Moving into a hostel is when many students first draft a real budget. Here's a month-by-month plan that works for Chennai, Bengaluru or Coimbatore — the three cities we operate in.

**Fixed costs (the boring part)** Rent + mess (bundled): ₹8,500 to ₹12,000 depending on city and room-sharing. Deposit: 1 month, refundable. WiFi: usually included; if not, ₹500/month.

**Variable but predictable** Transport: ₹1,200-1,800/month for a student pass, or ₹2,500 if you're depending on ride-shares. Laundry: ₹400-800/month if you use the PG service. Groceries for snacks + toiletries: ₹1,500/month.

**The 'don't forget' items** Phone recharge: ₹250. Streaming: ₹150 (split with a friend, ₹75). One social outing/month: ₹500. That's ₹975 you'd have forgotten.

**The emergency fund** Set aside ₹2,000/month. You will need it — for a suddenly-broken laptop charger, an unplanned trip home, a medical co-pay. Students who skip this step end up borrowing at exactly the wrong moment.

**What we tell parents** Budget ₹15,000-18,000/month all-in for a comfortable first year in Chennai. Bengaluru: add ₹1,500. Coimbatore: subtract ₹1,000.