If you’re moving to Europe with kids, one of the first things you’ll want to nail down is the international school fees. And if you assume the price follows the country’s reputation — that Western Europe is expensive and Eastern Europe is cheap — you’re in for a few surprises.
According to the International Schools Database’s 2024 Europe report, which analysed median annual fees across 32 cities in 20 countries, the range runs from under US$5,000 to over US$30,000 per year — for the same type of education. Here are the five cities that’ll hit your wallet the hardest, and five where your money goes a lot further.
Zurich leads Europe with the highest international school fees, averaging US$30,738 per year. Source: Pexels
The five most expensive cities in Europe
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Zurich, Switzerland — US$30,738/year
Zurich sits at the very top of the list, and it isn’t close. According to the International Schools Database, it has the highest median international school fee in the entire European region at US$30,738 per year.
The reasons are straightforward:
- Switzerland has the highest cost of living on the continent, which means teacher salaries here are in a league of their own. As Expat.com notes, it’s simply not viable to pay a teacher in Zurich what you’d pay one in France — and that labour cost gets passed on directly through tuition.
- Add in a dense concentration of multinationals and diplomatic institutions driving demand, and you have a market that keeps prices sky-high. Schools like Zurich International School and Inter-Community School Zurich are regularly recommended to expat families here.
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London, United Kingdom — US$23,604/year
London is the most expensive non-Swiss city in Europe for international schooling, with a median annual fee of $23,604 — and that number is already outdated. In January 2025, the UK government introduced a 20% VAT on all private school fees, pushing most London families’ invoices up by 12–16% compared to the previous term.
The fee range at London international schools runs from £15,000 to over £35,000 per year, depending on school and location, which means there’s flexibility if you’re not locked into a specific name. British curriculum prestige, high expat demand, and the high cost of central London real estate all keep the floor elevated regardless.
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Riga, Latvia — US$18,141/year
This one surprises most people. Latvia is not a country you typically associate with high costs, but Riga ranked the 5th most expensive in Europe for international schooling in 2024, with a median fee of US$18,141 per year.
The explanation is supply and demand. Riga has a substantial English-speaking expat community, functions as a key Baltic business hub, and has a relatively small number of international schools to meet that demand. When supply is tight, and demand is consistent, prices rise — regardless of what the rest of the country’s cost of living looks like. If you’re relocating to Riga and assuming affordable schooling, you’ll want to adjust that expectation early.
Budapest surprises with high tuition despite Hungary’s modest living costs, driven by expat demand and limited school options. Source: Pexels
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Budapest, Hungary — US$13,373/year
Budapest tells a similar story. Hungary’s capital ranked among the 10 most expensive European cities, with a median of US$13,373 per year — just below Germany, Austria, and Belgium, which are far wealthier countries on paper.
What’s driving it? A growing expat and diplomatic community, limited international school supply, and increasing local demand from Hungarian families who want an alternative to the national curriculum. Schools like the American International School of Budapest and the British International School Budapest are well-regarded options, but they come at a cost that’ll catch budget-conscious families off guard.
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Paris, France — US$13,340/year
Paris lands in the upper tier, even if it doesn’t dominate the headlines the way Zurich and London do. France falls within the US$10,000–US$18,000 median price bracket, placing it comfortably above the European midpoint.
The city has a dense cluster of international organisations — UNESCO and the OECD are both headquartered here — which generates steady, high-income expat demand for bilingual and English-language schooling. The International School of Paris and the American School of Paris are the go-to options for many incoming families. Like London, Paris also has a very wide price range, so your actual bill will depend heavily on which school you choose and where it’s located.
International schooling in Copenhagen proves that top-quality education doesn’t always come with a high price tag. Source: Pexels
The five least expensive cities
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Copenhagen, Denmark — US$4,931/year
After Tenerife, Copenhagen is the cheapest city in Europe for international schooling, and it has held that title consistently for multiple years running. If you know anything about Denmark’s cost of living, that will seem completely illogical. A coffee in Copenhagen costs as much as a meal does elsewhere.
The explanation is government policy. Both public and private schools in Denmark — including international schools — receive heavy state subsidies, which keep fees unusually low regardless of what the rest of life costs. Copenhagen International School and Rygaards School are the two main options, and families consistently report paying a fraction of what they’d pay in similarly liveable Western European capitals.
2. Amsterdam, Netherlands — US$7,020/year
Amsterdam sits just above Copenhagen with a median of US$7,020 per year, which is remarkably low for a city where renting a one-bedroom apartment in the city centre can run US$2,500 a month.
The Dutch system has a tradition of partial government support for international schools, and the city has a broad supply of schools relative to its expat population. That supply keeps competitive pressure on fees, unlike in cities like Riga or Budapest. The Amsterdam International Community School and the British School of Amsterdam are both well-established options for incoming families.
Vilnius offers one of the most affordable international school education options in Europe, with median fees under US$9,000. Source: Pexels
3. Vilnius, Lithuania — US$8,758/year
The 2024 ISD report confirms that Lithuania remains among European countries with median fees below US$10,000 per year, and Vilnius has consistently ranked among the bottom 10 for international school costs across the continent.
What makes Vilnius interesting right now is timing. The city has seen a meaningful influx of international families — particularly from the tech sector and from professionals relocating out of Russia and Belarus since 2022 — but school prices haven’t yet caught up with that demand spike. Vilnius International School is the main English-language option. If you’re considering the Baltics and affordability is a priority, Vilnius is the answer.
4. Madrid, Spain — US$9,132/year
Spain consistently offers some of the lowest median international school fees in Europe, and even Madrid, the country’s largest city and economic capital, ranked only 24th out of 32 European cities, with a median of US$9,132 per year.
That’s a city of over three million people, with a well-developed international school sector, including the American School of Madrid and International College Spain, which offer affordable education. Lower teacher salary baselines and broader school competition both play a role. If your employer has a European office in Madrid, you’re getting a strong quality of life and relatively manageable school fees.
5. Sofia, Bulgaria — US$10,489/year
Sofia is worth flagging for a notable shift: the 2024 ISD report moves Bulgaria into the US$10,489 median price, up from US$7,560 in the 2023 edition. It’s still one of the more affordable EU capitals for international schooling, but the gap between Sofia and higher-cost Eastern European cities like Riga has narrowed.
The drivers behind fees here remain lower than in Western Europe — operating costs and teacher salaries in Bulgaria are still a fraction of those in Latvia or Hungary. The Anglo-American School Sofia and Vitosha International are credible accredited options. If you’re looking for an EU capital with recognised curricula at a manageable price, Sofia still delivers.
Disclaimer: This article was updated on April 7, 2026.
