International School Fees in Mumbai: 2026 Cost Guide for Families

Quick answer: how much do international schools in Mumbai cost in 2026? Annual tuition at IB and Cambridge schools in Mumbai runs from roughly INR 5 lakh to 12 lakh at primary level and INR 10 lakh to 22 lakh for the IB Diploma years. Add a one-off admission fee of INR 1 to 5 lakh, a refundable deposit, and INR 1.5 to 3 lakh a year in transport, uniforms, trips and exam fees.

Last reviewed: September 2026 by David from ISA. Fee ranges are indicative; always confirm with the school.

International school fees in Mumbai have risen steadily over the past decade as the city's premium schools have expanded their IB and Cambridge offerings and competed for a limited pool of expatriate and globally minded Indian families. Mumbai is now the most expensive city in India for international education, yet it remains far cheaper than Singapore, Hong Kong or Dubai for a comparable curriculum. This guide sets out what tuition looks like in 2026 by age group, the one-off and recurring extras that inflate the real cost, and how to approach the budget if you are relocating on a corporate package.

Why Mumbai fees vary so much by location

Mumbai is a long, narrow city and the school market follows its geography. The oldest international schools sit in South Mumbai and the western suburbs around Bandra, Juhu and Andheri, where land is scarce and campuses are vertical. A second cluster has grown in Goregaon, Malad, Borivali and the eastern suburbs of Powai and Chembur, and a third in Navi Mumbai and Thane, where campuses are larger and fees are noticeably lower. A family living in Bandra and considering a school in Powai should factor in the daily commute over the Western Express Highway before looking at price alone.

Most international schools in Mumbai run an August-to-June academic year aligned with the IB and Cambridge calendars, rather than the June-to-April year used by Indian boards. Fees are usually quoted annually but collected in two, three or four instalments, and mid-year joiners are typically charged pro rata for the remaining terms.

Curricula available in Mumbai

International Baccalaureate (IB): the full continuum from PYP to the Diploma is available at several schools, and the IB Diploma is the most common pre-university route among Mumbai's international schools.
Cambridge (IGCSE and A Level): widely offered, sometimes as a middle-school route before switching to the IB Diploma.
Indian boards with an international flavour: a number of schools run ICSE or CBSE alongside international sections, usually at much lower fees.
Early years programmes: Montessori, Reggio-inspired and IB PYP early years classes from age two or three.

International schools in Mumbai: what families can expect to pay

Oberoi International School

With campuses in Goregaon and Jogeshwari, Oberoi International School is one of the largest IB continuum schools in India and a common first choice for expatriate families in the western suburbs. It sits at the top end of the Mumbai fee scale, with IB Diploma tuition approaching INR 20 lakh a year at the higher grades, plus a substantial one-off admission fee. Its scale brings strong facilities and a wide co-curricular programme.

Aditya Birla World Academy

Located in Tardeo in South Mumbai, Aditya Birla World Academy offers IGCSE followed by A Levels or the IB Diploma. It is a strong option for families living in Malabar Hill, Breach Candy or Worli who want to avoid a long commute north. Fees are in the upper-middle band for the city and the school is known for its university guidance and academic results.

DSB International School

DSB International School in Breach Candy combines a German section with an international IGCSE and A Level pathway, which makes it one of the few genuinely bilingual German-English options in India. Class sizes are small and the fee structure is more moderate than the large IB continuum schools, though German-section families should check eligibility criteria and any subsidy arrangements.

Podar International School

Part of the large Podar Education Network, Podar International School in Santacruz offers Cambridge IGCSE and A Levels as well as the IB Diploma. It is priced below the premium expatriate-focused schools, which makes it popular with Indian families returning from abroad who want an international curriculum without the top-tier price tag.

Witty International School, Malad

Witty International School runs Cambridge and ICSE sections at its Malad campus and a sister campus in Borivali. Fees are among the most accessible for a Cambridge programme in the western suburbs, and the school suits families living north of Andheri who want an international curriculum close to home.

International school fees in Mumbai: 2026 ranges and extras

Figures below are indicative annual ranges for the 2026-27 school year in Indian rupees. Premium IB schools sit at or above the top of each band; Cambridge and mixed-board schools usually sit lower.

Pre-primary and early years (ages 2 to 5): roughly INR 3 lakh to 8 lakh per year.
Primary (ages 5 to 11): roughly INR 5 lakh to 12 lakh per year.
Middle school (ages 11 to 14): roughly INR 7 lakh to 15 lakh per year.
IGCSE years (ages 14 to 16): roughly INR 8 lakh to 17 lakh per year.
IB Diploma and A Levels (ages 16 to 18): roughly INR 10 lakh to 22 lakh per year.

Beyond tuition, expect the following one-off and recurring charges:

Registration and assessment fee: INR 10,000 to 50,000, non-refundable, per application.
Admission fee: a one-off, non-refundable payment of roughly INR 1 lakh to 5 lakh at the premium schools, sometimes labelled a development or infrastructure fee.
Security deposit: roughly INR 1 lakh to 5 lakh, refundable without interest on withdrawal with proper notice.
Uniforms and books: INR 10,000 to 25,000 in the first year.
School bus: INR 60,000 to 1.5 lakh per year depending on distance; air-conditioned buses cost more.
Examination fees: IGCSE and IB Diploma registration adds roughly INR 60,000 to 1 lakh in the final years.
Trips, devices and activities: INR 40,000 to 1 lakh a year for residential trips, laptops and clubs.

A useful hard fact for budgeting: core school tuition from pre-school to higher secondary is exempt from GST in India, so tuition invoices in Mumbai carry no tax. Optional services billed separately by third parties, such as certain transport or catering contracts, can attract GST, so read invoices line by line.

Practical tips for families budgeting in Mumbai

Ask for the full fee schedule, not just tuition. Mumbai schools are transparent about tuition but admission fees, deposits and annual charges are often listed on separate pages or only disclosed at offer stage. Request a single document showing every payment for the first year and for a typical subsequent year.

Weigh the commute against the fee difference. A school in Navi Mumbai or Thane may be INR 3 to 5 lakh a year cheaper than a South Mumbai equivalent, but a 90-minute daily commute has its own cost. Many families choose their home after choosing the school, not the other way round.

Corporate packages are negotiable. Employers relocating staff to Mumbai often have allowances set years ago that no longer cover a premium IB school. Present the school's full fee schedule to HR before you sign, and ask whether the admission fee and deposit are covered as well as tuition.

Compare Mumbai schools side by side

Fee schedules only make sense alongside curriculum, location and reviews. Use the ranking of the best international schools in India on International School Advisor to compare Mumbai schools with each other and with options in other Indian cities.

More guides to schools in Mumbai

Frequently asked questions about school fees in Mumbai

What is the average international school fee in Mumbai?

A typical IB or Cambridge school in Mumbai charges roughly INR 5 to 12 lakh a year at primary level and INR 10 to 22 lakh for the IB Diploma or A Level years. Cambridge and mixed-board schools in the northern suburbs and Navi Mumbai sit at the lower end; premium IB continuum schools in the western suburbs sit at the top.

Are admission fees and deposits refundable in Mumbai?

Admission or development fees of INR 1 to 5 lakh are almost always non-refundable. Security deposits of a similar size are normally refundable without interest when you withdraw with the required notice, usually one full term. Registration fees paid at application stage are never refunded.

Do international schools in Mumbai charge GST on fees?

No. Core tuition from pre-school through higher secondary is exempt from GST in India, so school fee invoices carry no tax. Separately billed optional services provided by outside vendors, such as some bus or catering contracts, may include GST, so check each line of the invoice.