Key points:
- Switzerland is the second most expensive country in the world for international schools, after China.
- Zurich is the most expensive city in Europe for international schools.
- Copenhagen is the cheapest city in Europe (and the 2nd cheapest in the world!) for international schools.
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 four 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 21 cities in 15 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, 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, and the updated research for 2020 can be found here.
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, 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
Not surprisingly, Switzerland is the most expensive European country for international schooling. The Swiss cities of Zurich, Geneva and Lausanne take the top three spots on our graph below, with prices in Laussane-Vaud and Geneva starting at a minimum of $14,840 per year.
The widest range of school prices - from just $2,544 per year to $33,508 - is found in Paris. The French capital also takes the title of lowest minimum price in all of our European cities.
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.
Other points of interest include international schools in Madrid, which range from $4,100 to $15,095 a year with the average school costing $8,763. This puts Madrid among the cheapest cities in Europe, 17th out of 21.
Brussels has a huge difference in prices, with the most expensive school costing almost $30k more than the cheapest. The range of prices in its mid range is quite wide too, ranging from $13,227 and $22,431. The Belgian capital is also home to the most expensive international school in 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.
