Cost of Living for a Delhi University Student in 2026
Delhi can feel cheap or expensive depending on how you live. Here are three realistic monthly budgets — tight, comfortable, and premium — plus the hidden costs freshers usually forget.
The tight budget (₹15,000 / month)
PG (triple sharing, non-AC, with meals): ₹9,000
Metro + rickshaw: ₹800
Data / phone: ₹300
Outside food (2–3 times a week): ₹1,500
Society trips, movies, small shopping: ₹1,500
Buffer + toiletries: ₹1,900
The comfortable budget (₹25,000 / month)
PG (double sharing, AC, with meals): ₹14,000
Metro + occasional Uber: ₹1,500
Data + streaming: ₹700
Outside food + cafes: ₹4,000
Weekend plans, shopping, events: ₹3,000
Buffer + laundry: ₹1,800
The premium budget (₹40,000 / month)
PG (single AC with meals, prime lane): ₹22,000
Uber + metro: ₹3,500
Data + subscriptions: ₹1,200
Restaurants + cafes: ₹6,000
Weekend trips, concerts, shopping: ₹5,000
Laundry + salon + buffer: ₹2,300
Hidden costs freshers forget
One-time move-in: bedding, bucket, mug, hangers — ₹2,000–₹3,000.
Semester books + printouts: ₹1,500–₹3,000.
Society membership fees: ₹200–₹500 per society.
Fest tickets: ₹300–₹1,500 during Feb–March.
Home trips: 2 round-trip train / flight tickets a year.
How to keep costs down
Pick a PG with meals included — outside food adds up fast.
Use Delhi Metro + rickshaws over Uber for daily commute.
Split streaming subscriptions with roommates.
Kamla Nagar and GTB Nagar markets are far cheaper than malls for basics.
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