At a glance
| Factor | London | Bangalore |
|---|---|---|
| Average international school fees (secondary) | GBP 28,000 to 42,000 (USD 35,000 to 53,000) | INR 5L to 15L (USD 6,000 to 18,000) |
| Dominant curricula | British (IGCSE, A Level), IB, American | IB, IGCSE/A Level, CBSE-International, ICSE |
| Cost of living vs London (Expatistan, May 2026) | Baseline | About 65 percent lower |
| Family visa | Skilled Worker or Innovator Founder, dependants included | X-visa for dependants of employment visa holder |
| Expat share of population | About 37 percent | About 1 percent |
| Typical relocation timeline | 10 to 14 weeks | 8 to 12 weeks |
London and Bangalore attract families with different priorities. London is the deepest international school market in Europe, with British curriculum at one end and full IB and American options at the other, plus a labour market that suits dual-career households. Bangalore is India's tech capital with a fast-growing IB and IGCSE list, low household costs and a relocation profile that often makes sense alongside a senior tech role. The added factor in London is VAT on private school fees from January 2025, which has lifted headline numbers by around 20 percent.
Schools landscape side by side
London's international school list is large and tiered. ACS International (Cobham, Hillingdon and Egham), the American School in London (ASL), the International School of London (ISL), Halcyon London International School, Southbank International, the North London International School, ICS London and TASIS England cover the English-medium expat market. British independent schools such as Westminster, Eton (boarding) and St Paul's serve families targeting GCSE and A Level pathways. The IB Diploma is available at around 15 London schools.
Bangalore's IB list has grown rapidly. Stonehill International School, Indus International School, The International School Bangalore (TISB), Canadian International School, Trio World Academy, Inventure Academy and the Oakridge International cover the senior expat market. Most are full IB continuum, often with Cambridge IGCSE as the Middle Years alternative. Boarding is available at Stonehill and Indus for families who want it.
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
London is one of the world's most expensive cities for international schooling, especially since January 2025 when 20 percent VAT was applied to most private school fees. Realistic 2026 day fees sit at GBP 21,500 to 33,500 at ACS Hillingdon, GBP 22,000 to 35,500 at ACS Egham, around GBP 32,000 to 34,000 at Halcyon, and similar at ASL and Southbank. Total annual outlay at a top London IB school for Year 10 is typically GBP 42,000 to 48,000 all-in. See the fees explorer for school detail.
Bangalore is dramatically cheaper. Stonehill runs INR 6 lakh to 15 lakh annual tuition with one-off deposits. Indus runs INR 5 lakh to 14 lakh, TISB sits in a similar band. Mid-market IB schools (Inventure, Trio) land INR 2.5 lakh to 8 lakh. Add 15 to 35 percent in Year 1 for admission deposits, transport and uniforms. A two-child family at the top tier budgets INR 25 to 35 lakh per year all-in.
Curriculum availability
London has the widest curriculum mix of any city in this comparison set. British IGCSE and A Level dominate by school count, the IB Diploma is offered at around 15 schools, and the American AP pathway is available at ASL, ACS schools and TASIS England. Bangalore is IB-heavy at the senior tier, with Cambridge IGCSE and A Level as common Middle Years alternatives, and CBSE-International or ICSE for families staying long term. Compare options on the IB hub and the British curriculum hub.
Neighbourhoods families pick
London expat families cluster in St John's Wood and Hampstead for ASL and Southbank, in Cobham, Egham and Hillingdon for the ACS schools, and in Wandsworth, Wimbledon and Richmond for British independents plus ISL. A four-bedroom family house in Cobham runs GBP 4,500 to 9,000 per month, with central Hampstead apartments at GBP 4,000 to 8,000. Public transport is excellent across all zones.
Bangalore families cluster in Whitefield for TISB, Indus and Inventure, in Sarjapur Road for Stonehill and Canadian International, and in central Indiranagar and Koramangala for families closer to office hubs. A four-bedroom villa in Whitefield runs INR 150,000 to 350,000 per month, with apartments in Indiranagar at INR 80,000 to 200,000. Most expat families have a driver.
Lifestyle and climate
London offers world-class culture, the deepest food and theatre scene in Europe, mild but grey weather, and a transport system that makes most family routines manageable without a car. Bangalore has a mild year-round climate at altitude, a fast-changing restaurant and tech scene, and traffic that genuinely affects daily logistics. Bangalore is becoming greener in patches but air quality is a real planning factor outside the monsoon. Both cities are safer than their reputations suggest, but the everyday rhythms are very different.
Verdict: who picks which city
Choose London if you want the deepest international school market in Europe, dual-career flexibility through the Skilled Worker visa and acceptance into UK universities directly from local schools. Plan for the post-2025 VAT uplift on private school fees.
Choose Bangalore if your role anchors in Indian tech or services, you want a strong IB pathway at a fraction of London fees, and you can accept the traffic and air quality trade-offs. Stonehill, Indus and TISB are competitive with anywhere in India on outcomes.
Most families we work with run both through the cost calculator. The five year all-in delta is usually USD 200,000 to 320,000 in Bangalore's favour for similar school tier, the largest gap in our city comparison set.
Frequently asked questions
Is London or Bangalore cheaper for international school families in 2026?
Bangalore is dramatically cheaper across the board, often by 65 to 80 percent on housing, groceries and disposable spending. School fees are 50 to 70 percent lower at the equivalent IB tier.
Which city has better international schools?
London has the deepest market by school count and curriculum range. Bangalore's senior IB tier (Stonehill, Indus, TISB) competes on outcomes but the market is narrower. The right answer depends on year group and curriculum fit.
How does the family visa work in each city?
London uses the Skilled Worker or Innovator Founder routes, both of which include dependants on a single application. India issues an X-visa for accompanying family of an employment visa holder, renewed in step with the principal applicant's status.
What does the UK VAT on school fees mean in practice?
From January 2025, 20 percent VAT applies to most private school fees. Some international schools that meet educational charity criteria have partial exemptions. Plan for a 20 percent uplift versus pre-2025 published fees.
Where do most international school families live in each city?
London: St John's Wood, Hampstead, Cobham, Egham, Hillingdon, Wandsworth, Wimbledon and Richmond. Bangalore: Whitefield, Sarjapur Road, Indiranagar and Koramangala.
