School guide
Three very different markets in one country. The same budget buys a top-tier Chiang Mai school or a mid-range Bangkok one, so the city you choose matters as much as the school.
Reviewed September 2026 by Celeste, Bridgeway Education Advisory.
In short
National tuition for 2026–27 spans roughly THB 200,000 to 1,280,000 a year. Bangkok sits about a quarter above Phuket at the top end and around a third above Chiang Mai, and one-off entry fees at the leading schools can approach half a million baht. Thailand suits families who want strong British, IB or American schooling with a lower cost of living.
Families who want a strong international school without Singapore or Hong Kong prices. Chiang Mai in particular offers established schools at a fraction of Bangkok's top end, with a much lower cost of living.
Parents moving for work in Bangkok, where the choice is widest and the premium schools sit at the top of the regional fee range.
Families drawn to island life in Phuket, where several schools offer boarding and the community is used to new arrivals mid-year.
The largest group, running IGCSE into A Levels or the IB Diploma, including several sister campuses of UK schools.
Widely available in Bangkok and at a few schools elsewhere, from the primary years through the Diploma.
A number of long-established schools with Advanced Placement, mostly in Bangkok and Chiang Mai.
Entry fees at the top schools can approach half a million baht before tuition even starts, and exam fees in IGCSE, A Level and IB years are usually invoiced separately. Budget roughly 10 to 15 percent on top of tuition for meals, transport and trips.
Indicative ranges only, gathered from published school fees and fee guides. I check the current figures for every school on your shortlist.
| National tuition range, 2026–27 | THB 200,000–1,280,000 |
| Budget schools, primary | THB 200,000–350,000 |
| Mid-tier schools, primary | THB 400,000–600,000 |
| Premium Bangkok schools | THB 700,000–1,000,000+ |
| One-off entry fees | up to THB 500,000 at the top schools |
| Exam fees in IGCSE, A Level and IB years | THB 35,000–65,000 |
The widest choice and the highest fees, roughly a quarter above Phuket and the Eastern Seaboard at the top end. Traffic decides your neighbourhood more than anything else, so choose the school first and live near it.
Island living with several established schools, some offering boarding. Fees sit below Bangkok, and the community is used to families arriving mid-year.
The best value in the country, with tuition roughly a third below Bangkok and a far lower cost of living. Fewer schools, so visit them all in one trip.
Around Pattaya and Rayong, convenient for families working in the industrial corridor, with newer campuses and mid-range fees.
From years of reading applications on the school's side, these are the answers that tell you most.
Fee ranges checked against: Thailand fee schedules 2026-27, The Thaiger, Thailand fee bands by tier, Tutopiya. Always confirm current figures with each school.
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