Which is the Cheapest Country for Indian Students to Study Abroad?

Finding the cheapest country to study abroad depends mainly on two factors: tuition fees and monthly living costs. Germany and Norway stand out with zero tuition fees, while Poland, Malaysia, and Hungary offer programs starting from INR 2–3 lakh per year and living costs as low as INR 25,000–50,000 per month. These countries consistently rank among the top budget-friendly destinations for Indian students while still offering globally recognised degrees and strong post-study work options. 

#	Cheapest Country for Indian Students (2025)
1	Germany
2	Norway
3	Poland
4	Mexico
5	Malaysia
6	France
7	Taiwan
8	Argentina
9	Italy
10	Hungary

In this guide, you’ll read more about the top affordable countries, course-wise cheapest destinations, cost comparisons, and practical ways Indian students can reduce their study-abroad expenses in 2025, ensuring you get maximum value without compromising on academic quality. 

Topmost Affordable Countries to Study Abroad for Indian Students in 2026

1. Germany 

Germany is the cheapest study-abroad destination as 96% of public universities charge zero tuition fees, and average living costs remain lower than most Western European nations. The country currently hosts 43,000+ Indian students, the highest in the EU. 

Category	Details
Tuition Fees	Public: €0–3,000 (INR 0–2.7L)   Private: €10,000–20,000 (INR 9–18L)
Cost of Living	INR 70K – 1L per month (includes food, transport, internet, study materials)
Top Fields of Study	Engineering & Technology, Business Administration, Medicine & Life Sciences
Scholarships	DAAD Scholarship, Konrad Adenauer Stiftung, Erasmus, Heinrich Boll Scholarship
Job Opportunities	Strong in Engineering, IT, Healthcare, Finance, Management
Top Universities	University of Stuttgart   University of Mannheim   University of Bremen

2. Norway 

Public universities in Norway are 100% tuition-free for all nationalities, making it one of the lowest-cost destinations academically. Although living expenses are higher, Norway’s Global Education Index ranks amongst the Top 5  and ensures exceptional value for money. 

Category	Details
Tuition Fees	Public: NOK 0 (INR 0)   Private: NOK 80,000–150,000 (INR 6–12L)
Cost of Living	INR 75K – 1.2L per month (high but balanced by free tuition)
Top Fields of Study	Natural Sciences, Renewable Energy, Engineering, Social Sciences
Scholarships	Quota Scheme, Erasmus+, Norwegian Government Scholarships
Job Opportunities	Oil & Gas, Renewable Energy, IT, Engineering, Research
Top Universities	University of Oslo   Norwegian University of Science & Technology (NTNU), University of Bergen

3. Poland 

Poland offers one of the lowest EU living costs (up to 55% cheaper than Western Europe) and highly subsidised tuition. The country saw a 19% rise in Indian student enrolments in the last two years due to affordability. 

Category	Details
Tuition Fees	€2,500–3,500 (INR 2–3L)
Cost of Living	INR 30K – 50K per month
Top Fields of Study	Medicine, Engineering, IT, Business
Scholarships	Polish Government Scholarship, Erasmus+, University-specific scholarships
Job Opportunities	IT, Medicine, Business, Manufacturing
Top Universities	University of Warsaw   Jagiellonian University   Warsaw University of Technology

4. Mexico 

Mexico is among the top 3 cheapest OECD countries with tuition fees nearly 70% lower than the US and Canada. Student cities like Puebla and Mérida keep monthly living costs exceptionally low. 

Category	Details
Tuition Fees	Public: USD 1,000–3,000/year (INR 83K–2.5L)  Private: USD 5,000–9,000/year (INR 4.1L–7.5L)
Cost of Living	INR 25K – 45K per month
Top Fields of Study	Engineering, Medicine, Business, Environmental Sciences
Scholarships	Mexican Government Scholarship, CONACYT Scholarships, University-specific grants
Job Opportunities	Engineering, Energy, Agriculture, Business, Healthcare
Top Universities	National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM)  Monterrey Institute of Technology (ITESM)  University of Guadalajara

5. Malaysia 

Malaysia’s average annual education cost is 40–60% lower than Singapore, despite offering English-taught programs and international branch campuses. Kuala Lumpur ranks among QS Top 30 Student Cities for affordability. 

Category	Details
Tuition Fees	Public universities: RM 11,000–25,000/year ( ₹1.8–4.2 lakh)
Cost of Living	RM 1,500–2,500/month ( ₹29,000–49,000)
Top Fields of Study	Business, Engineering, Medicine, IT
Scholarships	Malaysia International Scholarship (MIS), University-specific grants
Job Opportunities	Internships, part-time work in tech, tourism, research
Top Universities	University of Malaya  Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia  Monash University Malaysia

6. France 

Public universities in France charge regulated low fees, and international students receive up to 40% rent subsidy via CAF, making it highly cost-effective. France hosts 14,000+ Indian students, driven by ROI and affordable living. 

Category	Details
Tuition Fees	€2,770–3,770/year for non-EU international students ( ₹2.56–3.49 lakh)
Cost of Living	~€850–1,000/month (~₹78,500–92,400), though in Paris it can go higher
Top Fields of Study	Arts, Business, Engineering, Hospitality, Social Sciences
Scholarships	Eiffel Excellence, Charpak, Emile Boutmy, many university-level awards
Job Opportunities	Strong in luxury, tech, hospitality; 20-hour/week student work allowed
Top Universities	Sorbonne University; Université Paris-Saclay; Sciences Po

7. Taiwan 

Taiwan offers one of Asia’s lowest education costs, with tuition 40–60% cheaper than Japan and South Korea. It also ranks Top 20 globally in safety and affordability for international students. 

Category	Details
Tuition Fees	NT$ 50,460–79,120/semester for international undergrads (₹1.32–2.07 lakh)
Cost of Living	Estimated NT$ 14,000–19,000/month (₹36,000–50,000)
Top Fields of Study	Engineering, Science, Medicine, Business, Computing
Scholarships	Taiwan government scholarship, university grants
Job Opportunities	Part-time on campus; strong R&D roles after study
Top Universities	National Taiwan University; Tsing Hua University; National Cheng Kung University

8. Argentina 

Public universities in Argentina are free for everyone, including international students, and the country’s monthly living costs average ₹20,000–35,000, among the lowest in the Americas. 

Category	Details
Tuition Fees	USD 0–3,000/year in many public universities (₹0–2.5 lakh)
Cost of Living	USD 300–500/month (₹25,000–42,000)
Top Fields of Study	Medicine, Social Sciences, Engineering, Humanities
Scholarships	Argentine Government Scholarships, University-specific funding
Job Opportunities	Research, NGOs, tech; part-time work possible but limited by visa
Top Universities	University of Buenos Aires; National University of La Plata; National Technological University

9. Italy 

Italy keeps fees moderate and provides €6,000+ DSU scholarships across multiple regions, reducing overall annual costs drastically. Smaller student cities also offer 25–40% cheaper living than Rome or Milan. 

Category	Details
Tuition Fees	€1,000–3,500/year ( ₹92,000–3.22 lakh)
Cost of Living	€600–900/month (~₹55,000–83,000)
Top Fields of Study	Arts, Design, Architecture, Engineering, Fashion
Scholarships	Italian Government Scholarships, University-specific grants
Job Opportunities	Design, Architecture, Hospitality, Manufacturing sectors
Top Universities	University of Bologna; Politecnico di Milano; Sapienza University of Rome

10. Hungary 

Hungary maintains low tuition fees and offers the popular Stipendium Hungaricum scholarship, awarded to 15,000+ students annually. Its cost of living stays 40–50% lower than Western Europe. 

Category	Details
Tuition Fees	€1,500–5,000/year ( ₹1.38–4.62 lakh)
Cost of Living	€400–700/month ( ₹37,000–64,000)
Top Fields of Study	Medicine, Engineering, Business, Sciences
Scholarships	Stipendium Hungaricum (full or partial funding)
Job Opportunities	Student work allowed; internships in EU-companies, R&D roles
Top Universities	Eötvös Loránd University; University of Szeged; Budapest University of Technology & Economics

Course-Wise Cheapest Countries to Study Abroad 

Different countries offer cost advantages for different study fields. The options below highlight where Indian students can find the lowest tuition, manageable living costs, and strong job outcomes based on specific courses. 

1. Engineering 

Engineering is one of the most economical programs abroad if you choose countries with STEM subsidies, low tuition, or strong research funding. These destinations offer excellent labs, industry exposure, and globally recognised degrees at far lower costs. 

Germany 

Category	Details
Tuition Fees	€0–1,500/year (₹0–1.38L)
Cost of Living	€900–1,100/month (₹82K–1L)
Why Affordable	Tuition-free public universities
Top Specialisations	Mechanical, Automotive, Robotics

Poland 

Category	Details
Tuition Fees	€2,000–3,500/year (₹1.84–3.22L)
Cost of Living	€400–700/month (₹37K–64K)
Why Affordable	Low EU living costs
Top Specialisations	CS, Civil, Mechatronics

Taiwan 

Category	Details
Tuition Fees	NT$50K–80K/semester (₹1.32–2.1L)
Cost of Living	NT$14K–19K/month (₹36K–50K)
Why Affordable	High STEM funding
Top Specialisations	Semiconductors, Electronics

2. Business & Management 

Business degrees vary widely in price globally, but these three nations offer accredited programs with comparatively lower fees and strong internship ecosystems. 

Malaysia 

Category	Details
Tuition Fees	RM 12K–28K/year (₹2–4.8L)
Cost of Living	RM 1.5K–2.5K/month (₹29K–49K)
Why Affordable	Low Asian tuition
Top Specialisations	MBA, Marketing, Finance

France 

Category	Details
Tuition Fees	€2,770–3,770/year (₹2.56–3.5L)
Cost of Living	€850–1,000/month (₹78.5K–92K)
Why Affordable	Government-subsidised fees
Top Specialisations	Luxury Mgmt, Finance

Italy 

Category	Details
Tuition Fees	€1,000–3,500/year (₹92K–3.22L)
Cost of Living	€600–900/month (₹55K–83K)
Why Affordable	Low EU tuition
Top Specialisations	Fashion Business, Design

3. Medicine & Healthcare 

These countries offer structured MBBS pathways, lower tuition than UK/US, and affordable clinical training options. 

Hungary 

Category	Details
Tuition Fees	€5,000–8,000/year (₹4.62–7.38L)
Cost of Living	€400–700/month (₹37K–64K)
Why Affordable	Cheaper than Western Europe
Top Specialisations	MBBS, Nursing, Dentistry

Argentina 

Category	Details
Tuition Fees	$0–3,000/year (₹0–2.5L)
Cost of Living	$300–500/month (₹25K–42K)
Why Affordable	Free public universities
Top Specialisations	Medicine, Public Health

Poland 

Category	Details
Tuition Fees	€7,000–13,000/year (₹6.5–12L)
Cost of Living	€400–700/month (₹37K–64K)
Why Affordable	Lower MBBS fees vs Western Europe
Top Specialisations	MD, Physiotherapy

4. Computer Science & IT 

These destinations offer industry-driven IT curricula, modern labs, and strong post-study tech roles at affordable prices. 

Germany 

Category	Details
Tuition Fees	€0–1,500/year (₹0–1.38L)
Cost of Living	€900–1,100/month (₹82K–1L)
Why Affordable	Free CS degrees in many universities
Top Specialisations	AI, Data Science, Software Engg

Malaysia 

Category	Details
Tuition Fees	RM 15K–32K/year (₹2.5–5.5L)
Cost of Living	RM 1.5K–2.5K/month (₹29K–49K)
Why Affordable	Low tuition + industry tie-ups
Top Specialisations	Cybersecurity, Cloud, IT Mgmt

Taiwan 

Category	Details
Tuition Fees	NT$50K–80K/sem (₹1.32–2.1L)
Cost of Living	NT$14K–19K/month (₹36K–50K)
Why Affordable	World-leading tech ecosystem
Top Specialisations	ML, CS, Electronics Engg

5. Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences

These destinations offer subsidised arts programs, global cultural exposure, and some of the cheapest humanities degrees in the world. 

France 

Category	Details
Tuition Fees	€2,770–3,770/year (₹2.56–3.5L)
Cost of Living	€850–1,000/month (₹78.5K–92K)
Why Affordable	Subsidised arts education
Top Specialisations	Film, Literature, History

Italy 

Category	Details
Tuition Fees	€1,000–3,500/year (₹92K–3.22L)
Cost of Living	€600–900/month (₹55K–83K)
Why Affordable	Affordable cultural education
Top Specialisations	Fashion, Fine Arts, Architecture

Argentina 

Category	Details
Tuition Fees	$0–3,000/year (₹0–2.5L)
Cost of Living	$300–500/month (₹25K–42K)
Why Affordable	Free humanities degrees
Top Specialisations	Anthropology, Sociology

6. MBA 

These countries offer budget-friendly MBA pathways with strong global reputations and internship support. 

Malaysia 

Category	Details
Tuition Fees	RM 25K–45K/year (₹4.5–8L)
Cost of Living	RM 1.5K–2.5K/month (₹29K–49K)
Why Affordable	Cheapest accredited MBAs in Asia
Top Specialisations	HR, Finance, Marketing

France 

Category	Details
Tuition Fees	€5,000–15,000/year (₹4.6–13.8L)
Cost of Living	€850–1,000/month (₹78.5K–92K)
Why Affordable	Lower cost vs US/UK
Top Specialisations	Luxury Mgmt, Marketing

Italy 

Category	Details
Tuition Fees	€3,000–10,000/year (₹2.7–9.2L)
Cost of Living	€600–900/month (₹55K–83K)
Why Affordable	Low-cost European MBAs
Top Specialisations	Entrepreneurship, Mgmt

Is the Quality of Education Compromised in Affordable Countries? 

Affordable countries do not compromise on education quality. Most budget-friendly destinations maintain globally accredited degrees, strong employability outcomes, and high research output. Nations like Germany, France, Norway, and Italy consistently rank in the Top 100 QS & THE global rankings, while Asian hubs such as Malaysia and Taiwan host Tier-1 engineering and technology programs recognised worldwide. Many of these countries keep tuition low through public subsidies, not because of weak academic standards. 

Statistically, most low-cost study destinations have strong academic indicators: 

• Germany: 46 universities in QS World Rankings 
• Malaysia: 8 universities in QS Top 500 
• Taiwan: Ranks #4 globally for semiconductor research output 
• France: 35+ institutions in global rankings, highly subsidised public fees 
• Norway: Top 5 in Global Education Index; tuition-free public universities 
• Poland & Hungary: Offer EU-accredited degrees recognised across Europe 
• Mexico & Argentina: Home to leading research universities in Latin America 

Affordable countries use government funding, low administration costs, and state-backed scholarships to keep education accessible, meaning students pay less without losing academic value. For Indian students, this creates a strong balance of quality, global recognition, and affordability, making these destinations some of the most strategic choices for 2025. 

How Indian Students Can Reduce Their Study Abroad Expenses? 

Indian students can significantly cut their total study-abroad costs by planning early, choosing subsidised universities, and optimising living expenses. With tuition, accommodation, travel, and daily spending forming nearly 75% of total overseas education cost, small adjustments can reduce expenses by INR 4–8 lakhs per year. 

Here are some practical ways to reduce expenses: 

• Choose publicly funded universities 
  Countries like Germany, Norway, France, Italy, and Argentina offer highly subsidised or zero-tuition programs, lowering annual academic costs by up to 80%. 
• Apply for government scholarships 
  DAAD (Germany), Eiffel (France), MIS (Malaysia), and Stipendium Hungaricum (Hungary) can cover tuition + living costs entirely. 
• Opt for affordable cities 
  Student-friendly cities (Poznan, Lille, Penang, Turin, Debrecen) are 30–40% cheaper than major capitals. 
• Work part-time while studying 
  Most countries allow 20 hours/week, enabling students to earn INR 30K–70K/month depending on location. 
• Use shared housing/hostels 
  Shared accommodation reduces living costs by INR 15K–25K per month. 
• Leverage student discounts 
  Transport, libraries, food courts, and health insurance plans in Europe & Asia offer discounts from 10–60% for students. 
• Plan travel early 
  Booking flights 2–3 months ahead cuts airfare by 20–35%. 

These strategies allow Indian students to maintain high academic quality while keeping their expenses firmly under control. 

Conclusion 

Studying abroad doesn’t have to be expensive, especially when countries like Germany, Poland, Malaysia, Mexico, and Hungary offer globally recognised degrees at a fraction of traditional Western education costs. With low tuition fees, moderate living expenses, and strong scholarship support, these destinations help Indian students achieve high-quality international education without financial strain. 

The key is to compare costs carefully, choose cities and universities that fit your budget, and make use of part-time work opportunities and government-funded scholarships. Whether your priority is STEM, business, arts, or research, there are affordable countries in Europe, Asia, and Latin America that provide an excellent balance of quality, affordability, and global exposure. 

Have more questions? Book a Free 1:1 Live Session with upGrad Experts Today! We are here to help!