Demand for student accommodation is rising across India as students and families prepare for the 2026-27 academic session, with searches for Paying Guest (PG) accommodation in Mumbai increasing 45% year-on-year, according to Justdial.
Justdial’s analysis compares search activity between July 2025 and June 2026 with the corresponding period of July 2024 to June 2025. The data shows growing demand not only for accommodation but also for relocation, courier, academic supplies, technology and coaching services as students prepare to move to new cities for higher education.
Pune leads PG demand with 80% growth
Searches for Paying Guest accommodation increased 44% across India during the period. Pune recorded the highest growth among the major cities tracked, with searches rising 80%.
Mumbai followed with a 45% increase, while Chennai recorded 49% growth, Delhi 47%, Hyderabad 43% and Bengaluru 41%.
The increase highlights the growing importance of PG accommodation as students seek housing close to colleges and universities during the admission cycle.
Hostel searches rise 15% in Mumbai
Demand for hostel accommodation also increased, although at a slower pace than PG accommodation.
Hostel Services searches rose 28% nationally. Jaipur recorded the highest growth at 37%, followed by Chennai at 36% and Coimbatore at 35%.
Delhi recorded a 32% increase, Pune 30%, Hyderabad 21% and Mumbai 15%.
The figures suggest that students are exploring multiple forms of accommodation as they prepare for university enrolment and relocation.
Student relocation drives demand for allied services
The increase in accommodation searches was accompanied by higher demand for services associated with moving to a new city.
Courier Services searches increased 20% pan-India. Patna recorded the highest growth at 52%, followed by Delhi at 42% and Kolkata at 32%.
Mumbai recorded an 18% increase in courier-service searches.
Searches for Packers & Movers increased 11% nationally. Delhi led with a 19% increase, while Chennai recorded 15% growth. Mumbai saw searches rise 12%.
Demand for laptops and stationery also increases
The student transition is also reflected in higher searches for academic and technology-related services.
Printing & Stationery Services searches increased 14% nationally. Delhi recorded the highest growth among the listed cities at 21%, followed by Kanpur, Kolkata and Hyderabad at 18% each. Pune recorded a 16% increase.
Laptop Store searches rose 7% across India. Delhi recorded an 18% increase, while Coimbatore saw 16% growth. Mumbai was not included in the city-level figures provided for this category.
Coaching demand rises sharply in some cities
Justdial’s data also points to increased demand for supplementary education in select markets.
Coaching Institute searches increased 81% in Vadodara and 55% in Surat. Ahmedabad recorded a 15% increase, while Patna saw growth of 5%.
According to Justdial, the start of a new academic session generates demand well beyond college admissions. Students and families also need to arrange accommodation, relocation, documentation, technology, stationery and academic support before university enrolment.
Mumbai emerges as a key student housing market
For Mumbai, the 45% increase in PG accommodation searches and 15% rise in hostel searches indicate strong demand for student housing as the new academic cycle begins.
The trend is particularly relevant to the city’s rental housing ecosystem, where students moving from other cities add to demand for smaller, flexible accommodation options.
However, Justdial’s data is based on searches on its platform and indicates search interest rather than confirmed bookings, transactions or occupancy levels. The figures therefore signal demand trends rather than actual student housing absorption.
With India’s admission cycle underway, the latest search trends point to a broader ecosystem of student-driven demand spanning accommodation, relocation and essential services.
Also Read: Student housing in India to grow student relocation to touch 31 million by 2036
