India vs abroad: how young parents should think about education costs
Compare the full financial reality of each education path rather than treating India or overseas study as one fixed price.
Compare total costs, not tuition alone
Accommodation, food, travel, insurance, devices, and exchange rates can materially change the cost of an overseas degree. Indian programmes also vary widely across public and private institutions.
Plan both paths with one framework
Use the same inputs for each scenario: today's total cost, years until enrolment, education inflation, current savings, and expected returns. This makes trade-offs visible and comparable.
Let uncertainty improve the plan
Parents do not need to predict the final destination today. Planning a base case and a higher-cost alternative creates flexibility when the actual education decision arrives.