At a glance
| Factor | Brussels | Rome |
|---|---|---|
| Average international school fees (secondary) | EUR 22,000 to EUR 50,000 (USD 24,000 to USD 54,000) | EUR 15,000 to EUR 27,000 (USD 16,200 to USD 29,200) |
| Dominant curricula | IB, British (IGCSE and A Level), American, French and the European Schools curriculum | American, British (IGCSE and A Level), IB, Italian bilingual and French |
| Cost of living (Numbeo, May 2026) | Rome is roughly 15 to 25 percent cheaper than Brussels on housing and groceries (Numbeo, May 2026), and 25 to 40 percent cheaper on premium school fees | |
| Family visa | EU freedom of movement for EU nationals, Single Permit (combined work and residence) for non-EU, and the Belgian Professional Card for the self-employed | EU freedom of movement for EU nationals, plus the Italian Elective Residence visa, Investor visa, Digital Nomad visa (since 2024) and the standard work permit |
| Expat share of population | About 35 percent of Brussels-Capital Region residents are foreign nationals, plus 80,000 EU institution staff | About 10 percent of the metropolitan area |
| Typical relocation timeline | 4 to 10 weeks for the Single Permit once the regional authority processes it | 8 to 14 weeks for non-EU work and elective-residence routes |
Brussels and Rome sit at very different points on the international family map. The fees, climate, visa pathway and lifestyle are not comparable; the IB Diploma at the end of the journey is.
Schools landscape side by side
Brussels has the deepest concentration of international and European schools in Europe. International School of Brussels (ISB) is the flagship IB option; British School of Brussels (BSB) and St. John's International School round out the premium tier. The four European Schools cover institutional families. International School of Brussels (ISB), British School of Brussels (BSB), St. John's International School, BEPS International School, the four European Schools (Uccle, Woluwe, Ixelles and Laeken) and the Lycee Francais Jean Monnet. Regulation runs through the Communaute Francaise (French-speaking schools), Flemish Department of Education, plus IB, CIS and the EU Schools agreement. See the Brussels schools hub.
Rome's international school market is smaller but stable, dominated by long-standing American and British names clustered north of the city. Ambrit International School, St. George's British International School, Marymount International School, the Rome International School, Acorn House, the American Overseas School of Rome (AOSR) and the Lycee Chateaubriand. Regulation runs through the Italian Ministry of Education plus IB, CIS and NEASC accreditation. See the Rome 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
Brussels premium IB at ISB runs EUR 22,590 to EUR 49,714 per year depending on grade. BSB sits at a similar premium tier. Mid-tier options like BEPS run EUR 16,000 to EUR 24,000. The European Schools charge EUR 13,452 (Category II) or EUR 3,566 to EUR 16,389 (Category III). Capital fees of EUR 5,000 to EUR 12,500 are typical at ISB on entry. See the fees explorer for distribution.
Rome fully private American and British schools charge EUR 15,000 to EUR 27,000 across year groups, with the upper IB Diploma or A Level years at the high end. Plan for application fees of EUR 200 to EUR 600, enrolment deposits of EUR 1,500 to EUR 4,000, and annual capital fees of EUR 500 to EUR 1,500. Bus is EUR 2,000 to EUR 3,500 per year.
Curriculum availability
Brussels covers every major curriculum at scale. ISB and BSB run IB; St. John's runs IB and the European Baccalaureate. American AP is at ISB. French and German bilingual options are widely available. Rome is narrower: American AP at AOSR, British IGCSE and A Level at St. George's, IB at the Rome International School and Marymount. Italian bilingual is strong at the mid tier.
Neighbourhoods families pick
In Brussels families cluster on Uccle and Rhode-Saint-Genese for ISB and the southern leafy belt, Tervuren and Wezembeek-Oppem for BSB, Woluwe-Saint-Pierre for European School EE2 and proximity to NATO, and Ixelles for the urban professional set. A four-bedroom family home in Uccle or Tervuren runs EUR 3,000 to EUR 6,000 per month. The European institution quarters of Etterbeek and Woluwe are well served by public transport and offer apartment living for inner-city families.
In Rome families pick Cassia and Olgiata for St. George's and the northern villa belt, Parioli for AOSR and Marymount, the historic centre (Centro Storico) for short-term diplomatic stays, and EUR for the southern professional cluster. A four-bedroom apartment or villa in Cassia or Olgiata runs EUR 2,500 to EUR 5,500 per month. The historic centre is more expensive per square metre but typically chosen for shorter stays or smaller families.
Lifestyle and climate
Brussels climate is Maritime temperate. 1 to 23 degrees, wet most months, mild damp winters with limited snow, cool summers. Air quality is moderate, with diesel-related particulate matter higher than Geneva or Munich. Family life leans on weekend rail hops to Paris (1h20), London (2h), Amsterdam (1h50) and Cologne (1h45), Sonian Forest on the south of the city, North Sea coast at Knokke and De Haan one hour away. Rome climate is Mediterranean. 5 to 31 degrees, mild damp winters, hot dry summers from June to September with peaks above 35. Air quality in central Rome is moderate; the northern villa belt is cleaner. Family life there leans on weekend escapes to Tuscany, the Amalfi Coast, Sabaudia beaches and the Castelli Romani hills, Rome's parks (Villa Borghese, Villa Pamphili) and the cultural depth that comes with two thousand years of history.
Verdict: who picks which city
Choose Brussels if your work is tied to the EU institutions, NATO or a Belgian-headquartered multinational, you want IB or European School curriculum without inventing a workaround, and you accept that fees and grey weather are the price of admission.
Choose Rome if you can manage a smaller pool of premium schools, want a noticeably cheaper cost base, value Mediterranean climate and lifestyle, and you are not tied to EU institution employment. Most families model both cities through the cost calculator before signing.
Frequently asked questions
Is Brussels or Rome cheaper for international school families in 2026?
Rome is materially cheaper. Premium IB and British A Levels in Rome run EUR 15,000 to EUR 27,000, while Brussels ISB tops out near EUR 50,000 for senior years. Combined with cheaper housing and groceries, total annual cost can be 25 to 40 percent lower in Rome.
Which city has stronger international schools?
Brussels has more schools, more curriculum diversity (four European Schools alone) and stronger ties to the global IB and accreditation bodies. Rome's top schools are strong in absolute terms but the choice set is narrower; if your first two preferences are full, options thin out fast.
Is the family visa easier in Brussels or Rome?
Both follow EU rules for EU nationals. For non-EU, Brussels processes the Single Permit in four to ten weeks; Rome's work routes typically take eight to fourteen weeks. Italy's Digital Nomad and Elective Residence visas offer pathways for the self-employed that are harder to replicate in Belgium.
How does the climate compare for families?
Brussels is maritime temperate, 1 to 23 degrees, wet most months, mild damp winters. Rome is Mediterranean, 5 to 31 degrees, hot dry summers with peaks above 35, mild damp winters. Rome edges it for outdoor family life year round.
Where do most expat families live in each city?
Brussels: Uccle and Rhode-Saint-Genese for ISB, Tervuren for BSB, Woluwe-Saint-Pierre for European School EE2. Rome: Cassia and Olgiata for St. George's, Parioli for AOSR and Marymount, EUR for the southern professional cluster.
