At a glance
| Factor | Amsterdam | Berlin |
|---|---|---|
| Average international school fees (secondary) | EUR 6,500 (DUO) to EUR 28,000 | EUR 14,500 to EUR 27,000 |
| Dominant curricula | IB, British, American | IB, British, German bilingual |
| Cost of living vs Amsterdam (Numbeo, May 2026) | Baseline | About 13 percent cheaper |
| Family visa | Highly Skilled Migrant, EU Blue Card or ICT | EU Blue Card, Chancenkarte or ICT |
| Expat share of population | About 25 percent of metro | About 20 percent of metro |
| Typical relocation timeline | 12 to 16 weeks | 10 to 14 weeks |
Schools landscape side by side
Amsterdam has around 20 international schools serving expat families. The flagships are the International School of Amsterdam (ISA) in Amstelveen, the Amsterdam International Community School (AICS), the British School of Amsterdam (BSA) and Optimist International School. DUO-funded Dutch International Schools at primary and lower secondary are partly state-subsidised, which keeps annual parental contribution between EUR 5,500 and EUR 9,500. See our Amsterdam schools hub for the city pillar.
Berlin has around 30 international schools, a noticeably broader bench than Amsterdam. The flagships are Berlin International School (BIS) in Steglitz, Berlin Brandenburg International School (BBIS) in Kleinmachnow, Berlin British School (BBS) in Charlottenburg and Berlin Cosmopolitan School in Mitte. Berlin also has the Nelson Mandela State International School in Wilmersdorf, a free state-funded English-German bilingual school that is unique among the major European capitals. See the Berlin schools hub.
Not sure which city fits your family?
Take the 5 minute school finder quiz, then run the cost calculator for both cities. You get shortlisted schools plus a side by side relocation budget in under ten minutes.
Fees and value for money
Amsterdam splits cleanly into two pricing tracks. DUO-subsidised Dutch International Schools charge a parental contribution of EUR 5,500 to EUR 9,500 per year, capped at primary and lower secondary. Fully private schools, including ISA and BSA, charge EUR 16,000 to EUR 28,000 per year, rising to EUR 32,000 at IB Diploma. Plan for a 4 to 6 percent annual fee uplift through 2028. Use the cost calculator to model both routes side by side.
Berlin private school tuition runs EUR 14,500 to EUR 19,500 at British curriculum schools and EUR 16,000 to EUR 27,000 across the IB continuum, with the Diploma years pushing top end. BBIS, BIS and BBS sit at the higher end of that range; smaller schools like Berlin Cosmopolitan School and Phorms come in lower. Add EUR 1,500 to EUR 4,000 in one-off enrolment fees plus a EUR 500 to EUR 1,500 annual building levy at premium schools. Nelson Mandela State International School is essentially free, with a token annual fund contribution.
Curriculum availability
Both cities are IB-heavy and add genuine British and American depth. Berlin pulls ahead on bilingual provision, with several schools running English-German pathways from kindergarten through to IB Diploma. Amsterdam concentrates IB Diploma seats at ISA and AICS, with strong continuity from IB Primary Years upward. For deeper coverage see the IB hub and the British curriculum hub.
Neighbourhoods families pick
In Amsterdam expat family heartlands are Amstelveen (home to ISA), Buitenveldert, the Zuid district, Diemen and Almere for families needing more space. A three-bedroom apartment in Amstelveen or Zuid runs EUR 2,800 to EUR 4,500 per month, with townhouses and detached homes EUR 4,500 to EUR 7,500. School runs are typically done by bike.
In Berlin international school families cluster in Charlottenburg, Wilmersdorf, Zehlendorf and Grunewald in the west, Mitte and Prenzlauer Berg in the centre, and Kleinmachnow for BBIS. A three-bedroom apartment in Charlottenburg or Wilmersdorf runs EUR 1,800 to EUR 3,200 per month, comfortably below Amsterdam. Detached houses with garden are realistic in Zehlendorf and Kleinmachnow at EUR 3,500 to EUR 6,000.
Lifestyle and climate
Amsterdam has four mild seasons. Summers peak around 22 degrees, winters sit between 2 and 8 degrees and damp, and the city runs on bicycles, canals and trains. Berlin is more continental: summers reach 24 to 28 degrees, winters often drop below zero and the city is large, walkable in parts but car-friendlier than Amsterdam. Both deliver excellent public healthcare, safe streets and high-quality public transport. Berlin has the stronger arts and music scene, Amsterdam the cleaner family-by-bike rhythm.
Verdict: who picks which city
Choose Amsterdam if you want compact, walkable family life, DUO-subsidised schooling and easy access to the rest of Northern Europe by train. It also suits families who do not have a school allowance and want fees under EUR 10,000 per child per year through the DUO route.
Choose Berlin if budget is a primary constraint, you want a larger and broader school market, you value bilingual German-English provision or you want to test a free state-funded option at Nelson Mandela. Run both through the cost calculator: Berlin typically wins on total household spend by 10 to 18 percent unless your Amsterdam role qualifies for the 30 percent ruling.
Frequently asked questions
Is Amsterdam or Berlin cheaper for international school families in 2026?
Berlin is cheaper on housing, transport and groceries, with Numbeo showing Amsterdam about 13 percent more expensive overall. School fees are similar at private level, but Amsterdam's DUO-subsidised route can drop annual tuition below EUR 10,000, while Berlin's free Nelson Mandela State International School flips the comparison further. Most families spend 10 to 18 percent less in Berlin.
Are there free state-funded international schools in either city?
Yes, in both. Berlin's Nelson Mandela State International School in Wilmersdorf is bilingual English-German and free, although demand is high. Amsterdam's DUO-funded Dutch International Schools sit between fully state and fully private, with parental contributions of EUR 5,500 to EUR 9,500 per year.
Is the family visa easier in Amsterdam or Berlin?
Berlin is now broadly easier thanks to the EU Blue Card threshold reform and the Chancenkarte points-based route. Amsterdam relies on the Highly Skilled Migrant scheme, EU Blue Card or Intra-Corporate Transferee permit, with documented income thresholds and an IND application that takes 4 to 8 weeks. Berlin processing is comparable but with fewer income gates.
Can my children join Dutch or German state schools?
Yes in both. Dutch state schools welcome expat children and many do; older children entering after primary often pick a fully private international school for English-medium continuity. In Berlin, public Europa-Schule programmes offer bilingual streams, and Nelson Mandela State International School is a flagship route for English-speaking families.
Where do most expat families live in each city?
In Amsterdam families pick Amstelveen (near ISA), Buitenveldert, Zuid, Diemen and Almere. In Berlin the heartlands are Charlottenburg, Wilmersdorf, Zehlendorf, Grunewald, Mitte and Kleinmachnow for families targeting BBIS.
