At a glance
| Factor | London | Berlin |
|---|---|---|
| Average international school fees (secondary) | GBP 28,000 to 42,000 | EUR 14,500 to 24,000 |
| Dominant curricula | British (IGCSE and A Level), IB, American | IB, British, German-bilingual, American |
| Cost of living vs Berlin (Expatistan, 2026) | About 50 to 65 percent higher | Baseline |
| Family visa | Skilled Worker plus family route, GHIC for EU | EU residence, Blue Card, freelancer visa |
| Expat share of population | About 37 percent foreign-born | About 25 percent foreign-born |
| Typical relocation timeline | 8 to 12 weeks | 10 to 14 weeks |
London has the world's most mature international school market, but pays for it: tuition has been hit by a 20 percent VAT charge since January 2025 on top of inflation. Berlin is much cheaper, with a smaller but strong English-medium bench and unusually good public state schools as a fallback. Both cities offer full IB, British and bilingual options.
Schools landscape side by side
London hosts more than 60 international schools across the British, American, IB, French and German systems. The names families compare are the American School in London (ASL), the International School of London (ISL), ACS Cobham, Hillingdon and Egham (now under one group), Southbank International (Westminster, Hampstead and Kensington), Halcyon London International, the North London Collegiate, the French Lycee Charles de Gaulle and the German School London. Demand at Tier 1 schools tightened materially after the 2025 VAT change and waiting lists are common at Years 1, 7 and 12.
Berlin's market is smaller but high quality, with Berlin Brandenburg International School (BBIS) as the flagship boarding-and-day school in Kleinmachnow, Berlin International School in Wilmersdorf, Berlin Metropolitan School in Mitte, the Nelson Mandela School (state-funded English-German), the John F Kennedy School (state-funded bilingual) and the British School Berlin. Capacity at the state-funded bilingual schools is genuinely tight (lottery entry), but private Tier 1 schools admit most qualified applicants within a single term. See our London city guide and Berlin city guide for school directories and current admission notes.
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 Tier 1 schools publish 2025 to 2026 fees of GBP 23,000 to 28,000 at early years, GBP 29,000 to 35,000 at primary and GBP 36,000 to 42,000 at IB Diploma or A Level. ACS Cobham runs GBP 24,000 to 38,400. Halcyon and Southbank sit at the top end with first-year totals around GBP 37,000 to 40,000. The UK VAT change (20 percent on most private school tuition from January 2025) has fundamentally changed the maths; budget GBP 45,000 to 55,000 all-in per Year 10 child.
Berlin is dramatically cheaper. BBIS publishes annual fees from EUR 14,500 to 23,650 across the year groups, with boarding adding around EUR 24,400. Berlin International School and Berlin Metropolitan sit in a similar bracket. State-funded bilingual schools (Nelson Mandela, JFK) charge no tuition for qualifying residents. Most families budget EUR 18,000 to 26,000 per child at a private Tier 1 school, all in. Use our school fees explorer to compare specific schools.
Curriculum availability
London has the broadest curriculum bench in Europe, covering IB, British (IGCSE and A Level), American (AP and SAT), French (Lycee) and German. Berlin is concentrated on IB (BBIS, Berlin International), British (British School Berlin) and German-bilingual at the state-funded schools. The IB Diploma is the safest portable credential in either city. See the IB hub and British curriculum hub for more on the routes.
Neighbourhoods families pick
In London, international school families cluster in St John's Wood and Hampstead for ASL, Westminster and Kensington for Southbank, the Cobham and Egham commuter belt for ACS, and Hampstead and Wimbledon for ISL. A four bedroom family house in St John's Wood easily runs GBP 8,000 to 14,000 per month. In Berlin, families pick Zehlendorf and Wannsee for BBIS, Wilmersdorf and Charlottenburg for Berlin International, and Mitte for Berlin Metropolitan. A four bedroom house in Zehlendorf runs EUR 3,500 to 6,500 per month.
Lifestyle and climate
London is grey and wet for half the year, with brilliant museums, deep sport options and excellent food. The Tube and Overground keep family life pieced together. Berlin is colder in winter but drier and cleaner, with vast parks, lakes within thirty minutes and a famously affordable cultural calendar. Both cities are safe by international standards. London is one of the world's busiest aviation hubs; Berlin has a more limited international network but easier connections within Europe.
Verdict: who picks which city
Choose London if the world's deepest international school bench, a Tier 1 career market and the prestige of the address matter to you, and your package can absorb post-VAT fees plus London housing. Choose Berlin if cost matters and you want a calm, well-serviced European capital with strong state and private school options. Berlin is the stronger city for families who want EU residence and a city that still scales for a single-earner household.
Most families we work with run both cities through the cost calculator before committing. The five year all-in delta between similar schools and similar housing now runs EUR 200,000 to 350,000 in Berlin's favour after the UK VAT change.
Frequently asked questions
Is London or Berlin cheaper for international school families in 2026?
Berlin is dramatically cheaper. London costs around 50 to 65 percent more overall, and Tier 1 school fees are roughly twice as high on a like for like basis after the UK introduced 20 percent VAT on private school tuition in January 2025.
Which city has better international schools?
London has the deeper Tier 1 bench by some distance, with ASL, ISL, ACS, Southbank, Halcyon and the major national lycees. Berlin has fewer schools but solid quality at BBIS, Berlin International, the JFK School and the Nelson Mandela School. Choose by curriculum, budget and year group, not headline rankings.
Is the family visa easier in London or Berlin?
Berlin is easier in most cases for EU nationals (full free movement) and for skilled non-EU workers via the EU Blue Card. London uses the Skilled Worker route with a family visa add-on, which is well established but more expensive.
How long does the school admissions process take in each city?
London Tier 1 schools commonly run 6 to 18 month waiting lists at Years 1, 7 and 12 since the 2025 VAT change. Berlin's private schools are faster, with decisions typically returned in four to ten weeks outside peak intake; state-funded bilinguals run lotteries.
Where do most international school families live in each city?
London families cluster in St John's Wood, Hampstead, Westminster, Kensington, Cobham and Egham. Berlin families pick Zehlendorf, Wannsee, Wilmersdorf, Charlottenburg and Mitte depending on the school.
