At a glance
| Factor | Amsterdam | Geneva |
|---|---|---|
| Average international school fees (secondary) | EUR 6,500 (DUO) to EUR 28,000 | CHF 35,000 to CHF 52,000 (USD 39,000 to 58,000) |
| Dominant curricula | IB, British, American | IB, French-English bilingual, British |
| Cost of living vs Amsterdam (Numbeo, May 2026) | Baseline | About 26 percent more expensive |
| Family visa | Highly Skilled Migrant, EU Blue Card or ICT | B Permit (work) with dependant rights |
| Expat share of population | About 25 percent of metro | About 40 percent |
| Typical relocation timeline | 12 to 16 weeks | 14 to 20 weeks |
Schools landscape side by side
Amsterdam has around 20 international schools. The flagships are the International School of Amsterdam (ISA) in Amstelveen, 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 state-subsidised, with parental contributions of EUR 5,500 to EUR 9,500 a year. See our Amsterdam schools hub.
Geneva has around 12 international schools, fewer than Amsterdam but with global brand depth. The International School of Geneva, known as Ecolint, was founded in 1924 and is the birthplace of the IB diploma. Other flagships are Collège du Léman (CDL) in Versoix, the British School of Geneva, Institut Florimont, Institut International de Lancy and Geneva English School. Several offer boarding, which Amsterdam does not. See the Geneva 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 has two pricing tracks. DUO-subsidised Dutch International Schools charge EUR 5,500 to EUR 9,500 per year, capped through primary and lower secondary. Fully private schools, including ISA and BSA, charge EUR 16,000 to EUR 28,000, rising to EUR 32,000 at IB Diploma. Use the cost calculator to compare both routes.
Geneva is among the most expensive school markets globally. Annual day tuition runs CHF 28,000 to CHF 45,000 at primary and CHF 35,000 to CHF 52,000 at upper secondary. Ecolint's IB Diploma reaches CHF 47,000. Collège du Léman day fees match the upper range, with boarding adding CHF 35,000 to CHF 55,000. Budget an additional CHF 8,000 to CHF 15,000 per child for capital levies, bus and lunch. See our Geneva fees guide.
Curriculum availability
Both cities are IB heartland in their regions. Amsterdam concentrates IB Diploma seats at ISA, AICS and BSA. Geneva is the spiritual home of the IB, with Ecolint running the full continuum and shaping the diploma globally. Geneva also delivers strong French-English bilingual provision through Institut International de Lancy and Institut Florimont. For deeper coverage see the IB hub.
Neighbourhoods families pick
In Amsterdam expat family heartlands are Amstelveen (home to ISA), Buitenveldert, the Zuid district, Diemen and Almere. A three-bedroom apartment in Amstelveen or Zuid runs EUR 2,800 to EUR 4,500 per month, with houses EUR 4,500 to EUR 7,500.
In Geneva international school families cluster in Cologny and Vandoeuvres on the right bank (near Ecolint La Grande Boissière), Chêne-Bougeries, Florissant, Vésenaz and Versoix (CDL). Many families live across the French border in Pays de Gex (Founex, Divonne, Ferney-Voltaire) where housing is cheaper. A four-bedroom Cologny villa runs CHF 9,000 to CHF 18,000 per month; the French side runs EUR 3,500 to EUR 6,500.
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 and trains. Geneva enjoys four full seasons: 22 to 26 degrees in summer, minus 2 to 6 degrees in winter, with Lake Geneva and 90 minutes to the Alps for skiing. Safety, healthcare and public transport are world-class in both. Amsterdam wins on transit density and cycling; Geneva wins on Alpine weekends and the international institutional ecosystem (UN, WHO, WTO, CERN).
Verdict: who picks which city
Choose Amsterdam if you want a compact, walkable family city, 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 through the DUO route.
Choose Geneva if your career sits in international institutions, finance or science, you value IB pedigree at its source and you want Alpine outdoor weekends. The premium is steep but employer packages typically cover it. Run both through the cost calculator for a side by side budget.
Frequently asked questions
Is Amsterdam or Geneva more expensive for international school families?
Geneva by a wide margin. Numbeo shows Geneva about 26 percent more expensive than Amsterdam overall (excluding rent), with school fees, housing and groceries all materially higher. Amsterdam's DUO-subsidised route further widens the gap for eligible families.
Which city has stronger international schools?
Different strengths. Geneva houses the IB's birthplace at Ecolint and has fewer but globally elite institutions, several with boarding. Amsterdam has wider IB choice at lower fee tiers and DUO-subsidised options. Both produce strong university outcomes.
Is the family visa easier in Amsterdam or Geneva?
Amsterdam is faster for non-EU nationals via the Highly Skilled Migrant scheme, with IND decisions in 4 to 8 weeks. Geneva requires a Swiss B Permit, which for non-EU nationals is subject to annual federal quotas. EU nationals move easily into both.
Can my children attend Dutch or Swiss state schools?
Yes in both. Dutch state schools welcome expat children, with DUO-funded international tracks an attractive middle path. Geneva's cantonal public schools are free, French-medium and well-regarded, with many expat families using state primary and switching to international at secondary.
Where do most expat families live in each city?
In Amsterdam families pick Amstelveen, Buitenveldert, Zuid, Diemen and Almere. In Geneva families pick Cologny, Chêne-Bougeries, Vésenaz and Versoix, with growing numbers across the border in Founex, Divonne and Ferney-Voltaire.
