International school fees in Bangkok are one of the largest recurring costs a family will take on, and one of the hardest to compare. Schools publish tuition in different formats, include different things in it, and separate out costs in ways that make two similar-looking figures mean quite different amounts of money.
This guide sets out what the market actually looks like for 2026-27, which costs sit outside the tuition figure, and how to compare two schools honestly. It also publishes the full BASIS International School Bangkok fee structure, because we think families should be able to see the whole number before they apply rather than after.
Key highlights
- The headline tuition figure is not the price. One-off entry fees, deposits and levies can add several hundred thousand baht to your first year.
- Fees rise steeply with grade level. At BASIS International School Bangkok, tuition increases 84% between Nursery and Grades 9 to 12.
- The market is genuinely wide. Published annual fees across Thailand run from about 94,500 THB to 1,283,500 THB.
- Ask what is excluded, in writing. Transport, external exam fees, trips and activities are commonly billed separately.
- Ask about late payment terms and annual increases. Both are material and neither is usually raised at the enquiry stage.
What International School Fees in Bangkok Look Like in 2026-27
There is no single answer, and any source that gives you one is oversimplifying. Thailand had 275 international schools in 2025, up from about 100 in 2014, with enrolment of 92,960 students. That growth has produced a market that spans everything from small community schools to large established campuses, and the fee range reflects it.
Two credible sources describe the market from different angles, and it is worth seeing both rather than averaging them into a single misleading number.
| Source | What it measures | Figure |
|---|---|---|
| International School Index, 2026/27 | Starting annual fee, the lowest year group, across 96 schools in Thailand that publish figures | Range 94,500 to 1,283,500 THB; median 302,000 THB |
| Bangkok Post, March 2026 | Annual tuition at established international schools | 500,000 to 1.2 million THB |
| International Schools Database, data collected Dec 2025 | Bangkok median for one 6-year-old, excluding one-off costs | USD 14,482; range USD 3,212 to USD 30,983 |
The apparent contradiction between the first two rows is explained by what each is counting. The Index counts every school that publishes a fee, including small and budget schools, and measures the cheapest year group. The Bangkok Post is describing the mainstream, established end of the market. Both are accurate about different things.
The distinction that matters most
A “starting annual fee” is the price of the youngest year group. It is not what you will pay for a Grade 9 student. Fees rise materially with grade level at almost every school, so compare like with like: the year your child will actually enter, and the years after that.
The Costs That Are Not in the Tuition Figure
This is where families are most often caught out. The tuition figure is the recurring teaching cost. Around it sits a set of charges that vary enormously between schools, some of which land entirely in your first year.
One-off entry costs
Almost every international school in Bangkok charges an application fee and a registration or enrolment fee, and both are typically non-refundable. Many also charge a capital or development levy, which one established expat guide notes can add another 100,000 to 500,000 THB or more to a first-year bill. These are paid before your child sits in a classroom.
Refundable deposits
A security deposit is not a cost in the long run, but it is cash out of your account in year one and it is usually returned only on proper notice. Ask how much notice, and how long the refund takes.
The recurring extras
- Transport. Almost universally excluded and priced by distance.
- External examination fees. AP, IGCSE or IB entry fees are commonly billed separately.
- Trips. Day trips are often modest. Residential and overseas trips are the cost families underestimate.
- After-school activities and sports. Frequently optional and separately priced, sometimes by an external provider.
- Additional language programs. Often an extra charge, and sometimes capacity-limited.
- Uniforms, devices and learning materials. Policies vary widely between schools.
- Learning support. Ask directly whether additional support carries a fee. Many schools do not publish this.
The two nobody mentions
First, late payment. Schools charge interest on overdue invoices, and some reserve the right to withdraw a place if an invoice remains unpaid. Second, annual increases. Fees are typically reviewed every year and caps are rarely published, so a five-year budget built on today’s figure will understate the total.
A Worked Example: First Year Versus Ongoing Year
The clearest way to see the gap between tuition and total cost is to build it out. The example below uses the published BASIS International School Bangkok 2026-27 figures for one student in Grades 1 to 3, with no discounts and no optional extras. It is a calculation from published fees, not a figure the school quotes as a package.
| Item | Year one | Year two onward |
|---|---|---|
| Annual tuition, Grades 1 to 3 | 810,000 | 810,000 |
| Application fee, non-refundable | 5,000 | Not applicable |
| Registration fee, non-refundable | 250,000 | Not applicable |
| Security deposit, refundable on notice | 100,000 | Not applicable |
| Campus Development Fee | 22,000 | 22,000 |
| Total | 1,187,000 THB | 832,000 THB |
| Of which non-refundable | 1,087,000 THB | 832,000 THB |
The number worth noticing is the 255,000 THB of non-refundable one-off entry fees. That is roughly 31% of a single year’s tuition at this grade level, payable up front, and it is the item most likely to be missing from a mental budget built on the tuition figure alone. Run the same calculation for every school you are considering, and compare those totals rather than the headline numbers.
BASIS International School Bangkok Fees, Published in Full
The complete schedule is on the tuition and fees page and in the official 2026-27 fee appendix. Tuition is billed in two semester instalments.
| Grade | Per semester (THB) | Per year (THB) |
|---|---|---|
| Nursery | 265,000 and 300,000 | 565,000 |
| PreK 1 to 2 | 326,750 | 653,500 |
| Kindergarten | 340,000 | 680,000 |
| Grades 1 to 3 | 405,000 | 810,000 |
| Grades 4 to 5 | 410,000 | 820,000 |
| Grades 6 to 8 | 468,000 | 936,000 |
| Grades 9 to 12 | 519,000 | 1,038,000 |
Other published fees
| Fee | Amount (THB) | Terms |
|---|---|---|
| Application fee | 5,000 | On submission of application, non-refundable |
| Registration fee | 250,000 | On signing the registration agreement, non-refundable |
| Security deposit | 100,000 | On registration, refundable with notice |
| Campus Development Fee | 22,000 per year | Recurring |
| Chinese or additional language program | 40,000 per year | Optional, seats limited |
| Extracurricular and after-school | Varies by activity | Optional |
| Transportation | Varies by distance | Optional |
The published 2026-27 fee schedule lists snacks and lunch, and textbook and laboratory supply fees, as included. Costs stated as not included are external examination fees such as AP exams, school transportation, and customised student interests such as after-school activities and sports. Mandatory educational items such as field trips and residential trips are billed separately. Meal and before or after-school care services are described on the student services page.
Published discounts
| Discount | Value | Applies to |
|---|---|---|
| Sibling registration fee discount | 20% | Sibling of a currently enrolled student, or two or more siblings registering together |
| Sibling tuition discount, second child | 5% | The younger sibling’s tuition |
| Sibling tuition discount, additional siblings | 20% | The younger sibling’s tuition |
| Referring student credit | 15,000 THB | Both parties must complete admission, referral named on the application form |
Why the Fees Differ So Much Between Schools
It is tempting to read a higher fee as a marketing decision. Mostly it is a staffing decision. The president of the International Schools Association of Thailand has said that international school costs stem largely from teacher salary packages, which depend on qualifications and experience. Recruiting and retaining subject specialists with advanced degrees, on international packages, is the largest line in most school budgets.
The rest is largely structural: how many students share a teacher, how much campus there is per student, and what the school runs beyond the timetable. When a fee difference is large, ask what it buys in those terms rather than assuming it reflects quality. At BASIS International School Bangkok, that includes class sizes capped at 25 in the middle and high school years, a co-teaching model in the earlier grades, a 22 rai campus, and an Advanced Placement program offering 22 AP courses in 2026-27.
How to Compare Two Schools Honestly
- Ask each school for the complete written fee schedule, not the tuition page.
- Build a first-year total and a steady-state annual total for each school.
- Separate refundable from non-refundable in the first-year figure.
- Price the same grade your child will enter, then look at the fee three and six years later.
- List what is included at each school, since meals, books and materials vary.
- Add the realistic extras your family will actually use: transport, activities, trips.
- Ask what fee increases have been over the past three years.
- Ask what happens on late payment, and what notice is needed to withdraw.
- Ask whether sibling discounts exist and exactly how they are applied.
Two schools whose tuition differs by 50,000 THB can differ by several hundred thousand once entry fees, transport and activities are included. The comparison is only meaningful once it is complete.
Fees Are a Cost. Value Is the Outcome.
The last question is the hardest to put in a spreadsheet. Fees describe what you pay; they do not describe what your child leaves with. When you have a shortlist, look at what each school can evidence about outcomes: external examination results, university destinations, and accreditation.
BASIS International School Bangkok is accredited by Cognia under NCA CASI and SACS CASI. Our 2026 AP results produced a 4.3 average score and a 96% pass rate against global averages of approximately 3.1 and 60%, and our university acceptances are published in full. Families comparing systems may also find our overview of the Thailand education system and international school structure and our guide to choosing an international school useful alongside the numbers.
See the full fee schedule and ask the awkward questions
The complete BASIS International School Bangkok fee structure for 2026-27 is published on our tuition and fees page, and our admissions team will walk you through a full first-year cost for your family before you apply. Call +66 2 415-0099 or email admissions@basis.ac.th.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much are international school fees in Bangkok?
There is no single figure, because the market spans a very wide range. Across Thailand, published annual fees run from roughly 94,500 THB to 1,283,500 THB, and the median starting annual fee is about 302,000 THB. The Bangkok Post reported in March 2026 that annual tuition at established international schools typically ranges from 500,000 to 1.2 million THB. Fees also rise substantially as a student moves up the school.
What is not included in international school tuition in Bangkok?
Commonly excluded: one-off application and registration fees, a refundable security deposit, transport, external exam fees such as AP or IGCSE, field trips and residential trips, after-school activities and sports, uniforms, and additional language programs. Meals and textbooks vary by school. Always ask for the full written fee schedule rather than the tuition figure alone.
What are the one-off fees when joining an international school in Bangkok?
Most schools charge an application fee and a registration or enrolment fee, and both are usually non-refundable. Many also charge a capital or development levy. At BASIS International School Bangkok the application fee is 5,000 THB and the registration fee is 250,000 THB, both non-refundable, plus a refundable 100,000 THB security deposit.
How much is tuition at BASIS International School Bangkok for 2026-27?
Annual tuition for 2026-27 ranges from 565,000 THB in Nursery to 1,038,000 THB in Grades 9 to 12. The full grade-by-grade schedule is published on the school tuition and fees page and in the official fee appendix.
Do international schools in Bangkok offer sibling discounts?
Some do, and the structure varies. BASIS International School Bangkok publishes its discounts: a 20% discount on the registration fee for siblings, a 5% tuition discount for a second child, and a 20% tuition discount for each additional sibling, applied to the younger sibling’s tuition.
Can international school fees in Bangkok be paid in instalments?
Payment structures differ. BASIS International School Bangkok bills tuition in two semester instalments. When comparing schools, ask specifically what happens if a payment is late, because interest charges and enrolment consequences are rarely discussed at the enquiry stage.
Why are international school fees in Bangkok so different from one school to another?
The largest driver is staffing. The president of the International Schools Association of Thailand has attributed international school costs largely to teacher salary packages, which depend on qualifications and experience. Campus scale, facilities, class sizes and curriculum also contribute.
Do international school fees in Bangkok increase every year?
Generally yes. Schools review fees annually and few publish a cap. When you are planning a multi-year budget, do not assume this year’s figure holds, and ask each school what its increases have been over the past three years.
References
- BASIS International School Bangkok, Tuition and Fees 2026-27. Grade-by-grade tuition, published fee schedule and appendix.
- International School Index, International school fees in Thailand 2026/27. Published fee range and median starting annual fee across 96 schools in Thailand.
- Bangkok Post, International school growth nears plateau, 4 March 2026. Market size, enrolment, tuition range and ISAT commentary on cost drivers.
- International Schools Database, The cost of international education around the world in 2025. Bangkok median, minimum and maximum for one 6-year-old, excluding one-off costs.
- HoneyKids Asia, How much does international school in Thailand cost. Tier ranges and commentary on one-time capital and development fees.
