Top 10 Cheapest Countries to Study Abroad for Indian Students 2026

Did you know that many Indian students spend more than ₹20-40 lakh per year in popular destinations like the US, UK, or Australia? 

On the contrary, there are some affordable countries for abroad studies to get a globally respected degree without compromising on quality and budget:

1. Germany
2. Norway
3. Mexico
4. Poland
5. Malaysia
6. France
7. Argentina
8. Czech Republic
9. Taiwan
10. South Africa

Let’s discuss each of these countries, exploring their low to moderate living costs:

Avg cost of studying: €8,000-15,000/year (₹8.24L-15.45L)

Germany is one of the cheapest countries to study abroad for Indian students due to its tuition-free public universities and strong STEM programs. Major cities like Berlin and Munich offer top academic and professional opportunities for international students at affordable tuition and living costs.

Tuition Fees:

• Bachelor: Public universities are free (semester fee €250-500 /₹25,750-51,500)
• Masters: Public universities €0-1,500 / ₹0-1,54,500

Best Universities in Germany: Technical University of Munich & University of Hamburg

Cost of Living (Monthly): €500-900 / ₹51,500-92,700

Scholarships: Popular options include DAAD Scholarships, Deutschlandstipendium, and Erasmus+ Scholarships, which can cover tuition, living costs, or both.

Part-Time Work Opportunity: International students in Germany are allowed to work up to 20 hours per week during the semester and full-time during vacations. The minimum wage is €12 per hour (2025). Common part-time jobs include campus assistant roles, language tutors, research assistants, retail, and hospitality jobs.

Post-Study PR Scope: Germany allows international students to apply for an 18-month post-study work visa to look for employment. If you get employed, then there could be a transition to a long-term residence permit or EU Blue Card.

Job Opportunities: Strong openings in IT, engineering, business, and finance; average starting salary ₹4-6 lakh/month in major cities.

Avg cost of studying: €12,000-18,000/year (₹12.36L-18.54L)

Among European nations, Norway ranks as the second cheapest country to study abroad, which makes it ideal for STEM and sustainability programs, offering high-quality education in a research-driven environment.

Tuition Fees:

• Bachelor & Masters: Public universities free; Private universities €6,800-8,700 / ₹7 to 9L.

Best Universities in Norway: Norwegian University of Science and Technology, University of Oslo, and University of Bergen.

Cost of Living (Monthly): €1,000-1,250 / ₹1.03L-1.29L

Scholarships: Quota Scheme Scholarships, Norwegian State Educational Loan Fund, Erasmus+ Grants. Support tuition, living costs, or both.

Part-Time Work Opportunities: International students can work up to 20 hours/week during semesters. Minimum wage is roughly €20/hour. Common part-time roles: research assistantships, library work, and retail.

Post-Study PR Scope: Students can apply for a temporary residence permit in Norway to search for employment after graduation, enabling eventual PR applications.

Job Opportunities: High demand in engineering, IT, and renewable energy. Popular jobs include software engineers, energy consultants, and sustainability analysts, with an average starting salary of ₹4 to 6 lakh/month.

Avg cost of studying: MXN 150,000-250,000/year (₹7.24L-12.08L)

Mexico is one of the most affordable countries for abroad studies, offering globally ranked universities and both English and Spanish programs. The country combines low tuition with a rich cultural experience and growing professional opportunities.

Tuition Fees:

• Public universities: MXN 60,000-120,000/₹2.9-5.8L. 
• Private universities: MXN 120,000-200,000/₹5.8-9.7L

Best Universities in Mexico: Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), Tecnológico de Monterrey, Instituto Politécnico Nacional

Cost of Living (Monthly): MXN 30,000-50,000/₹1.45-2.42L

Scholarships: CONACYT Scholarships, AMEXCID Scholarship Programme, UNAM International Scholarship

Part-Time Work Opportunities: Students can work up to 20 hours/week during studies. Popular roles are library assistant, retail, language tutor, and campus support, where students get a minimum wage of Mex$278.8 (₹ 100-1200) per day.

Post-Study PR Scope: Graduates can apply for temporary resident Mexican visas to gain work experience.

Job Opportunities: Mainly demand in IT, engineering, and business, and a few popular roles include software developers, business analysts, and engineers. The average starting salaries are ₹2.5 to 4.5 lakh/month.

Avg cost of studying: €6,000-10,000/year (₹6.18 L-10.3 L)

Poland is a low-cost study abroad country with a strong focus on STEM, IT, and business programs. Cities like Warsaw and Kraków offer affordable living while having international companies, making it ideal for students seeking practical experience side by side with their studies.

Tuition Fees:

• Bachelor: €2,000-4,000/₹2.06 L-4.12 L
• Masters: €2,500-5,000/₹2.58 L-5.15 L

Best Universities in Poland: University of Warsaw, Warsaw University of Technology, AGH University of Science and Technology

Cost of Living (Monthly): €350-500 /₹36,000-51,500

Scholarships: NAWA Poland Government Scholarships, Erasmus+ Poland Grants, Visegrad Fund Scholarships

Part-Time Work Opportunities: International students can work up to 20 hours per week during the semester. The minimum wage is around €1,400 per month (full-time). Common internships are library assistants, retail, hospitality, and research support. 

Post-Study PR Scope: Graduates can apply for a temporary residence permit in Poland to search for work for up to 12 months.

Job Opportunities: Warsaw and Kraków host multinational tech and finance companies, offering roles like software developer, data analyst, and engineer. Starting salaries range from ₹2 to 3.5 L/month.

Avg cost of studying: €5,500-11,000/year (₹5.65L-11.3L)

Malaysia is a top choice for the cheapest study abroad education due to its low or negligible tuition and minimum cost of living. The country has strong programs in IT, engineering, and business, with several international universities operating local campuses.

Tuition Fees:

• Bachelors: €1,500-6,000 / ₹1.54L-6.36L
• Masters: €3,000-7,500 / ₹3.09L-7.73L

Best Universities in Malaysia: University of Malaya, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia

Cost of Living (Monthly): €300 to 550 (₹31,000 to 56,500)

Scholarships: Malaysia Technical Cooperation Programme (MTCP), Malaysia International Scholarship (MIS), Khazanah Global Scholarship

Part-Time Work Opportunities: Malaysia's national minimum wage is RM 1,700 per month (₹36 K). Students can work part-time as the demand is high in the IT, finance, and healthcare sectors.

Post-Study PR Scope: Graduates can apply for an Employment Pass or long-term social visit visa, enabling them to work in Malaysia’s growing tech, healthcare, and business sectors.

Job Opportunities: Common roles include software developers, business analysts, and healthcare professionals, with starting salaries of around ₹1.5 to 3 L/month.

Avg cost of studying: €7,000-11,000/year (₹7.21L-11.33L)

France offers almost NO tuition fees at public universities, making it one of the most affordable study abroad countries. The country has a wide range of programs in business, engineering, and the arts, with many courses available in English.

Tuition Fees:

• Public universities: €170-400 / ₹17,500-41,500 
• Private universities: €5,500-11,000 / ₹5.65L-11.33L

Best Universities in France: University of Paris, Ecole Polytechnique, University of Strasbourg

Cost of Living (Monthly): €570 to 900 (₹58,700 to 92,700)

Scholarships: Eiffel Excellence Scholarship, Charpak Scholarship, Emile Boutmy Scholarship

Part-Time Work Opportunities: Students can work up to 20 hours/week. France’s current minimum wage is €11.52/hour, making part-time work a good way to manage expenses. Common roles include campus assistant roles, hospitality, retail, research assistance, and tutoring.

Post-Study PR Scope: After completing a master’s degree, students can apply for a temporary residence permit in France known as APS (Autorisation Provisoire de Sejour) to look for employment.

Job Opportunities: In-demand roles include software developers, business analysts, and fashion/creative professionals, with starting salaries around ₹2-3.5 L/month.

Avg cost of studying: ARS 3,20,000-6,00,000/year (₹3.5L-5.5L)

Argentina offers free tuition at public universities for international students, while private universities remain highly affordable. Argentina is a superb choice if you want a combination of stunning scenery, student safety, and genuinely well-taught courses.

Tuition Fees:

• Public universities are free
• Private universities: ARS 3,20,000-6,40,000 / ₹3-6L

Best Universities in Argentina: University of Buenos Aires (UBA), National University of Cordoba, Austral University

Cost of Living (Monthly): ARS 28,000-50,000 / ₹30,000-52,000

Scholarships: Mente Argentina Scholarships, Fulbright Argentina, National Scientific and Technical Research Council Scholarships

Part-Time Work Opportunities: Students may work part-time for up to 20 hours/week and the minimum wage is US$225 per month (₹ 19 K). Students can work part-time in IT, business, and healthcare sectors.

Post-Study PR Scope: Graduates can apply for temporary residency in Argentina or work permits. Please note: Work permits depend on local regulations.

Job Opportunities: Top job roles include IT specialists, healthcare administrators, and business analysts, with an average salary of around ₹1.5-2.5 L/month.

Avg cost of studying: €6,500-10,000/year (₹6.7L-10.3L)

The Czech Republic offers affordable education in medicine, engineering, business, and more. English-taught programs are reasonably priced, and living costs are lower than in Germany or Austria, making it ideal for budget-conscious students. 

Tuition Fees:

• Public universities: €0-4,000 / ₹0-4.12L
• Private universities: €4,000-8,000 / ₹4.12-8.24L

Best Universities in the Czech Republic: Charles University, Czech Technical University in Prague, Masaryk University

Cost of Living (Monthly): €350-580 / ₹36,050-59,000

Scholarships: Czech Government Scholarships, Erasmus+ Scholarships, Charles University Financial Aid, and university-specific financial aid at Charles University and CTU.

Part-Time Work Opportunities: Students can work up to 20 hours/week in roles such as research assistance, library work, hospitality, and retail. The minimum monthly wage in the Czech Republic is CZK 20,800/₹87,984 and the minimum hourly wage is CZK 124.40/₹526. 

Post-Study PR Scope: Graduates can apply for a long-term residence permit in Czech Republic for employment after studies. 

Job Opportunities: The jobs most in demand are software developers, business analysts, and healthcare professionals. Freshers can earn between ₹2.5 lakh and 4 lakh per month at the start.

Avg cost of studying: TWD 300,000-600,000/year (₹2.3L-4.8L)

Taiwan is a cheap study destination with strong STEM programs and over 120 English-taught courses. The country offers affordable living and solid career prospects in the technology and engineering sectors.

Tuition Fees: TWD 77,000-192,000 / ₹2-5L

Best Universities in Taiwan: National Taiwan University, National Tsinghua University, National Taiwan University of Science and Technology

Cost of Living (Monthly): TWD 24,000-38,500 / ₹76,000-1.03L

Scholarships: Taiwan Scholarship Programme, NTU Elite International Scholarships, MOE Taiwan Scholarship

Part-Time Work Opportunities: International students (on study visas) can work up to 20 hours/week under a part-time contract. The minimum wage in Taiwan is NT$29,500/month (₹84,960) or NT$196/hour (₹565/hour) starting January 2026. Students can work part-time in IT, semiconductor, and AI sectors.

Post-Study PR Scope: Taiwan offers graduates a 12-month post-study job-seeking ARC. After 5 years of legal stay, students may become eligible to apply for permanent residency. 

Job Opportunities: The most common roles are software engineers, data analysts, and hardware engineers. Fresh graduates earn between ₹2.5 L and 4.5 L/month.

Avg cost of studying: ZAR 154,000-256,000/year (₹3-5L)

South Africa is one of the cheapest countries to study abroad with strong programs in business, engineering, and healthcare. Cities like Cape Town and Johannesburg provide students with access to corporate networks and employment opportunities.

Tuition Fees: ZAR 77,000-128,000 / ₹3-5L

Best Universities in South Africa: University of Cape Town, University of the Witwatersrand, Stellenbosch University

Cost of Living (Monthly): ZAR 6,500-10,700 / ₹1.3L-2.1L

Scholarships: Mandela Rhodes Scholarship, Mastercard Foundation Scholarships, University-specific financial aid

Part-Time Work Opportunities: Students can work part-time up to 20 hours/week as major opportunities exist in finance, engineering, and healthcare sectors. The minimum wage in South Africa is ZAR 23,100/month (₹45,500), which applies to many part-time and intern roles.

Post-Study PR Scope: South Africa allows graduates to apply for a temporary work visa post-studies, typically requiring employer sponsorship. Skilled graduates may obtain longer-term permits and can apply for permanent residency after five years.

Job Opportunities: Popular roles include software engineers, business analysts, and healthcare professionals with an average salary of ₹2-3 L/month.

Choosing the right study-abroad destination is not just about tuition but also about managing living costs, work opportunities, and post-study options. 

Here are some factors to consider when picking the cheapest countries to study abroad:

• Tuition Fees & University Costs: Even in affordable countries, tuition varies widely. Germany and Norway offer tuition-free programs, while Malaysia and Thailand have low fees, ranging roughly from ₹1 L to ₹5 L per year.
• Cost of Living: Countries like India, Argentina, and Poland have lower living costs, roughly ₹30,000-₹50,000 per month, compared to ₹80,000-₹1,50,000 in Western Europe or North America.
• Scholarship Opportunities: Many countries provide scholarships or tuition waivers, like the Eiffel Excellence Scholarship (France) and La Caixa Scholarship (Spain), that support international students with tuition and living costs.
• Part-Time Work & Job Market: Some countries let students work 20 hours per week such as Germany, Canada, and Australia, while others have strict limits, like Norway.
• Post-Study Work & PR Pathways: Countries like Canada, Germany, and Portugal offer 1 to 3-year post-study work visas that help students gain experience and recover education costs.

Suggested: How to Get Scholarships to Study Abroad?

Studying abroad can be exciting but also stressful when managing costs. Many students struggle to find countries that offer quality education without breaking the bank. Researching tuition, living costs, scholarships, and part-time work opportunities can save both time and money.

Yocket Premium can make this process much easier. Students can quickly shortlist the best affordable options with features like personalized university recommendations, scholarship trackers, and budget planning tools.