Key points:
- Spain is one of the cheapest countries in Europe for international education.
- Switzerland is again the European country with the most expensive international schools.
- The three most expensive cities for international schooling in Europe are Zurich, Lausanne and Geneva.
- Copenhagen is the cheapest city in Europe (and the 2nd cheapest in the world!) for international schools.
- There is a stark difference in international school prices between Western/Central Europe and Eastern/Southern Europe.
At the International Schools Database, we help local and expat parents choose the perfect international school for their children. Our database allows parents to find, research and compare international schools in cities across five continents. Naturally, this means that we gather and analyse a huge amount of information about international schools all over the world.
Our latest research project uses this data to evaluate the prices of international schools across the globe. In this article, we share and analyze the prices of international schools in Europe.
Below, we have analysed price data from 29 cities in 18 European countries, in graph and table forms. While we have used all price data available to us, there may be additional schools and prices not included in each city. This is because do not make their price data available or because it is unknown to us. Links to additional research focusing on each world region individually and globally can be found at the bottom of this article.
Prices of International Schools in Europe, Per Year
The graph below is known as a box plot graph. It shows a comprehensive view of the range of prices in each city, instead of just an average. A single average price may not necessarily represent the full picture of prices in each destination. Since there is a lot to unpack in this graph, we have also provided a little explanation on how to read the graph easily at the end of the article.
Highlights and takeaways from the research findings
Spain is among the cheapest countries in Europe for international school fees, with 6 cities among the cheapest in the region: Valencia, Malaga, Alicante, Madrid, Barcelona, and Mallorca.
Switzerland dominates as the most expensive country in Europe for international schools; Zurich, Lausanne and Geneva take the top 3 spots. Lausanne and Geneva are both small cities with a population of less than 200,000. This is in stark contrast with the 4th most expensive city in Europe for international education - London and its population of 9 million!
The lowest maximum, however, belongs to the Danish capital Copenhagen. In Denmark both public and private schools (which includes international schools) are all heavily subsidised by the government. This may explain why education is so affordable - comparatively speaking - in a country with a reputation for a high cost of living.
Two of Europe’s iconic capitals - Paris and London - have the biggest range of international school prices. In Paris the difference between the cheapest and most expensive international schools is $33k a year. In London this difference is slightly higher at $34k a year.
In contrast, other major European capitals like Berlin and Rome have a narrower range of international school fees. In Rome for example the cost difference between the least and the most expensive international schools is $15k a year, and in Berlin $14k.
There is a clear difference in international school prices between Western and Central Europe and the East and South of the continent. 7 of the top 10 cities with the highest international school fees are in Western and Central Europe, while 7 of the 10 cheapest cities for international schools are in Eastern and Southern Europe.
You can find a breakdown of exact prices for each European city in the table below. But if Europe isn’t enough, we have also compiled price data for other regions and cities around the world; you can find links to this additional research at the bottom of this article. If you require any further information or have additional questions, don't hesitate to contact us at andrea@international-schools-database.com.
