularity often results in increased housing expenses. 

• Food costs went up in several countries when the Hamas-Israel War took place. The Times of Israel claims that before the war, property prices rose by 20% and the cost of living increased by 5% across the globe.

Also, read: Top 10 Universities in the World 

The cities listed above are all found in developed countries. Indian students are particularly drawn to New York City, USA, and Paris, France. Survey organisations evaluate the costs of groceries, rent, and other essential expenses in these cities to determine which are the most affordable and most expensive cities in the world.

These are the top 10 most costly locations for Indian students, according to ECA International. We have included the best universities in each city to assist students.

You need a financial strategy to manage or save money while studying abroad. We've covered a few of the most well-liked and proven ways to cut expenses.

• Choose shared accommodation such as shared apartments or student dormitories.

• Plan your budget at the beginning of the month

• Avoid eating out frequently and consume homemade food 

• Use student discounts (If available) or shop during the sale

• Find part-time work opportunities

• Use PDFs or digital copies of books

• Choose free entertainment events

• Get a health insurance

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To sum up, some of the most expensive cities for Indian students have the best colleges. However, you also need to manage the cost of living and expenses while studying there. Many of these universities provide Indian students with full or partial scholarships. Some cities are highly desirable and have high employer involvement among students. This indicates that they're fantastic, practical, hospitable, and secure locations for Indian students, offering them the chance to make a living. Never base your decision solely on the expense of living; instead, take these mitigating circumstances into account!

If you want to know more about studying abroad, we encourage you to speak with our team of expert counsellors at Meridean Overseas Education Consultants (MOEC). Our counsellors will provide you with guidance throughout your study abroad. Get help with the application process, SOPs, and filing for a visa. Visit us and get one-to-one counselling, or avail yourself of free video counselling via our website. We will be happy to help you, so please do not hesitate to contact us at application02@meridean.org or 1800-1230-00011.

Question: What is the importance of financial planning when studying abroad?

Answer: Below, we have mentioned three major benefits of doing financial planning in your student days.

• Financial planning will help students avoid extra expenses

• Students can better focus on their studies with proper financial planning

Whether you are studying in India or abroad, budget planning will always be helpful.

Question: What are the most expensive cities in the world?

Answer: According to the most recent EIU poll, the most expensive cities in the world are Singapore, Hong Kong, Geneva, New York City, Switzerland, and Zurich. This is due to these cities' rising cost of living, housing rent, and other expenses. The poll included information from more than 170 cities worldwide.

Question: What is the cost of studying in the world's most expensive city?

Answer: New York City (USA) is the costliest city in the world to study in. An Indian student needs at least INR 3.00 lakhs per month to study there. The living cost is INR 134,591, and the monthly rent is INR 174,632.

Question: Which country is most expensive for Indian students?

Answer: The United States of America (USA) is the costliest country in the world for Indian students to study abroad. It is the home of some of the top universities in the world, such as

• Massachusetts Institute of Technology

• University of Cambridge

• Stanford University

The estimated cost of living in the USA for Indian students is around INR 8.30 Lakhs to 16.60 Lakhs per year. They need a budget of USD 20,000 to USD 40,000 per year for the UG course and USD 20,000 to USD 45,000 annually for the PG course.

Question: What scholarships are available for students studying abroad?

Answer: The list below includes both government and private scholarships

• The Ministry of Education of India offers Commonwealth Scholarships for the United Kingdom, New Zealand, Israel, China, Japan, and other countries.

• GREAT Scholarships (UK)

• Manmohan Singh Scholarships (UK)

• Global Study Awards (USA)

• Tata Scholarship (USA)

Question: What factors determine the most expensive cities in the world?

Answer: The world's most expensive cities frequently have high costs of living due to housing, transportation, and food expenses. Cities with strong economies and luxurious lifestyles, such as Hong Kong, Paris, and Zurich, often rank among the best.

Question: How much do I need to study in the most expensive city in the world?

Answer: New York City (USA) is the most expensive city in the world to study in. To study in New York, an Indian student must have at least INR 3.00 lakhs per month. The monthly rent in New York is INR 174,632, and the cost of living is INR 134,591.

Question: What are the most expensive countries to study?

Answer: The USA, New Zealand, Australia, Canada, and the UK are the costliest countries for higher studies.

Question: What financial strategies can one follow to save money while studying abroad?

Answer: We've evaluated a number of the most common and proven strategies to save expenses, such as choosing shared accommodation such as shared apartments or student dormitories, planning your budget at the beginning of the month, using student discounts (If available) or shopping during the sale, find Part-time work opportunities and much more.

Question: What are the top cities best universities?

Answer:

• New York (USA) - Columbia University, Cornell University, New York University.

• London (United Kingdom) - King’s College of London, Imperial College of London, University College of London.

• Zurich (Switzerland) - ETH Zurich, University of Zurich.

• Tokyo (Japan) - Tokyo Institute of Technology, The University of Tokyo.