The golden rule: school first
The family that picks the city, then the apartment, then the school ends up crossing the city twice a day. The right order is the reverse: school → neighborhood within 15 minutes → apartment. It's the first conversation we have with any family, even before the visa.
What it costs, city by city
Annual fee per child at international and bilingual schools, at 2026 prices. The low end covers small bilingual or international schools; the high end, the big British and American ones:
| City | Per child, per year | References |
|---|---|---|
| Bangkok | €5,000–23,000 | Patana, NIST, ISB, Shrewsbury, Harrow (top end) |
| Phuket | €6,500–23,000 | BISP and UWC at the top; HeadStart, QSI, Kajonkiet in the middle |
| Hua Hin | €5,200–15,600 | Hua Hin International and schools in the area |
| Chiang Mai | €4,200–14,500 | CMIS, Lanna, Panyaden, Meritton |
| Koh Samui | €2,400–14,500 | ISS, PBISS, Lamai International |
Two bits of fine print: fees rise with the stage (secondary costs double early years at the same school), and on top of tuition you need to add 15–25% in entry fees, uniforms, lunch and the bus. The figure on the school's website is never the final number.
The children's visa
- As dependents: children hang off the parents' visa with a family Non-O (~€70 per child). It's the normal route with a DTV, Non-B or Non-O.
- Via the school: the school can sponsor the student's ED visa, and a parent can apply for the Non-O Guardian (with ฿500,000 in a Thai bank). Useful when the parents don't have another clear route.
- The visa guide has the full map; in practice, the children's visa is decided alongside the parents', not separately.
Children's healthcare
The big private hospitals have first-rate pediatrics (Samitivej in Bangkok is the expat reference for kids). Insurance for a child costs €30–50 a month on a local policy, and it's worth taking it out with the parents, on the same insurer — reimbursement paperwork happens once, not twice. The healthcare guide has the full numbers.
The typical family's bill
Couple with two children, comfortable level, mid-range international school. Per month:
| Item | Bangkok | Hua Hin |
|---|---|---|
| Rent (2–3 bedrooms) | ≈ €1,650 | ≈ €1,190 |
| Living (food, transport, leisure and travel, utilities) | ≈ €2,490 | ≈ €1,980 |
| School (2 kids, mid-range) | ≈ €2,370 | ≈ €1,320 |
| Insurance (4 people) | ≈ €170 | ≈ €170 |
| Family total | ≈ €6,680 | ≈ €4,650 |
The important takeaway: there's about €2,000 a month of difference between cities for the same family — and it's almost all school and rent. That's why families look at Hua Hin, Chiang Mai and Samui before the capital. Run your own combination in the calculator: the breakdown with kids comes out on its own.
The adjustment, without fairy tales
Kids absorb English within months and international schools enroll students mid-year as a matter of routine. What's genuinely hard are the first 2–3 social months — and that's where choosing a school with high international turnover pays off, one where "the new kid" is a permanent category rather than an event. Thai will come on its own, from the playground.
Frequently asked questions
How much does international school cost?
In Bangkok, €5,000 to €23,000 per child and year depending on the school; outside the capital, €2,400 to €15,600. Add 15–25% for tuition, uniforms and extras, and expect secondary to cost double early years.
What visa do the kids get?
Usually as dependents on the parents' visa (Non-O, ~€70 per child). The school can also sponsor the student's ED visa, with a Non-O Guardian for one parent. It's decided alongside the adults' visa.
Do they adapt well?
Surprisingly fast: English is absorbed within months and schools are used to enrolling new students. The hard part is the first 2–3 social months; schools with more international turnover handle it better.