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Indian Food Cost Abroad for MBBS Students

EOCL India
January 20, 2026
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You are going to face an exciting new career as a doctor with medical school being abroad, but with that excitement comes the closer comparison to food and being away from home. Think about your comfort foods like Rajma Chawal, crispy dosas, and the chai you need to get you through your exam nights. Eating is not only necessary while you are away from home; eating is part of the culture and connection to family and friends.

The all-important question is what it will actually cost to eat Indian food while studying abroad.

I will provide you with a breakdown of costs for different countries, along with real experience and cost-saving techniques.

What Causes the High Price of Indian Food While Studying Abroad?

First, it is important to know that the price of Indian food abroad is not due to a greedy restaurant owner but rather supply and demand, shipping and importation of products, and distance travelled with respect to ingredients and services.

For example, the packet of Everest Masala travelled an ocean from where it is made; curry leaves are classified as an exotic product in the majority of countries, and even staple items such as basmati rice are approximately 3 to 4 times more expensive than they are in India.

Country-by-Country Breakdown

Restaurant Meals:

Typical One-Plate Indian Food at Restaurant Range: ₹800-₹1200
Mid-Range Thali Meals ≈ ₹1200-1800
Street Style Snacks (e.g., Samosa, Pakora): ₹300-₹500

Cooking at Home:

Typical Monthly grocery spending to cook Indian Food: ₹8,000-₹12,000

5 Kilo Rice: ₹600-₹800
1 Kilo Daal Price: ₹200-₹300
Basic Cooking Spices: ₹2000-₹3000 (Purchased Only Once, Lasting for Months)

Reality Check: Most Indian students in Russia prepare and eat at least 80% of their meals at home. Going out to eat at restaurants is only done on weekends.

Restaurant Meals:

Indian Restaurant Meal: ₹1,000-₹1,500
At Chinese Food Courts (names unknown), Indian Options: ₹600-₹900

Cooking at Home:

Typical monthly grocery budget: ₹10,000-₹15,000

Where to find Indian grocery stores: The major cities, including Beijing and Shanghai

5 Kilo Rice: ₹700-₹1,000

Tip: Cities in China, including Beijing and Shanghai, have Little India area(s) with lower-priced items and higher-quality products.

Restaurant Meals:

Indian Restaurant Meal: ₹700-₹1,000
Budget Indian Restaurant Range: ₹400-₹600

Cooking at Home:

Typical Monthly Grocery Budget: ₹7,000-₹10,000

5 Kilo Rice: ₹400-₹600 (Lowest of All Major MBBS Locations)
Indian Grocery Stores: Very Easy to Find in Manila

Why They Are Cheap: The Philippines is much closer to India, which significantly lowers import costs.

Dining Out:

Indian Restaurant: 1000-1500 rupees
Takeaway: 700-1000 rupees

Cooking At Home:

Budget for a Monthly Grocery Purchase: 9000-13000 rupees

Because of the limited number of grocery outlets that sell Indian products in smaller cities, international students will often purchase spices to bring back to Ukraine from home when they return for breaks or holidays. Pre-conflict data for Ukraine

Dining Out:

Restaurant Meal Cost For Indian Food: 600-1000 rupees
Cost-Friendly Compared to Western Europe

Cooking At Home:

Budget For Monthly Grocery Shopping Costs – 7000-10000 rupees
Great Variety Of Availability For Indian Groceries Within Student Cities.

Dining Out:

Cost Of Meal In Indian Restaurant: 500-800 Rupees (The Cheapest!)
Cost Of Street Food in India: 100-300 Rupees

Cooking At Home:

Monthly Grocery Shopping Budget Is Between 6000 and 9000 Rupees.
Many Of The Ingredients Used To Cook Food Are Similar In Bangladesh And India.

Their Food Cultures Are Closely Aligned With Each Other.

The Benefits: Many of the ingredients used in Bengali recipes are similar to those used in Indian cooking, making this the most cost-effective way to eat (cost-effective).

The Smart Student's Survival Guide

Estimation of Expenses = Between Rs. 15,000 and 20,000

Setting Up Your Pantry Requires More Money Than the Remaining Months Because You Are:

The starting point of your pantry includes:

Basic Spices and Masalas
Large Bottled Cooking Oil
Buying Rice & Daal in Bulk
Kitchenware

Don’t Be Alarmed, This Is an Investment for 4 to 6 Months!

Estimation of Expenses = Between Rs. 8,000 and 12,000

Once you’ve stocked your pantry, the only things you will be purchasing are:

Fresh Vegetables
Milk & Dairy
Meat/Chicken occasionally
Replenishing Basics

Let’s do some numbers:

Example 1: A Regular Restaurant-Goer
Dining Out (2 X A Day) = Rs. 1,500/- (daily) = Rs. 45,000 (monthly)
Dining Out (1 X A Day) = Rs. 1,000/- (daily) = Rs. 30,000 (monthly)

Example 2: Cooking at Home
Cooking at Home + Eating Out 4 Times/Month = Rs. 12,000-15,000/month
You are saving between Rs. 15,000 and 30,000/month.

Over the course of five years of your MBBS studies, you’ll save between Rs. 900,000 and 1,800,000. That’s enough for a car at home!

You’ve got to pack:

Spice Mixes (2-3 Kg) Garam Masala, Chole Masala, Sambhar Powder
Pickles and Papad (sealed) to remind you of home!
Instant Mixes: MTR Packet, Maggi Masala
Pressure Cooker: You’ve got to take one. Making daal without it is a form of torture!

Fresh Vegetables (they will be Taken Away at Customs)
Heavy Items Like Rice (Local Prices are FAR Cheaper)
Liquids greater than 100 ml. (won’t make it through security).

EOCL India

EOCL India has sent many students who wanted to pursue MBBS abroad to various universities. The first question from all these students and their parents was always about the quality and cost of food in the country and at the university. We provided them with complete information regarding food, and today all these students are pursuing their MBBS abroad. If you also want to pursue MBBS abroad, contact us today.

Indian Food Cost Abroad for MBBS Students

What Causes the High Price of Indian Food While Studying Abroad?

Country-by-Country Breakdown

The Smart Student's Survival Guide

EOCL India

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