Often, INSEAD and LBS are compared, but IMD - another European school considered to be a sanctuary for experienced professionals is also compared to INSEAD due to similar years of professional experience both schools demand.
F1GMAT Compares IMD and INSEAD MBA program based on location, tuition fees and cost of living.
Location and Campuses
IMD was established 75 years ago. It is an autonomous global academic institution with Swiss roots with two campuses in Lausanne and Singapore.
INSEAD's main campus is located in Fontainebleau, which is 34 miles from the heart of Paris and closer to the renowned Fontainebleau Forest.
As one of the world's largest MBA class, INSEAD offers a global educational experience with campuses in Europe (France), Asia (Singapore), the Middle East (Abu Dhabi), North America (San Francisco), and partnerships with prestigious universities. INSEAD's business education is driven by 165 faculty members from 41 countries that guide over 1,300 students in INSEAD's degree and Ph.D. programs.
INSEAD has a big advantage over IMD due to its four-campus structure, which lets MBA students pick the campus that best fits their needs and post-MBA goals. Additional campuses are in Abu Dhabi, and San Francisco.
Cost - IMD vs INSEAD MBA
IMD Fee
The tuition for the IMD Full-Time MBA program is $104,000 (CHF 80,000) with additional mandatory fees of $22,750 (CHF 17,500), making the total program fees $126,750 (CHF 97,500). This covers tuition, teaching materials, coffee breaks, weekday lunch on campus, assistance with moving and obtaining visas, travel and lodging, personal growth, on-campus support, facilities, and partner integration.
The candidates are required to pay the tuition in installments. In addition to paying tuition, students are also responsible for covering personal costs.
Depending on the lifestyle of the student, housing and living expenses differ.
The average cost of living in Switzerland for a year is approximately $39,000-$52,000 ($30,000-40,000 CHF) for a single individual, though sharing residence can decrease this amount.
INSEAD Fee
The tuition fees for the August 2026 Intake and January 2027 Intake are $130,400 (€109,860) each (inclusive of all applicable taxes). The fees are payable by instalments.
When are tuition fee changes announced for INSEAD?
Tuition for the July Class is determined each year in December, whereas for the December class, it is announced in June.
What is covered under Tuition Fees at INSEAD?
Tuition fees cover all printed course materials, access to the INSEAD library, on-campus information technology services, language tuition, testing, student council costs, gym access, business cards, printing, and health insurance. Furthermore, the $2,374 (€2,000) Business Foundations program is an elective that is not included in the tuition.
Including the tuition fee, the total estimated program cost (tuition plus estimated living expenses) is around $166,000-$178,000 (€140,000-€150,000) depending on campus (Fontainebleau/Singapore/Abu Dhabi) and lifestyle, with additional costs for housing, travel, and personal expenses.
Cost Criteria | IMD | INSEAD |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition and Fees | $126,750 (CHF 97,500) | $130,400 (€109,860) |
| Apartments | (Varies; approx. $26,000-$39,000) | (Varies; approx. $13,000-$19,000) |
| Others | (Personal/living) | (Personal/living) |
Tuition Fee: INSEAD > IMD (in recent terms)
Extra expenses: Varies by lifestyle
Living Cost: Lausanne vs. Fontainebleau vs. Abu Dhabi vs. San Francisco vs. Singapore
Cost of Living: Lausanne>San Francisco>Singapore>France>Abu Dhabi
Purchasing Power: Lausanne>Abu Dhabi> San Francisco> Singapore>France
Lausanne, Switzerland | Singapore (IMD) | France | San Francisco | Abu Dhabi | Singapore | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cost of Living Index | 116.4 | 90.0 | 80.8 | 97.3 | 53.5 | 90.0 |
| Cost of Living Plus Rent Index | 88.8 | 79.8 | 63.1 | 88.8 | 49.5 | 79.8 |
| Grocery Index | 115.9 | 81.4 | 82.2 | 106.5 | 46.7 | 81.4 |
| Rent Index | 55.7 | 67.7 | 41.9 | 78.7 | 44.7 | 67.7 |
| Restaurant | 118.0 | 55.6 | 76.0 | 102.2 | 57.0 | 55.6 |
| Local Purchasing Power Index | 176.7 | 110.4 | 123.3 | 159.5 | 102.7 | 110.4 |
