Paying for college
What a year of college actually costs
Tuition is the number every college publishes; rent, food and transport are the ones that decide whether you can afford it. These are real city-level figures, and each city says how confident its profile is.
Per month
₹22,500
Per year
₹2.7 L
4-year total
₹10.8 L
Aggregate cost model
Estimated
4 years in Chennai, Tamil Nadu
₹10.8 L
Living costs only — add your college’s annual tuition on the left for the full figure.
Accommodation / mo
₹9,000
Living / mo
₹13,500
Per year, no tuition
₹2.7 L
Twelve months a year. Travel home, one-off setup costs and fee increases between years are not included, and tuition is taken exactly as you entered it.
By lifestyle
| Lifestyle | Living / month | With PG rent | Per year | 4-year total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Budget | ₹9,720 | ₹18,720 | ₹2.25 L | ₹8.99 L |
| Moderate | ₹13,500 | ₹22,500 | ₹2.7 L | ₹10.8 L |
| Comfortable | ₹20,925 | ₹29,925 | ₹3.59 L | ₹14.36 L |
Where the money goes
| Category | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|
| Food & groceries | ₹5,500 | ₹66K |
| Transport | ₹1,400 | ₹17K |
| Utilities | ₹1,200 | ₹14K |
| Phone & internet | ₹700 | ₹8K |
| Personal | ₹1,800 | ₹22K |
| Going out | ₹1,400 | ₹17K |
| Medical | ₹600 | ₹7K |
| Everything else | ₹900 | ₹11K |
Source: CollegeHunt estimate. Updated Aug 2026.
