Honest comparison of two destinations agents pitch interchangeably. Cost differential is smaller than agents claim; English-instruction quality differs meaningfully; FMGE outcomes diverge by university tier.
Line-by-line ₹40 lakh planning baseline. The ₹15-20 lakh agent quotes capture only 40-50% of real costs — translator fees, FMGE coaching, repeat attempts, and currency depreciation make up the difference.
University-by-university FMGE first-attempt pass rates from Russian medical universities. Tier 1 universities run 30-45%; Tier 3 below 15%. The within-country variation matters more than the country choice.