At a glance
| Factor | Bangkok | Riyadh |
|---|---|---|
| Average secondary school fees | THB 600,000 to 1.1 million at secondary, roughly USD 17,000 to 31,000 | SAR 60,000 to 150,000 at secondary, roughly USD 16,000 to 40,000 |
| Dominant curricula | British, IB, American | British, IB, American, Saudi national plus |
| Family visa pathway | Non-Immigrant B work permit, LTR, or DTV plus dependant visa | Saudi work visa plus family Iqama |
| Expat share of population | around 200,000 long-stay expats in Greater Bangkok | about 30 percent of Riyadh residents are non-Saudi |
| Typical family neighbourhood housing | a three-bedroom condominium in Sukhumvit or Sathorn runs THB 80,000 to 200,000 per month | a four-bedroom villa in DQ or Al Nakheel runs SAR 12,000 to 30,000 per month |
| Climate profile | tropical, hot and humid year round around 32 degrees Celsius, monsoon May to October | arid desert, very hot summers above 45 degrees Celsius, mild winters around 14 degrees Celsius |
Bangkok and Riyadh attract different families. Each city offers world-class international schools, but the school markets are structured differently and so is the cost of raising children inside them. Cross-reference fees on our fees hub and run both cities through the cost calculator before you decide. The pillar pages Bangkok and Riyadh have the deeper school directory for each side.
Schools landscape side by side
Bangkok has more than 40 international schools, the deepest market in Southeast Asia outside Singapore. The names families shortlist most often are NIST International, Bangkok Patana, Harrow Bangkok, Shrewsbury International Riverside and City campuses, ISB, Bangkok Prep, KIS International, Brighton College Bangkok, and Wellington College International Bangkok. Demand peaks at Year 7 and the IB Diploma, but capacity is usually workable with two terms of lead time.
Riyadh has around 30 fully international schools and is adding capacity quickly as Vision 2030 attracts expat families. The names families shortlist most often are the American International School Riyadh, British International School Riyadh, Multinational School Riyadh, King Faisal School, Misk Schools, GEMS World Academy Riyadh, Manarat Riyadh International and the newly opened Royal British School. Capacity at the very top is tight but the wave of new openings is loosening the bottleneck.
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
Bangkok fees for secondary run THB 700,000 to 950,000 at the British and IB flagships, with Harrow, Shrewsbury Riverside and NIST at the top of the band. Year 1 entrance fees of THB 100,000 to 300,000 are normal, plus bus and lunch. Our Bangkok schools guide covers the load. Riyadh fees at AIS-R and BISR sit at SAR 90,000 to 130,000 a year for secondary, with premium IB Diploma seats touching SAR 150,000. Capital and registration fees of SAR 5,000 to 15,000 are common in Year 1.
Curriculum availability
Bangkok is dominated by British and IB schools at the top of the market, with American provision strong at ISB and KIS. Riyadh is split more evenly between British, American and IB, with the Saudi national plus international stream also a credible route for families staying long term. For a child likely to apply to UK or US universities both cities work. For a child whose parents will return home in three years, Bangkok's deep British and IB pool gives slightly easier curriculum continuity. See the IB hub for the portable middle path.
Neighbourhoods families pick
In Bangkok, school families cluster in Sukhumvit, Sathorn, Bangna and the suburban estates near the schools out at Krungthep Kreetha and Bang Na. School-bus routes are dense and a three-bedroom condominium in Sukhumvit or Sathorn runs THB 80,000 to 200,000 per month. In Riyadh, families weighing international school provision live in the Diplomatic Quarter, Al Nakheel, Al Yasmin, Hittin and the newer Roshn communities. A four-bedroom villa in those catchments runs SAR 12,000 to 30,000 per month.
Lifestyle and climate
Bangkok offers warm hospitality, a deep food culture, household help and one of the world's most travel-friendly bases for the rest of Southeast Asia. The trade-off is traffic, monsoon flooding in some neighbourhoods, and a Thai language barrier outside expat zones. Riyadh offers Saudi-tier disposable income, modern infrastructure built in the past five years, and a rapidly opening cultural scene under Vision 2030. The trade-off is summer heat that confines family life indoors from June to September and a slower social pace than the coastal cities. Bangkok wins on lifestyle warmth; Riyadh wins on disposable income.
Verdict: who picks which city
Choose Bangkok for warmth, household help and a great regional base, especially if your career sits within Southeast Asia. Choose Riyadh for serious disposable income, modern infrastructure and the energy of a country mid-transformation. Most families we work with run both cities through the school finder quiz and the cost calculator before deciding, because total package economics often closes the gap.
Frequently asked questions
Is Bangkok or Riyadh cheaper for international school families in 2026?
Bangkok is cheaper on food, leisure and housing. Riyadh is cheaper on fuel and personal tax, with no income tax for expat employees. Net of school fees, employer-paid Riyadh packages usually leave more cash.
Which city has better international schools?
Bangkok has more schools and deeper IB and British provision, with stronger university counselling at the top end. Riyadh is catching up quickly and AIS-R and BISR are credible at IB Diploma.
Is the family visa easier in Bangkok or Riyadh?
Riyadh is easier once an employer offer is in place, with family Iqama attached to the worker. Bangkok now offers the Long Term Resident visa and the Destination Thailand Visa, both of which suit remote workers and high earners.
Should we pick Bangkok or Riyadh if we may move again in three years?
Bangkok is fine for short and medium postings and the rental market accepts one-year leases. Riyadh assumes a four-year commitment for most employer-paid packages.
Where do most international school families live in each city?
Bangkok families pick Sukhumvit, Sathorn, Bangna and Krungthep Kreetha. Riyadh families pick the Diplomatic Quarter, Al Nakheel, Al Yasmin, Hittin and the Roshn communities.
