Key points:
- China is by far the most expensive country in Asia for international education. The top four most expensive cities in the whole continent are Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen, and Guangzhou.
- Beijing is the most expensive city in Asia for international education (its median price is close to $40,000 per year).
- Phnom Penh has the cheapest international school fees in Asia, at around $5,000 per year.
- Manila, Johor Bahru and Phuket all have median prices for international education of around $8,000 - $9,000 per year.
- Prices in Yangon, Bangkok, and Kyoto-Osaka-Kobe for international education all sit at around $12,000 per year.
- In Ho Chi Minh City, Hong Kong, and Tokyo, median costs for international education are all around $17,000 per year.
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 around the world. Naturally, this means that we gather and analyse a huge amount of information about international schools all over the world.
Starting in 2019, we began using this data to evaluate the prices of international schools across the globe. For 2021 we have expanded this research and in this article, we share and analyze the prices of international schools in Asia in 2021.
Below, we have analysed price data from 23 cities in 13 Asian 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, because they do not make their price data available or it is unknown to us. Links to additional research focusing in each of the other regions individually and globally can be found at the bottom of this article.
Prices of International Schools in Asia, 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, as 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
For the third year in a row, China is by far the most expensive country in Asia for international education. The top four most expensive cities in the whole continent are Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen, and Guangzhou. Beijing’s median price is close to $40,000 per year, which is in sharp contrast to the cheapest city’s median price - Phnom Penh at around $5,000.
While China may dominate the top of the list, there is a very wide spread of prices throughout the rest of the continent. Median prices are under $20,000 per year for the majority of cities, and in many cities median prices hover under or just above $10,000 per year. Given the continent’s huge diversity in economic growth and costs of living, this makes sense.
Several cities, despite being in very different countries, have similar median prices. For example, Manila, Johor Bahru and Phuket all have median prices of around $8,000 - $9,000 per year. Prices in Yangon, Bangkok, and Kyoto-Osaka-Kobe all sit at around $12,000 per year. In Ho Chi Minh City, Hong Kong, and Tokyo, median costs for international education are all around $17,000 per year.
You can find a breakdown of exact prices for each Asian city in the table below. But if Asia 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.
