Moving Abroad2 min check

International School Fees Comparator

Estimate annual international school fees by destination and stage.

Short answer

International school fees vary wildly by destination. Annual ranges per child: Dubai £8,000–£26,000, Singapore £20,000–£40,000, Hong Kong £15,000–£35,000, Switzerland £25,000–£90,000, USA private £20,000–£50,000, Spain/France £6,000–£18,000. Add registration (£500–£3,000), capital levy (£1,000–£5,000) and uniform/trips (£500–£2,000). Many employers cover school fees as part of expat packages.

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How it works

The estimator combines destination, year group (primary cheaper than secondary), and curriculum (British / IB / American / local) to project annual costs. It adds one-off setup fees and projects total cost across the school years remaining.

Worked example

2 children (ages 8 and 12) at British international school in Singapore for 6 years: average £30,000/year × 2 × 6 = £360,000 + £6,000 setup = £366,000. Big enough to require negotiation into any expat package.

Who should use this

•Families with school-age children moving abroad
•Negotiating expat packages
•Comparing IB vs national curriculum cost
•Considering boarding back in the UK as alternative

Common mistakes

×Not negotiating school fees into the relocation package
×Ignoring capital/development levies (£1k–£5k upfront)
×Choosing the cheapest school without checking exam results
×Forgetting waiting lists — top schools have 1–2 year queues

Frequently asked questions

British or IB?▾

British curriculum eases return to UK universities; IB is more portable globally. Most top international schools offer IB Diploma at sixth form.

Are local state schools an option?▾

Yes in countries with English-medium options (Scandinavia, Netherlands). Elsewhere language is the barrier.

Is UK boarding cheaper?▾

Often yes — top UK boarding £45,000/year vs Swiss boarding £90,000+. Plus children stay in the UK system.

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