If you are moving to Asia with children, or comparing what international schools in Asia really cost, the first problem is that no two schools publish fees the same way. Currencies differ, grade bands differ, some fees include tax and building funds and others do not, and a few schools bill in two currencies at once.
So we did the legwork. This guide lists 18 well-known international schools in Asia across 11 cities, with 2026-27 fees checked one by one on each school’s official website, side by side in one table. US dollar figures use exchange rates of 9 October 2026.
International schools in Asia: fees from about $19,400 to $46,500 a year
The short version first. For the final year of high school (Grade 12 or Year 13), annual fees across the 18 schools ranged from about $19,400 at the British School in Tokyo to about $46,500 at Shanghai American School. Fourteen of the 18 schools charge more than $30,000 a year at Grade 12.
One surprise: in dollar terms, the two Tokyo schools (BST and ASIJ) are the least expensive on the list. That reflects the weak yen as much as the schools’ pricing, and it is a reminder that the currency your salary is paid in can change the picture.
The list: 18 international schools in Asia and their 2026-27 fees
Fees below are annual figures from each school’s official fee page or fee schedule. To compare like with like, we show the Grade 1 equivalent (Year 2 in British schools) and the Grade 12 equivalent (Year 13).
| City | School | Curriculum | Grade 1 equiv. (per year) | Grade 12 equiv. (per year) | Grade 12 in US$ | Main extra fees |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Singapore | UWCSEA | IB | SGD 39,069 | SGD 49,926 | about $39,000 | Enrolment SGD 4,992 + development levy (SGD 9,537 first year, then SGD 5,166/yr) |
| Singapore | Tanglin Trust School | British + A Level / IB Diploma | SGD 45,375 | SGD 58,080 | about $45,400 | Application, enrolment and capital levy: SGD 10,000 in total |
| Bangkok | International School Bangkok (ISB) | American + IB Diploma | THB 1,015,000 | THB 1,197,000 | about $35,700 | Registration THB 260,000 + annual fee THB 22,000 |
| Bangkok | NIST International School | IB | THB 889,200 | THB 1,132,800 | about $33,800 | Registration THB 265,000 + campus development (THB 575,000 refundable or THB 60,500/yr) |
| Seoul | Seoul Foreign School (SFS) | US + IB Diploma | KRW 27,285,000 + USD 13,500 | KRW 33,370,000 + USD 14,955 | about $39,800 | Entrance KRW 5,500,000 + registration KRW 650,000 |
| Seoul | Seoul International School (SIS) | American | KRW 22,880,000 + USD 8,140 | KRW 27,840,000 + USD 9,900 | about $30,700 | Initial registration KRW 4,000,000 |
| Tokyo | The American School in Japan (ASIJ) | American | JPY 3,498,000 | JPY 3,826,000 | about $24,200 | Building maintenance ¥1,525,000 + registration ¥300,000 (one-off); capital assessment ¥250,000/yr |
| Tokyo | The British School in Tokyo (BST) | British | JPY 2,960,000 | JPY 3,070,000 | about $19,400 | Enrolment ¥500,000 + educational resources ¥680,000 (one-off) |
| Hong Kong | Hong Kong International School (HKIS) | American | HKD 231,600 | HKD 272,600 | about $34,700 | Entry fee HKD 15,000 + capital levy HKD 24,500/yr |
| Hong Kong | Chinese International School (CIS) | Bilingual English/Mandarin, IGCSE + IB Diploma | HKD 300,300 | HKD 359,200 | about $45,800 | Reservation deposit HKD 150,000 (non-refundable, offset against levy and fees) + capital levy HKD 30,200/yr |
| Kuala Lumpur | Garden International School (GIS) | British | MYR 88,170 | MYR 126,870 | about $31,100 | Registration RM 20,000 + one term refundable deposit (plus 6% SST) |
| Kuala Lumpur | The Alice Smith School | British | MYR 89,070 | MYR 122,370 | about $30,000 | Enrolment RM 20,000 + refundable deposit RM 24,000 (plus 6% SST) |
| Shanghai | Shanghai American School (SAS) | American + IB Diploma | CNY 285,800 | CNY 311,000 | about $46,500 | Entry RMB 28,000–33,000 + enrolment fee RMB 32,000/yr |
| Taipei | Taipei American School (TAS) | American | TWD 956,770 | TWD 1,055,105 | about $33,000 | Capital fee NT$350,000 (one-off) + enrolment deposit NT$50,000 |
| Manila | International School Manila (ISM) | American + IB Diploma | USD 15,160 + PHP 479,600 | USD 19,660 + PHP 623,800 | about $29,600 | Matriculation USD 4,500 + facilities enhancement USD 4,500 |
| Jakarta | Jakarta Intercultural School (JIS) | IB + AP | IDR 551,483,000 | IDR 633,001,000 | about $35,400 | Figures include the mandatory annual capital fee and enrolment guarantee |
| Ho Chi Minh City | International School Ho Chi Minh City (ISHCMC) | IB | VND 769,900,000 | VND 1,055,300,000 | about $40,800 | Admissions fee VND 50,000,000 (figures include the annual development fee) |
| Ho Chi Minh City | British International School HCMC (BIS HCMC) | British + IB Diploma | VND 739,800,000 | VND 999,300,000 | about $38,600 | Registration VND 73,300,000 (figures are the pay-in-full price) |
Sources: each school’s official fee page or schedule, checked October 2026. Dollar figures are approximate, at 9 October 2026 rates. SFS, SIS (Seoul) and ISM (Manila) bill in local currency plus US dollars; the two parts are combined. Tanglin Trust includes the building fund and GST; JIS includes the mandatory annual capital fee and enrolment guarantee; ISHCMC includes the annual development fee; BIS HCMC is the pay-in-full price; HKIS is twice its per-semester fee. The two Kuala Lumpur schools charge 6% SST on top. Fees change every year, so always confirm with the school.
What stands out by city
Singapore: UWCSEA (IB) and Tanglin Trust (British) both sit around $39,000–$45,000 at Grade 12, and joining costs are high. At UWCSEA, the SGD 4,992 enrolment fee plus a first-year development levy of SGD 9,537 comes to about $11,300 before tuition.
Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur and Manila: ISB and NIST charge about $34,000–$36,000 at Grade 12; the Kuala Lumpur pair and ISM about $29,600–$31,100. One-off fees still matter: ISB’s registration fee is THB 260,000, about $7,800.
Seoul, Hong Kong, Shanghai and Taipei: SFS bills in won and dollars, about $39,800 combined at Grade 12. Chinese International School and Shanghai American School are the two most expensive on the list, both above $45,000. SAS admits foreign passport holders only.
Ho Chi Minh City and Jakarta: ISHCMC, BIS HCMC and JIS run about $35,000–$41,000. Read the fine print here: ISHCMC’s Grade 12 fee passes VND 1 billion once the mandatory development fee is added.
For more schools in each city, see our guides to international schools in Singapore, Bangkok, Seoul, Tokyo, Kuala Lumpur, Shanghai, Taipei, Manila and Ho Chi Minh City. School-by-school reviews are available for UWCSEA, Tanglin Trust and ASIJ, and country averages are in our comparison of international school fees in Asia by country.
Four things families miss when comparing international schools in Asia
1. One-off joining fees
Enrolment, registration and facility fees are charged on top of tuition in the first year. At ASIJ in Tokyo, the one-off building maintenance fee (¥1,525,000) and registration fee (¥300,000) add about $11,500 before the first term.
2. Annual capital levies and development fees
Many schools charge a yearly capital levy or development fee outside tuition, such as HKD 24,500 a year at HKIS or ¥250,000 at ASIJ. Compare totals, not tuition lines.
3. Two currencies, or tax on top
SFS, SIS and ISM bill partly in US dollars. The Kuala Lumpur schools add 6% SST. How you convert can change the ranking.
4. What your employer’s education allowance covers
Relocation packages differ. Some cover tuition only; others include joining fees, capital levies or school buses, often with a cap. Check the policy before you choose a school.
Seeing the totals, some families start to ask whether a campus school is the only route to an international education. If you want to compare different ways of learning, NGA’s approach to learning is one more reference point.
Campus international schools, online schools and NGA side by side
For a family relocating within Asia, a campus international school is usually the default. Here is an honest view of where online international schools, and NIJIN GLOBAL ACADEMY (NGA), fit alongside them.
If you need a school your child attends every day, a recognised diploma, and campus life with sport and events, a campus international school is the answer. For families who move every few years, though, changing schools with each posting can itself be the hardest part, and an online option can act as a thread of continuity. Our list of online international schools in Asia covers those options.
Three things to settle before you choose
First, the total cost and what your allowance covers: tuition, joining fees and annual levies, set against what your employer pays. Second, the curriculum and where it leads: IB, American or British, and how each fits the next school or university you have in mind. Third, how long you will stay: if another move is likely in two or three years, a curriculum that travels well matters.
Where NIJIN GLOBAL ACADEMY fits
NIJIN GLOBAL ACADEMY (NGA) is an online international school for ages 6–18 focused on Asia and Oceania, opening in September 2027 (planned). It is operated by NIJIN Inc., which runs learning programmes in Japan, including NIJIN Academy for children who do not attend school, and has supported more than 1,000 children. Its model is live classes in small groups of about eight, subjects taught in English with support from a bilingual English–Japanese mentor, a timetable built around Asia–Oceania daytime, and admission that is not based on test-score rankings.
The honest limits: NGA is not yet open, not yet accredited and has no graduates, and tuition has not been published. It is not a replacement for a school your child attends every day, and it has no campus, sports or events. Where it may help is continuity: for a family that moves from country to country within Asia, it is designed as learning that can continue with the same teachers and classmates wherever you live.
FAQ
What is the most expensive international school in Asia on this list?
At Grade 12, Shanghai American School (RMB 311,000, about $46,500), followed by Chinese International School in Hong Kong (HKD 359,200, about $45,800) and Tanglin Trust School in Singapore (SGD 58,080, about $45,400).
Which city has the most affordable international schools?
Among these 18 schools, the two Tokyo schools were the least expensive in dollar terms in October 2026, partly because of the weak yen. Manila and Kuala Lumpur were next, at about $29,600–$31,100 at Grade 12.
Why are international school fees so hard to compare?
Schools differ in currency (some bill in two), grade bands, tax treatment and mandatory extras such as capital levies. The table above notes what each figure includes (tax, mandatory extras, discounts). BIS HCMC, for example, is the pay-in-full price; paid by term, its Year 13 fee is VND 1,175,650,000.
Do international schools in Asia charge fees beyond tuition?
Almost all do. Expect application and enrolment fees when joining, and at many schools an annual capital levy or development fee. These can add thousands of dollars in the first year.
Compare totals, and the choice gets easier
Tuition alone makes international schools in Asia look easier to compare than they are. Add the joining fees, the annual levies, the currency and tax, and what your allowance covers, and the real shortlist usually becomes clear.
For families who may move again within Asia, NIJIN GLOBAL ACADEMY is preparing to open in September 2027 (planned), with trial classes in April–May 2027. We will email the curriculum and timetable once they are confirmed.
There is no need to settle everything at once. Pick two or three schools in your destination city, keep this table beside you, and check each official fee page for the latest numbers. That is the most useful first step toward a move your whole family can feel ready for.
