Education without borders

International school, private healthcare, and a house with a pool — for less than your old mortgage payment. The kids won't complain.

Find your family's next home

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countries

regions

avg cost index

Why families are going abroad

Here's the uncomfortable math: a typical US family spends $15,000-30,000/year on childcare alone. Add housing, health insurance, and saving for college, and you're working to stand still. Meanwhile, in Kuala Lumpur, a top-tier international school (IB curriculum, native English teachers) costs $8,000-15,000/year — and everything else costs less too.

Worldschooling isn't just about saving money, though that's a powerful motivator. It's about giving your kids a perspective they can't get from a textbook. Living in Thailand teaches more about Southeast Asian culture than any AP class. Learning Spanish by immersion in Colombia beats any Duolingo streak. And the social skills kids develop navigating different cultures are the real competitive advantage.

We track international school costs across 40 cities on this page. Right now 8 of those cities expose at least one source-backed school row (104 schools total), 32 cities are estimate-only and should be treated as directional until direct school or tuition sources are linked, 0 cities currently have only a city-level aggregate school cost signal with no per-school rows yet, and 0 cities still need clearer provenance before we should treat their school coverage as fully trustworthy.

40 of the current destinations also expose a country-level public-school fit profile, and 25 currently look at least conditionally usable for resident foreign families. That matters because worldschooling is not always an international-school-only decision: sometimes the local public system is a viable Plan B, and sometimes it clearly is not.

We also track homeschooling legality for the countries represented here. Of the destinations shown, 40 have homeschool status data and 24 are in countries where homeschooling is legal or legal-with-regulation — critical context if your family plan includes homeschooling or unschooling alongside or instead of a formal school.

Top destinations

Ranked by cost of living, data quality, and relevance.

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Monthly budget:

Barranquilla

🇨🇴 Colombia · 1.2M

Intl school: $2,730/yrCost index: 35🏠 Legal, well-established: Estimate-only: 3IB signal: 1

Estimate-only schools 3 · IB 1 · American 1 · Checked 2026-03-15 · Directional research only · No direct school or tuition links yet

Public-school fit · Mixed public-school option · Available to residents · Local-language fit matters · Checked 2026-04-14

Homeschooling: Legal, well-established

Mérida

🇲🇽 Mexico · 1.2M

Intl school: $3,721/yrCost index: 42🏠 Not explicitly regulated: Estimate-only: 2

Estimate-only schools 2 · Checked 2026-03-23 · Directional research only · No direct school or tuition links yet

Public-school fit · Mixed public-school option · Available to residents · Local-language fit matters · Checked 2026-04-14

Homeschooling: Not explicitly regulated

~$1,130/mo family est. (rent $600 · food $420 · utilities $110) — Numbeo + expat research, 2025-Q4

Kathmandu

🇳🇵 Nepal · 1.4M

Intl school: $4,795/yrCost index: 23🏠 Not specifically addressed: Estimate-only: 3IB signal: 2

Estimate-only schools 3 · IB 2 · British 1 · Checked 2026-03-14 · Directional research only · No direct school or tuition links yet

Public-school fit · Limited public-school fit · Possible, but a hard fit · Local-language fit matters · Checked 2026-04-14

Homeschooling: Not specifically addressed

Cape Town

🇿🇦 South Africa · 4.8M

Intl school: $4,992/yrCost index: 40🏠 Legal with registration: 📚 Verified schools: 27IB schools: 17

Source-backed schools 27 · IB 17 · British 4 · American 1 · Checked 2026-03-30

Public-school fit · Mixed public-school option · Possible, but uneven · Checked 2026-04-14

Homeschooling: Legal with registration

~$1,590/mo family est. (rent $900 · food $550 · utilities $140) — Numbeo + expat research, 2025-Q4

Plovdiv

🇧🇬 Bulgaria · 329K

Intl school: $5,154/yrCost index: 41📊 PISA 421 — Average: 🏠 Legal with school enrollment: Estimate-only: 3IB signal: 1

Estimate-only schools 3 · IB 1 · British 1 · American 1 · Checked 2026-03-15 · Directional research only · No direct school or tuition links yet

Public-school fit · Mixed quality · Resident families can use it · PISA 421 (2022) · Local-language fit matters · Checked 2026-04-14

Homeschooling: Legal with school enrollment

Turku

🇫🇮 Finland · 207K

Intl school: $6,557/yrCost index: 68📊 PISA 487 — Above avg: 🏠 Legal, well-supported: Estimate-only: 1IB signal: 1

Estimate-only schools 1 · IB 1 · Checked 2026-02-17 · Directional research only · No direct school or tuition links yet

Public-school fit · Good public schools · Resident families can use it · PISA 487 (2022) · Local-language fit matters · Checked 2026-04-14

PISA 2022: Math 484 · Reading 490 · Science 511

Homeschooling: Legal, well-supported

Tbilisi

🇬🇪 Georgia · 1.0M

Intl school: $7,935/yrCost index: 37🏠 Not explicitly addressed: Estimate-only: 8IB signal: 1

Estimate-only schools 8 · IB 1 · British 1 · American 1 · French 1 · German 1 · Checked 2026-04-03 · Directional research only · No direct school or tuition links yet

Public-school fit · Good local-school option · Available, but localized · Local-language fit matters · Checked 2026-04-14

Homeschooling: Not explicitly addressed

~$1,270/mo family est. (rent $700 · food $450 · utilities $120) — Numbeo + expat research, 2025-Q4

Dammam

🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia · 1.3M

Intl school: $7,937/yrCost index: 43🏠 Legal with approval: Estimate-only: 3British signal: 2

Estimate-only schools 3 · British 2 · American 1 · Checked 2026-03-15 · Directional research only · No direct school or tuition links yet

Public-school fit · Public schools are for nationals · Not practical for most expat families · Local-language fit matters · Checked 2026-04-14

Homeschooling: Legal with approval

Gdańsk

🇵🇱 Poland · 487K

Intl school: $8,177/yrCost index: 50📊 PISA 488 — Above avg: 🏠 Legal with school enrollment: Estimate-only: 3IB signal: 1

Estimate-only schools 3 · IB 1 · British 1 · American 1 · Checked 2026-03-23 · Directional research only · No direct school or tuition links yet

Public-school fit · Good public schools · Resident route is viable · PISA 488 (2022) · Local-language fit matters · Checked 2026-04-14

Homeschooling: Legal with school enrollment

#10

Naples

🇮🇹 Italy · 909K

Intl school: $8,310/yrCost index: 61🏠 Legal with annual exams: Estimate-only: 5IB signal: 1

Estimate-only schools 5 · IB 1 · British 1 · American 1 · French 1 · German 1 · Checked 2026-02-14 · Directional research only · No direct school or tuition links yet

Public-school fit · Good public schools · Available to residents · Local-language fit matters · Checked 2026-04-14

Homeschooling: Legal with annual exams

#11

Quito

🇪🇨 Ecuador · 2.8M

Intl school: $8,458/yrCost index: 34📊 PISA 383 — Below avg: 🏠 Legal with registration: Estimate-only: 3IB signal: 2

Estimate-only schools 3 · IB 2 · American 1 · Checked 2026-03-14 · Directional research only · No direct school or tuition links yet

Public-school fit · Below-average public schools · Resident families can use it · PISA 383 (2022) · Local-language fit matters · Checked 2026-04-14

Homeschooling: Legal with registration

~$1,130/mo family est. (rent $600 · food $420 · utilities $110) — Numbeo + expat research, 2025-Q4

#12

Bandung

🇮🇩 Indonesia · 2.4M

Intl school: $8,657/yrCost index: 24🏠 Legal (recognized alternative): 📚 Verified schools: 3IB schools: 2Published results: 2

Source-backed schools 3 · IB 2 · British 1 · Published results 2 · Checked 2026-03-15

Public-school fit · Limited public-school fit · Possible, rarely the expat choice · Local-language fit matters · Checked 2026-04-14

Homeschooling: Legal (recognized alternative)

#13

Lille

🇫🇷 France · 239K

Intl school: $8,760/yrCost index: 67🏠 Legal but heavily restricted since 2022: Estimate-only: 3IB signal: 1

Estimate-only schools 3 · IB 1 · American 1 · French 1 · Checked 2026-03-15 · Directional research only · No direct school or tuition links yet

Public-school fit · Good public schools · Available to residents · Local-language fit matters · Checked 2026-04-14

Homeschooling: Legal but heavily restricted since 2022

#14

Granada

🇪🇸 Spain · 234K

Intl school: $8,823/yrCost index: 49🏠 Legal gray area: Estimate-only: 5IB signal: 1

Estimate-only schools 5 · IB 1 · British 1 · American 1 · French 1 · German 1 · Directional research only · No direct school or tuition links yet

Public-school fit · Good public schools · Available to residents · Local-language fit matters · Checked 2026-04-14

Homeschooling: Legal gray area

#15

New Orleans

🇺🇸 United States · 363K

Intl school: $10,230/yrCost index: 78🏠 Varies by state: Estimate-only: 5American signal: 5

Estimate-only schools 5 · American 5 · Directional research only · No direct school or tuition links yet

Public-school fit · Mixed public-school option · Available to residents · Checked 2026-04-14

Homeschooling: Varies by state

#16

Tallinn

🇪🇪 Estonia · 394K

Intl school: $10,594/yrCost index: 65📊 PISA 510 — Strong: 🏠 Legal with school enrollment: Estimate-only: 8IB signal: 2

Estimate-only schools 8 · IB 2 · British 2 · American 1 · French 1 · German 1 · Checked 2026-04-03 · Directional research only · No direct school or tuition links yet

Public-school fit · Excellent public schools · Resident families can use it · PISA 510 (2022) · Local-language fit matters · Checked 2026-04-14

PISA 2022: Math 510 · Reading 511 · Science 526

Homeschooling: Legal with school enrollment

~$1,980/mo family est. (rent $1,200 · food $620 · utilities $160) — Numbeo + expat research, 2025-Q4

#17

Porto

🇵🇹 Portugal · 253K

Intl school: $10,644/yrCost index: 51🏠 Legal with registration: Estimate-only: 8IB signal: 2

Estimate-only schools 8 · IB 2 · British 2 · American 1 · French 1 · German 1 · Checked 2026-04-03 · Directional research only · No direct school or tuition links yet

Public-school fit · Good public schools · Available to residents · Local-language fit matters · Checked 2026-04-14

Homeschooling: Legal with registration

~$1,980/mo family est. (rent $1,200 · food $620 · utilities $160) — Numbeo + expat research, 2025-Q4

#18

Kuala Lumpur

🇲🇾 Malaysia · 1.5M

Intl school: $11,238/yrCost index: 39🏠 Not explicitly regulated: Estimate-only: 8IB signal: 2

Estimate-only schools 8 · IB 2 · British 3 · American 1 · Checked 2026-04-03 · Directional research only · No direct school or tuition links yet

Public-school fit · Mixed public-school option · Possible, but constrained · Local-language fit matters · Checked 2026-04-14

Homeschooling: Not explicitly regulated

~$1,430/mo family est. (rent $800 · food $500 · utilities $130) — Numbeo + expat research, 2025-Q4

#19

Zagreb

🇭🇷 Croatia · 664K

Intl school: $11,344/yrCost index: 54📊 PISA 475 — Above avg: 🏠 Not explicitly regulated: 📚 Verified schools: 3IB schools: 1Published results: 3

Source-backed schools 3 · IB 1 · British 1 · American 1 · Published results 3 · Checked 2026-03-14

Public-school fit · Good public schools · Possible, but local-language heavy · PISA 475 (2022) · Local-language fit matters · Checked 2026-04-14

Homeschooling: Not explicitly regulated

#20

Bergen

🇳🇴 Norway · 294K

Intl school: $11,875/yrCost index: 94📊 PISA 477 — Above avg: 🏠 Legal with notification: Estimate-only: 3IB signal: 2

Estimate-only schools 3 · IB 2 · Checked 2026-03-15 · Directional research only · No direct school or tuition links yet

Public-school fit · Good public schools · Resident families can use it · PISA 477 (2022) · Local-language fit matters · Checked 2026-04-14

PISA 2022: Math 468 · Reading 477 · Science 477

Homeschooling: Legal with notification

#21

Dublin

🇮🇪 Ireland · 1.0M

Intl school: $12,014/yrCost index: 76📊 PISA 504 — Strong: 🏠 Legal with registration: Estimate-only: 3IB signal: 1

Estimate-only schools 3 · IB 1 · British 2 · Checked 2026-03-14 · Directional research only · No direct school or tuition links yet

Public-school fit · Good public schools · Resident route is viable · PISA 504 (2022) · Checked 2026-04-14

Homeschooling: Legal with registration

#22

Vilnius

🇱🇹 Lithuania · 542K

Intl school: $12,290/yrCost index: 53📊 PISA 466 — Above avg: 🏠 Legal with school supervision: Estimate-only: 8IB signal: 1

Estimate-only schools 8 · IB 1 · British 2 · American 1 · French 1 · German 1 · Checked 2026-04-03 · Directional research only · No direct school or tuition links yet

Public-school fit · Good public schools · Resident families can use it · PISA 466 (2022) · Local-language fit matters · Checked 2026-04-14

Homeschooling: Legal with school supervision

~$1,660/mo family est. (rent $950 · food $560 · utilities $150) — Numbeo + expat research, 2025-Q4

#23

Rio de Janeiro

🇧🇷 Brazil · 6.7M

Intl school: $12,343/yrCost index: 35🏠 Recently legalized (2024): Estimate-only: 8IB signal: 2

Estimate-only schools 8 · IB 2 · British 1 · American 2 · French 1 · German 1 · Checked 2026-04-03 · Directional research only · No direct school or tuition links yet

Public-school fit · Mixed public-school option · Available to residents · Local-language fit matters · Checked 2026-04-14

Homeschooling: Recently legalized (2024)

#24

Almaty

🇰🇿 Kazakhstan · 2.0M

Intl school: $12,467/yrCost index: 37🏠 Legal with school supervision: Estimate-only: 3IB signal: 1

Estimate-only schools 3 · IB 1 · British 2 · Checked 2026-02-16 · Directional research only · No direct school or tuition links yet

Public-school fit · Mixed public schools · Possible, but language-heavy · Local-language fit matters · Checked 2026-04-14

Homeschooling: Legal with school supervision

#25

Saint Petersburg

🇷🇺 Russia · 5.4M

Intl school: $12,617/yrCost index: 37🏠 Legal with school enrollment: Estimate-only: 3IB signal: 1

Estimate-only schools 3 · IB 1 · British 1 · American 1 · Checked 2026-03-15 · Directional research only · No direct school or tuition links yet

Public-school fit · Good public schools · Possible, but language-heavy · Local-language fit matters · Checked 2026-04-14

Homeschooling: Legal with school enrollment

#26

Brno

🇨🇿 Czechia · 379K

Intl school: $12,660/yrCost index: 53🏠 Legal with school supervision: Estimate-only: 5IB signal: 1

Estimate-only schools 5 · IB 1 · British 1 · American 1 · Checked 2026-02-14 · Directional research only · No direct school or tuition links yet

Public-school fit · Good public schools · Possible, but language-heavy · Local-language fit matters · Checked 2026-04-14

Homeschooling: Legal with school supervision

#27

Copenhagen

🇩🇰 Denmark · 1.2M

Intl school: $12,854/yrCost index: 86📊 PISA 489 — Above avg: 🏠 Legal, minimal requirements: Estimate-only: 3IB signal: 3

Estimate-only schools 3 · IB 3 · Checked 2026-02-16 · Directional research only · No direct school or tuition links yet

Public-school fit · Good public schools · Resident families can use it · PISA 489 (2022) · Local-language fit matters · Checked 2026-04-14

PISA 2022: Math 489 · Reading 489 · Science 494

Homeschooling: Legal, minimal requirements

#28

Athens

🇬🇷 Greece · 664K

Intl school: $13,009/yrCost index: 57📊 PISA 445 — Average: 🏠 Technically possible, rarely practiced: Estimate-only: 8British signal: 3

Estimate-only schools 8 · British 3 · American 2 · French 1 · German 1 · Checked 2026-04-03 · Directional research only · No direct school or tuition links yet

Public-school fit · Mixed public schools · Resident families can use it · PISA 445 (2022) · Local-language fit matters · Checked 2026-04-14

Homeschooling: Technically possible, rarely practiced

~$1,780/mo family est. (rent $1,000 · food $620 · utilities $160) — Numbeo + expat research, 2025-Q4

#29

Osaka

🇯🇵 Japan · 2.8M

Intl school: $13,090/yrCost index: 44🏠 Compulsory but flexible: Estimate-only: 3IB signal: 3

Estimate-only schools 3 · IB 3 · Checked 2026-03-15 · Directional research only · No direct school or tuition links yet

Public-school fit · Excellent public schools · Resident access, but a hard fit · Local-language fit matters · Checked 2026-04-14

Homeschooling: Compulsory but flexible

#30

Da Nang

🇻🇳 Vietnam · 1.3M

Intl school: $15,000/yrCost index: 26🏠 Not explicitly addressed: Estimate-only: 3IB signal: 2

Estimate-only schools 3 · IB 2 · American 1 · Checked 2026-03-15 · Directional research only · No direct school or tuition links yet

Public-school fit · Limited public-school fit · Possible, rarely the expat path · Local-language fit matters · Checked 2026-04-14

Homeschooling: Not explicitly addressed

~$950/mo family est. (rent $500 · food $360 · utilities $90) — Numbeo + expat research, 2025-Q4

#31

Hamburg

🇩🇪 Germany · 1.8M

Intl school: $15,783/yrCost index: 109🏠 Homeschooling illegal: Estimate-only: 3IB signal: 2

Estimate-only schools 3 · IB 2 · German 1 · Checked 2026-03-15 · Directional research only · No direct school or tuition links yet

Public-school fit · Good public schools · Available to residents · Local-language fit matters · Checked 2026-04-14

Homeschooling: Homeschooling illegal

#32

Bucharest

🇷🇴 Romania · 1.9M

Intl school: $16,057/yrCost index: 47🏠 Legal with school enrollment: Estimate-only: 3IB signal: 1

Estimate-only schools 3 · IB 1 · British 1 · American 1 · Checked 2026-03-14 · Directional research only · No direct school or tuition links yet

Public-school fit · Good public schools · Possible, but language-heavy · Local-language fit matters · Checked 2026-04-14

Homeschooling: Legal with school enrollment

~$1,310/mo family est. (rent $700 · food $480 · utilities $130) — Numbeo + expat research, 2025-Q4

#33

Budapest

🇭🇺 Hungary · 1.7M

Intl school: $16,241/yrCost index: 55🏠 Legal with school supervision: 📚 Verified schools: 17IB schools: 12French schools: 1German schools: 1

Source-backed schools 17 · IB 12 · British 3 · French 1 · German 1 · Checked 2026-03-30

Public-school fit · Mixed public-school option · Possible, not easy for expats · Local-language fit matters · Checked 2026-04-14

Homeschooling: Legal with school supervision

~$1,730/mo family est. (rent $1,000 · food $580 · utilities $150) — Numbeo + expat research, 2025-Q4

#34

Dubai

🇦🇪 United Arab Emirates · 3.8M

Intl school: $16,652/yrCost index: 62📊 PISA 427 — Average: 🏠 Legal with KHDA/ADEK approval: Estimate-only: 8IB signal: 1

Estimate-only schools 8 · IB 1 · British 3 · American 3 · Checked 2026-04-03 · Directional research only · No direct school or tuition links yet

Public-school fit · Mixed — expats mainly use private schools · Usually not practical for expats · PISA 427 (2022) · Local-language fit matters · Checked 2026-04-14

Homeschooling: Legal with KHDA/ADEK approval

~$3,700/mo family est. (rent $2,500 · food $900 · utilities $300) — Numbeo + expat research, 2025-Q4

#35

Qingdao

🇨🇳 China · 7.2M

Intl school: $17,255/yrCost index: 30🏠 Homeschooling not legal: 📚 Verified schools: 3

Source-backed schools 3 · American 2 · Checked 2026-03-15

Public-school fit · Good public schools · Legally possible, hard in practice · Local-language fit matters · Checked 2026-04-14

Homeschooling: Homeschooling not legal

#36

Stockholm

🇸🇪 Sweden · 1.5M

Intl school: $17,887/yrCost index: 81🏠 Legally possible but very difficult: Estimate-only: 3IB signal: 2

Estimate-only schools 3 · IB 2 · British 1 · Checked 2026-03-14 · Directional research only · No direct school or tuition links yet

Public-school fit · Good public schools · Available to residents · Local-language fit matters · Checked 2026-04-14

Homeschooling: Legally possible but very difficult

#37

Riga

🇱🇻 Latvia · 743K

Intl school: $17,940/yrCost index: 55📊 PISA 449 — Average: 🏠 Legal with school enrollment: Estimate-only: 3IB signal: 1

Estimate-only schools 3 · IB 1 · British 1 · American 1 · Checked 2026-03-14 · Directional research only · No direct school or tuition links yet

Public-school fit · Mixed quality · Resident families can use it · PISA 449 (2022) · Local-language fit matters · Checked 2026-04-14

Homeschooling: Legal with school enrollment

~$1,610/mo family est. (rent $900 · food $560 · utilities $150) — Numbeo + expat research, 2025-Q4

#38

Auckland

🇳🇿 New Zealand · 1.5M

Intl school: $18,763/yrCost index: 64📊 PISA 494 — Above avg: 🏠 Legal with exemption certificate: 📚 Verified schools: 3IB schools: 3

Source-backed schools 3 · IB 3 · Checked 2026-03-14

Public-school fit · Good public schools · Open to resident families · PISA 494 (2022) · Checked 2026-04-14

PISA 2022: Math 479 · Reading 501 · Science 504

Homeschooling: Legal with exemption certificate

#39

Toronto

🇨🇦 Canada · 2.8M

Intl school: $20,694/yrCost index: 67📊 PISA 497 — Above avg: 🏠 Varies by province: 📚 Verified schools: 3IB schools: 2

Source-backed schools 3 · IB 2 · British 1 · Checked 2026-02-16

Public-school fit · Good public schools · Available to residents · PISA 497 (2022) · Checked 2026-04-14

Homeschooling: Varies by province

#40

Seoul

🇰🇷 South Korea · 10.3M

Intl school: $20,857/yrCost index: 67🏠 Legally possible but culturally unusual: 📚 Verified schools: 45IB schools: 8French schools: 2German schools: 1

Source-backed schools 45 · IB 8 · British 2 · American 21 · French 2 · German 1 · Checked 2026-03-22

Public-school fit · Excellent public schools · Legally possible, hard in practice · Local-language fit matters · Checked 2026-04-14

Homeschooling: Legally possible but culturally unusual

International school costs

International schools vary enormously in price and quality. The best value isn't always the cheapest — it's the best education-to-cost ratio. On this page, source-backed school rows are counted separately from estimate-only rows so you can tell whether a city's tuition signal comes from linked school/directory evidence or directional research. Important: most schools also charge registration, facility, and activity fees that add 10-20% to the base tuition.

Southeast Asia

Best value globally. Quality IB schools in Bangkok, KL, and HCMC from $5,000-12,000/year. Top-tier options like ISKL or ISB at $15,000-25,000/year — still half of US equivalents.

Latin America

Growing international school market. Good options in Mexico City, Bogotá, São Paulo from $8,000-18,000/year. More limited outside capital cities.

Southern Europe

Portugal, Spain, Greece offer IB schools at $8,000-20,000/year. Strong quality, smaller class sizes, European cultural immersion.

Middle East

Dubai and Abu Dhabi have world-class international schools but prices reflect it: $12,000-30,000/year. Excellent facilities and curricula.

Family-friendly costs

Families have different spending patterns than singles or couples. You need more space (3-bedroom vs. 1-bedroom), more groceries, childcare or school fees, and family health coverage. The good news: family cost advantages compound. A 3-bedroom apartment in Lisbon's center costs $1,200-1,800/month — roughly what a 1-bedroom costs in San Francisco. Groceries for a family of four run $400-600/month in most of our top destinations, compared to $800-1,200 in a US metro area.

Making the transition

Moving abroad with kids sounds daunting, and it is — logistically. But families who've done it consistently report the same thing: the kids adapt faster than the parents. Most international schools accept mid-year enrollment. The biggest challenges are healthcare continuity and maintaining friendships back home. Both are solvable. Start with a 3-6 month trial in a worldschooling hub (Lisbon, Chiang Mai, Medellín) where established expat family communities can ease the landing.

Ready to see the numbers?

Our interactive map shows purchasing power data for 195+ countries and 1,500+ cities. See exactly how far your money goes.

Explore the map