Best Countries for International Schools: Where Expat Families Get the Best Education
Choosing where to live as an expat family involves weighing many factors — but for families with school-age children, the availability and quality of international schools often sits at the top of the list. A poor school choice can derail academic progress, complicate university applications, and create social challenges for children who are already adapting to a new country.
This guide ranks and compares 18 major expat destinations on school provision, curriculum breadth, IB performance, fee levels, and overall family suitability. It is honest about the variation — some destinations are genuinely better than others.
Quick Comparison Table
| Destination | No. of Int'l Schools (approx.) | IB Provision | British Curriculum | Avg Annual Fees (USD, mid-tier) | Family Suitability |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Singapore | 60+ | Excellent | Strong | $28,000–$46,000 | Excellent |
| UAE (Dubai) | 200+ | Good | Excellent | $12,000–$28,000 | Excellent |
| Malaysia (KL) | 100+ | Good | Excellent | $9,000–$20,000 | Very Good |
| Hong Kong | 50+ | Excellent | Strong | $14,000–$35,000 | Good |
| Thailand (Bangkok) | 100+ | Good | Good | $10,000–$22,000 | Very Good |
| Belgium (Brussels) | 20+ | Excellent | Good | $25,000–$55,000 | Very Good |
| Portugal (Lisbon) | 30+ | Good | Good | $10,000–$24,000 | Very Good |
| Spain (Barcelona/Madrid) | 60+ | Good | Good | $10,000–$22,000 | Very Good |
| France (Paris) | 40+ | Good | Limited | $13,000–$42,000 | Good |
| Germany (Berlin) | 20+ | Good | Limited | $8,000–$20,000 | Good |
| Austria (Vienna) | 15+ | Very Good | Limited | $12,000–$24,000 | Very Good |
| Italy (Rome) | 15+ | Good | Limited | $11,000–$22,000 | Good |
| Cyprus | 15+ | Limited | Strong | $7,000–$16,000 | Good |
| Greece (Athens) | 20+ | Limited | Good | $8,000–$16,000 | Good |
| Indonesia (Bali/Jakarta) | 60+ | Good | Good | $7,000–$28,000 | Good/Mixed |
| Egypt (Cairo) | 40+ | Limited | Good | $9,000–$20,000 | Moderate |
| Saudi Arabia (Riyadh) | 40+ | Limited | Good | $11,000–$26,000 | Moderate |
| China (Shanghai) | 60+ | Good | Good | $17,000–$34,000 | Moderate |
Figures are approximate 2025–2026 mid-tier annual tuition; exact provision varies by individual school and city. Suitability ratings reflect infrastructure, family amenities, safety, and education together.
Destination-by-Destination Analysis
Singapore (benchmark)
Singapore is the global benchmark for international school quality. Schools such as Tanglin Trust, United World College South East Asia (UWCSEA), and the Australian International School consistently achieve among the highest IB Diploma scores in the world — with cohort averages well above the global mean.
The trade-off is cost. Annual fees at premium schools reach SGD 50,000+ (approximately $37,000–$46,000). The city is also small and highly urbanised, with limited outdoor space. For families prioritising academic rigour and clear pathways to top global universities, Singapore is hard to match — but the budget must support it.
Global Investments does not currently have property listings in Singapore.
UAE — Dubai
Dubai is the most developed international school market outside Singapore and London. With over 200 international schools inspected by the KHDA (Knowledge and Human Development Authority), the sector is well-regulated and transparent — KHDA inspection ratings (Outstanding, Very Good, Good, Acceptable) are publicly available and give families a reliable quality benchmark.
Fee levels span a wide range: AED 25,000–120,000+ per year (approximately $7,000–$33,000). British curriculum dominates, with strong IB provision at schools such as the Swiss International Scientific School and Dubai College. The city's infrastructure, safety, and climate make it one of the most family-friendly expat destinations globally.
See our guide: international schools in Dubai. For property investment in the UAE, see our Dubai property guide.
Malaysia — Kuala Lumpur
Kuala Lumpur offers what many families consider the sweet spot in Asia: excellent international schools at significantly lower fees than Singapore or Hong Kong, in a city with high quality of life, English widely spoken, and straightforward expat immigration routes.
Schools such as the International School of Kuala Lumpur (ISKL), Cempaka International, and Marlborough College Malaysia are well-accredited, CIS-recognised, and offer strong IB and British curricula. Annual fees range from approximately $9,000–$22,000. Marlborough College Malaysia — a satellite of the UK boarding school — offers a premium British experience at fees substantially below the UK equivalent.
Malaysia also offers the MM2H (Malaysia My Second Home) long-stay visa, which is increasingly used by expat families as a basis for extended residence.
Hong Kong
Hong Kong has a long-established international school sector, though the social and political changes of recent years have prompted some families to reconsider. Schools such as Hong Kong International School (HKIS) and Kellett School are internationally recognised and academically strong, with high IB Diploma averages.
The key challenge in Hong Kong is debentures — one-off refundable bonds of HKD 200,000–500,000+ ($25,000–$65,000) required to secure a place at many premium schools. Combined with fees of HKD 160,000–290,000 per year ($20,000–$37,000), the total cost of schooling in Hong Kong can rival Singapore.
Thailand — Bangkok
Bangkok has a large and maturing international school sector, with schools catering to British, American, Australian, and IB curricula. Bangkok Patana School (British, CIS-accredited) and NIST International School (IB, CIS/WASC-accredited) are among the best-regarded. Fees are mid-range by Asian standards: $10,000–$22,000 per year.
Bangkok offers a high standard of living at relatively modest cost, excellent transport links, and a relaxed quality of life. However, school quality varies significantly: the gap between top-tier and average international schools in Bangkok is wider than in Singapore or Dubai. Research individual schools carefully, not just the city's reputation.
See our guide: international schools in Bangkok. For property in Thailand, see our Thailand property guide.
Belgium — Brussels
Brussels is home to a disproportionately large and high-quality international school sector, driven by the presence of the European Commission, NATO headquarters, and numerous international organisations. Schools including the International School of Brussels (ISB) and the European School system serve a highly international student population.
The European Schools — funded by the European institutions — offer excellent multilingual education but are generally only accessible to children of EU institution employees. For others, ISB and the British School of Brussels are well-accredited options with strong IB provision. Fees are among the highest in Western Europe for mainstream English-medium schools: ISB runs €22,590–€49,715 per year (approximately $25,000–$55,000); BSB is €34,400–€44,015. European Schools are heavily subsidised for EU institution employees but rarely accessible to others. Brussels is a genuinely multilingual city with strong cultural infrastructure and easy access to the UK, Germany, and the Netherlands.
Portugal — Lisbon
Lisbon has become one of the most popular expat destinations in Europe, and its international school sector has grown rapidly to match. Schools such as St. Julian's School (British, long-established), TASIS Portugal, and the International School of Lisboa offer Cambridge IGCSE, A-Level, and IB curricula. Most are CIS-accredited.
Fees are competitive by Western European standards: approximately $10,000–$24,000 per year. Lisbon's quality of life, climate, safety, and relatively low cost of living compared with London, Paris, or Brussels make it one of the most attractive balanced options for expat families. Portugal's Golden Visa programme — now restructured, with the property-purchase route closed — and the successor IFICI tax regime (NHR 2.0, which replaced the original NHR for new residents from 2025 and is narrowly targeted at scientific and innovation roles) may add appeal for some families' wealth-planning purposes.
See our guide: international schools in Lisbon.
Spain — Barcelona and Madrid
Spain has a well-developed international school sector, particularly in Barcelona, Madrid, and the Costa del Sol. The British School of Barcelona, Hamelin-Laie International School, and Benjamin Franklin International School (Barcelona) offer recognised curricula at fees ranging from $9,000–$22,000. CIS accreditation is available at several schools.
Barcelona in particular is popular with families for its quality of life, architecture, and beach-city lifestyle. The city's expat community is well-established. One consideration: Catalan is the primary language of instruction in state schools, which makes international school enrolment more essential for non-Catalan-speaking families.
See our guide: international schools in Barcelona. For property, see our Spain property guide.
France — Paris
Paris has a good range of international schools — the International School of Paris, the British School of Paris, and the American School of Paris among the most notable — but the sector is smaller than in Brussels or Lisbon. French bureaucracy can add complexity to school applications, and some international schools operate on French academic calendars that differ from the UK or IB norm.
Fees vary widely: state-subsidised bilingual sections charge from $10,000–$13,000; mid-range full-fee English schools such as ICS Paris run $23,000–$34,000; premium schools such as the International School of Paris charge $31,000–$42,000. Paris is outstanding on culture and connectivity but is among the more expensive European cities for housing alongside school fees.
Germany — Berlin
Berlin has a growing international school sector with schools including Berlin British School and the John F. Kennedy School (a German-American school). Germany's comparatively low fee levels ($8,000–$20,000) and strong public infrastructure make it appealing. However, English-medium international school provision is more limited than in Brussels, Lisbon, or Barcelona, and the German education system's complexity can challenge families who do not speak German.
Austria — Vienna
Vienna is consistently rated among the world's most liveable cities. The Vienna International School (IB World School, UN-linked) and American International School Vienna offer strong provision. Fees are $12,000–$24,000. Vienna's central European location, safety, and cultural richness make it excellent for families — though the international school sector is smaller than in Brussels or Lisbon.
Italy — Rome
Rome has a handful of well-regarded international schools — St. George's British International School and Marymount International School among the most notable. Fees are $11,000–$22,000. Rome is not a natural expat hub in the same way as Dubai or Singapore, and the international school sector is relatively small, which can create placement challenges for late-arriving families.
Cyprus
Cyprus offers British-curriculum schooling at some of the lowest fees in this guide: $7,000–$16,000 per year. The International School of Paphos, Pascal English School, and American International School in Cyprus (AISC) serve the expat community. English is widely spoken; the legal and educational systems have British heritage; the climate is excellent; and property prices are substantially below Western European levels.
The international school sector is smaller than in larger expat hubs, and IB Diploma provision is more limited. For families prioritising IGCSE and A-Levels — particularly those planning UK university entry — Cyprus works well. For families prioritising the IB pathway to US universities, options are more constrained.
See our guide: international schools in Cyprus. For property, see our Cyprus property guide.
Greece — Athens
Athens has a respectable international school sector — American Community Schools Athens (ACS Athens, WASC-accredited) and St. Catherine's British School are well-regarded. Fees are affordable: $8,000–$16,000. Greece's Golden Visa programme (now with an increased minimum property investment in Athens) makes it an interesting residency option for non-EU families, and the quality of life is high.
IB Diploma provision is available at ACS Athens. Families planning UK university entry will find British-curriculum schools adequate if not abundant.
See our guide: international schools in Athens. For property, see our Greece property guide.
Indonesia — Bali and Jakarta
Indonesia presents two quite different pictures. Jakarta has a well-established large-city international school sector: Jakarta Intercultural School (JIS, CIS/WASC-accredited), British School Jakarta, and Australian International School offer high-quality provision at $12,000–$30,000. Jakarta is a megacity with significant traffic, pollution, and logistical challenges.
Bali has a unique and growing alternative education community. Green School Bali offers an environmental and project-based IB curriculum that attracts families seeking something genuinely different. Bali Island School is the more conventional British-curriculum option. Fees are low ($5,000–$15,000) and the lifestyle is compelling. However, the school sector is small, choices are limited, and secondary provision — particularly at IB Diploma or A-Level — is more restricted than in Jakarta or major expat hubs.
See our guides: international schools in Bali and international schools in Jakarta.
Egypt — Cairo
Cairo has a substantial international school sector, with British International School Cairo, The International School of Egypt, and several American-curriculum schools serving a large expat community. Fees are relatively low in USD terms — approximately $9,000–$20,000 — though exchange rate volatility has been a significant factor in recent years as the Egyptian pound has depreciated sharply.
Cairo is not an easy posting for families unfamiliar with the region. Infrastructure, traffic, and air quality can be challenging. However, for families on corporate packages with school-fee support, it offers good international schooling at a low cost base.
See our guide: international schools in Cairo. For property, see our Egypt property guide.
Saudi Arabia — Riyadh
Riyadh's international school sector serves a large corporate and diplomatic expat community. Schools including the British International School Riyadh and American International School in Riyadh are well-established. Fees are $11,000–$26,000. The Kingdom is undergoing significant social change under Vision 2030, and the quality of life for expat families has improved considerably in recent years.
Riyadh is predominantly a posting destination rather than a lifestyle-choice destination. Most expats live within compound communities, where facilities are good. School provision is adequate to strong for British and American curricula; IB Diploma options are more limited.
China — Shanghai
Shanghai has one of the largest concentrations of international schools in Asia, with strong British, IB, and American provision. Schools including Western International School Shanghai (WISS) and Shanghai American School (SAS) are well-resourced and academically strong. Fees are $17,000–$34,000.
The complexity for families in China relates to regulatory changes on access to international schooling (increasingly restricted for Chinese nationals), political risk, internet restrictions, and air quality in certain seasons. For expatriate families from outside China, the school sector itself is strong.
How to Choose: Key Factors to Weigh
Beyond fees and school numbers, the most important variables are:
- Your child's intended university destination — UK universities suit A-Level and IB; US universities suit IB, AP, and SAT; Australian universities suit IB and Australian curriculum
- Your posting duration — short postings favour cities with a deep market and easy portability; longer stints allow proper immersion
- The specific schools available — research individual schools, not just countries; request IB score averages and university destination data
- Family lifestyle priorities — safety, climate, outdoor space, healthcare quality, and expat community size all matter for children's well-being alongside academic provision
- Total cost — fees plus housing plus cost of living versus likely rental returns or property appreciation on any investment
For families who are also making property investment decisions alongside school choice, our residency and citizenship guides and international school fees comparison provide additional context.
How Global Investments Can Help
We work with internationally mobile families who are making simultaneous decisions about where to live, where to educate their children, and where to invest in property. These decisions interact: a lower-fee destination may allow more capital to deploy into property; a school in catchment may drive a specific location choice; a residency scheme may shape both tax planning and family logistics.
Global Investments can connect you with education consultants, relocation specialists, and tax advisers across all of our destination markets, and help you think through the full picture — not just the investment return in isolation.
Contact our team to begin planning.
International school provision, fee levels, and regulatory environments change frequently. All figures in this guide are approximate and refer to the 2025–2026 academic year. IB averages and school-count data reflect publicly available information as of early 2026. Always research individual schools directly and verify current fees before making relocation decisions. Property values can fall as well as rise; this guide does not constitute investment advice. Seek independent professional advice for your specific circumstances.
Frequently asked questions
Which country has the most international schools for expats?
The UAE, China, and Malaysia have some of the largest absolute numbers of international schools. However, numbers alone do not indicate quality. Singapore consistently achieves the highest average IB Diploma scores globally, despite having fewer schools than China or the UAE. Families should prioritise quality of provision and curriculum fit over sheer school numbers.
Is an IB school always better than a British curriculum school?
Not necessarily — it depends on the child and the intended university destination. The IB Diploma is widely accepted by universities worldwide and suits students who thrive in a broad, inquiry-based programme across six subjects. British A-Levels allow deeper specialisation in three or four subjects and are particularly well-suited for UK university entry. Neither is objectively superior; the better question is which fits the student's learning style and university ambitions.
Which destinations have the best international schools for the lowest fees?
Malaysia (Kuala Lumpur) and Portugal (Lisbon) offer a strong combination of quality provision — with many CIS-accredited, IB-authorised schools — at fees significantly below Singapore, Hong Kong, or London. Egypt, Greece, and Cyprus offer good British-curriculum schools at the lowest fee levels of any destination in this guide.
Does living in a country with better schools improve a child's university chances?
School quality matters, but the individual school matters more than the country. An outstanding IB school in Bangkok will give a student better university prospects than a mediocre IB school in Singapore. Research individual schools — their IB score averages, university destination data, and teaching staff qualifications — rather than relying on country reputation alone.
This guide is for general information only and does not constitute financial, legal or tax advice. Rules, fees and regulations change frequently; verify current requirements with a qualified adviser before acting.