Delhi guide

For families moving to India from abroad2026 edition

DelhiIndia's Capital City

Delhi for a family moving from abroad: the embassy enclaves and the schools near them, what a builder floor costs, and the papers you file in your first two weeks.

Moving from another Indian city? Read the guide for moves within India

Rashtrapati Bhavan
Rashtrapati BhavanPhoto: Diego Delso, CC BY-SA 4.0

What families ask first

Rent a month ₹1.5L to 4L 3BHK builder floor, premium areas Housing School fees a year about ₹22L to 38L The American Embassy School (AES), set in US dollars ($22,820 to 39,490) Schools A typical commute 15 min Chanakyapuri → CP, Sardar Patel Marg / off-peak Neighbourhoods Security deposit 2 to 3 months Two to three months' rent for builder floors Housing

Indicative figures from this guide. 1 lakh (L) is ₹100,000. Your IKAN consultant confirms the exact numbers before you act on them.

In this guide

7 short chapters

Read them in order, or go straight to the one you need.

  1. 01The cityCity Overview, Culture & Heritage, Climate5 min read
  2. 02ArrivingVisas & Arrival, Settling In, Flights & Connections9 min read
  3. 03Where to liveNeighbourhoods, Housing Market, The IKAN Method10 min read
  4. 04Schools and healthInternational Schools, Healthcare4 min read
  5. 05Getting aroundTransport & Metro, Apps & Digital Life4 min read
  6. 06Everyday lifeDining, Nightlife & Weekends, Local Language Guide, Weekend Escapes7 min read
  7. 07Before you goAt a glance, Watch Out, Common Questions, IKAN India Essentials5 min read

Where families live

6 neighbourhoods, on one map

The number on each pin is the number in the list. Rents and commutes are this guide's own figures.

The map of Delhi loads here.

  1. ChanakyapuriThe Diplomatic Enclave ₹3.5L to 8L a month15 min to CP
  2. Vasant ViharPremium Corporate Residential ₹2.0L to 3.5L a month12 to 20 min to Aerocity
  3. Jor BaghHeritage Premium ₹3L to 6L a month
  4. Defence ColonyEstablished South Delhi ₹1.8L to 3L a month
  5. Greater KailashSouth Delhi Prestige ₹1.5L to 2.8L a month15 to 25 min to Saket
  6. Hauz Khas EnclaveHistoric & Bohemian ₹1.5L to 2.5L a month

Open Where to live

Delhi in pictures

The city in twelve frames

Rickshaws and shoppers on Chandni Chowk, Old Delhi
Rickshaws and shoppers on Chandni Chowk, Old DelhiPhoto: Juan Antonio Segal from Madrid, Spain, CC BY 2.0
India Gate Delhi
India Gate DelhiPhoto: A.Savin, FAL
The white colonnade of Connaught Place, New Delhi
The white colonnade of Connaught Place, New DelhiPhoto: Kushared (Mohammed Sardar), CC BY-SA 4.0
Taj Mahal
Taj MahalPhoto: Yann, CC BY-SA 3.0Everyday life
A domed pavilion in the Hauz Khas complex, South Delhi
A domed pavilion in the Hauz Khas complex, South DelhiPhoto: Rahul Sapra, CC BY-SA 4.0
Qutub Minar
Qutub MinarPhoto: A.Savin, FALThe city
A palm lined path in Lodhi Gardens, Delhi
A palm lined path in Lodhi Gardens, DelhiPhoto: Slyronit, CC BY-SA 4.0
The front lane of Khan Market, New Delhi
The front lane of Khan Market, New DelhiPhoto: VasenkaPhotography, CC BY 2.0
The lake at Hauz Khas from the fort walls, South Delhi
The lake at Hauz Khas from the fort walls, South DelhiPhoto: Prateek Gupta, CC BY-SA 4.0
Dwarka residential area aerial, New Delhi
Dwarka residential area aerial, New DelhiPhoto: Biswarup Ganguly, CC BY 3.0
South-East Delhi skyline near East of Kailash / Nehru Place
South-East Delhi skyline near East of Kailash / Nehru PlacePhoto: Deepanshu Madaan, CC0
Rishikesh
RishikeshPhoto: Blueparticle( Narender Sharma), CC BY-SA 4.0Everyday life

The weather, drawn

A year in Delhi

Each month as this guide describes it. Read the seasons in full

  1. 8 to 20°JanCool · AQI
  2. 11 to 24°FebSpring
  3. 16 to 30°MarPleasant
  4. 21 to 37°AprHot
  5. 26 to 40°MayPeak Heat
  6. 28 to 39°JunPre-Monsoon
  7. 28 to 36°JulMonsoon
  8. 27 to 34°AugWettest
  9. 25 to 34°SepRetreating
  10. 20 to 33°OctAQI ↑↑
  11. 13 to 28°NovSmog Peak
  12. 8 to 23°DecCold · AQI
ColdBest monthsHotMonsoonWarmBest months in Delhi: Feb, Mar

What a month costs

Add up a month

A 3 BHK Builder Floor, plus monthly groceries (family), from this guide's own figures.

₹1.6L to 4.3L a month

Pick your own home and school

IKAN in Delhi

We handle your move to Delhi from start to finish.
That means the visa, the FRRO, your home and the schools.

Delhi is good to people who arrive ready to belong, from your first winter morning at India Gate to a quiet, tree-lined Lutyens lane. IKAN handles your international move end to end: the visa and FRRO, your home, the schools and settling in. You step off the flight at IGI and start living here.

Already moving with IKAN?

Your homes, dates and papers are in i-Navigate, IKAN's app for families. It opens with the email address your IKAN consultant has for you, then sends you a six digit code.

Open your move Not moving with IKAN yet? Write to relo@ikan.com and a consultant will reply.

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