Fee benchmarks 2025-26
What preschools really cost, city by city
Annual tuition ranges for 15 cities, split into budget, mid-range, and premium bands. Indicative figures gathered from parents and published fee cards, not from school brochures.
Before you compare: the quoted fee is never the full fee
The monthly number a school quotes on the phone usually covers tuition only. On top of that, most schools charge a one-time admission or registration fee (often non-refundable), a yearly kit charge for books and craft material, uniform costs, and transport if you use the school van. A school quoting ₹8,000 a month can cross ₹1.3 lakh a year once everything is added. Always ask for the all-inclusive annual figure in writing, then compare against the bands below.
Ahmedabad
Schools →SG Highway and Bopal-South Bopal are the growth belt for premium chains; older city areas stay budget-friendly.
Bengaluru
Schools →The ORR tech belt and Indiranagar-Koramangala core carry a 30 to 60 percent locality premium. Deep supply keeps negotiation alive.
Chandigarh
Schools →Sector-wise variation is small by big-city standards. Panchkula and Mohali track slightly below Chandigarh proper.
Chennai
Schools →June academic start. Adyar, Anna Nagar and OMR corridors sit at the top of the range.
Delhi
Schools →South and Central Delhi run 30 to 50 percent above outer localities. K-12 attached nurseries follow the DoE cycle.
Gurugram
Schools →Golf Course Road and sectors 40 to 60 are the premium belt. Daycare hybrids are the norm for the corporate crowd.
Hyderabad
Schools →Gachibowli, Kondapur and Jubilee Hills lead; the old city and outer rings are far gentler on the wallet.
Indore
Schools →Vijay Nagar and the AB Road corridor carry the premium outlets; strong value across the rest of the city.
Jaipur
Schools →C-Scheme, Vaishali Nagar and Malviya Nagar lead the market; most of the city sits comfortably in the budget-to-mid band.
Kochi
Schools →June academic start. Kakkanad and Panampilly Nagar lead; Kerala's strong anganwadi network keeps budget options plentiful.
Kolkata
Schools →Among the most affordable metros. Salt Lake, New Town and the EM Bypass belt carry the premium tags.
Lucknow
Schools →Gomti Nagar is the premium pocket. National chains have expanded fast, keeping mid-tier prices competitive.
Mumbai
Schools →Town-side and Bandra to Juhu are the priciest preschool real estate in India. Navi Mumbai and the far western suburbs are gentler.
Noida
Schools →Sectors along the expressway and Noida Extension differ sharply. Greater Noida runs 15 to 25 percent cheaper.
Pune
Schools →Koregaon Park, Kalyani Nagar and Baner top the range; older city localities stay moderate.
How to read these numbers
Bands are indicative for the 2025-26 academic year and vary by locality within a city; the same franchise brand can differ by ₹50,000 a year between two pin codes. Fees do not map neatly to quality: teacher stability and adult-to-child ratio matter more than the lobby.
Go deeper
Read our full fees explainer, browse the parent Q&A, or search the preschool and daycare search engine for schools near you.