At a glance
| Factor | London | Munich |
|---|---|---|
| Average international school fees (secondary) | GBP 23,000 to 42,000 (post-VAT) | EUR 11,000 to 30,000 (rising in IB years) |
| Dominant curricula | British, IB, American, French, German, Japanese, Italian | IB, German bilingual, British, French, US-American |
| Cost of living (Numbeo, May 2026) | Munich is the baseline. London runs roughly 30 to 60 percent more expensive on rent and 10 to 30 percent more on groceries (Numbeo, May 2026) | |
| Family visa | Skilled Worker visa with dependants, Global Talent visa, High Potential Individual visa | EU Blue Card, German Skilled Workers visa, Chancenkarte points-based route |
| Expat share of population | About 37 percent of London population was born outside the UK | Around 28 percent of Munich population (non-German nationals) |
| Flagship schools (selection) | American School in London (ASL), ACS International School Cobham, Southbank International School, International School of London, Tanglin Trust, Halcyon London International, Hampstead schools | Munich International School (MIS, IB continuum), Bavarian International School (BIS), European School Munich, International School Munich (ISM), Phorms Schools Munich |
London delivers the deepest international school market in Europe and English-medium living by default. Munich delivers world-class IB at MIS and BIS, Bavarian quality of life and Alpine weekends. Both run credible IB pathways, both attract significant relocating families, and both reward parents who do the homework on neighbourhoods before tuition.
Schools landscape side by side
London is the deepest international school market in Europe. Flagships include the American School in London (ASL, US Diploma plus AP), ACS International School Cobham (IB plus AP), Southbank International (IB continuum), the International School of London (ISL Surrey and ISL London), Halcyon London International, and Tanglin Trust. Top British independents like Westminster, St Paul's and Kings Wimbledon also serve relocating families. See the London schools hub.
Munich's international market is small but exceptionally strong. Flagships include the Munich International School (MIS, IB continuum) in Starnberg, the Bavarian International School (BIS, IB continuum) on two campuses, the European School Munich, the International School Munich (ISM) and Phorms Schools Munich. All run the IB Diploma at sixth form. See the Munich 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
London premium international fees at ASL, ACS Cobham or Southbank sit between GBP 30,000 and GBP 42,000 in the IB Diploma or Grade 12 years, with the January 2025 VAT change adding 20 percent across most private fees. Mid-tier internationals run GBP 23,000 to 30,000. Add capital levies GBP 1,500 to 5,000 and bus GBP 2,000 to 4,000. Boarding adds GBP 15,000 to 20,000.
Munich premium fees at MIS or BIS sit between EUR 20,000 and EUR 30,000 in the IB Diploma years. Bilingual privates like Phorms or Lycee Jean Renoir run EUR 11,000 to 19,000. Add a one-off entrance fee of EUR 5,000 to 9,000 at the IB internationals, plus EUR 2,000 to 3,000 registration. Munich is roughly 25 to 40 percent cheaper than London at the top tier.
Curriculum availability
Both cities cover IB and British or American pathways. London tilts British and American: A Levels, IB, US Diploma and AP all available within a 30 minute commute in much of the city. Munich tilts IB and German bilingual, with British, French and US presence at smaller scale. The IB Diploma remains the safest portable credential in either city. German acquisition is a major bonus in Munich, particularly at Phorms and the bilingual streams. See the IB hub.
Neighbourhoods families pick
In London families cluster in St John's Wood for ASL, Chiswick and Putney for ISL and Southbank, Wimbledon for Kings and Wimbledon High, Hampstead and Highgate for Highgate and UCS, plus Cobham in Surrey for ACS Cobham boarding catchments. A three-bedroom house in St John's Wood runs GBP 6,500 to GBP 11,000 per month.
In Munich families pick Schwabing and Bogenhausen for proximity to ISM and BIS, Gruenwald and Pullach for Munich International, the Starnberger See villages for MIS bus access, and Harlaching for European School families. A three-bedroom apartment in Bogenhausen runs EUR 2,500 to EUR 4,500 per month.
Lifestyle and climate
London is mild maritime, 3 to 24 degrees, with grey winters and short pleasant summers. Family life is built around parks (Hampstead Heath, Richmond, Hyde Park), the West End, museums and weekend trains to the South Coast or Eurostar to Paris. Healthcare, safety and culture are world class. Munich is continental, minus 4 to 24 degrees, with cold snowy winters and warm dry summers. Family life centres on the English Garden, Bavarian beer-garden culture, Alpine ski weekends in Garmisch and Salzburg and the South Tyrol in summer. Public transport is exceptional.
Verdict: who picks which city
Choose London if you want the deepest international school market in Europe, English-medium living and global career access. Post-VAT fees at the top end are now GBP 36,500 to 42,000, the highest in Europe outside Switzerland. Compensation usually reflects it. Five-year savings depend heavily on housing decisions.
Choose Munich if you want cheaper international schooling, Bavarian quality of life and Alpine weekends. MIS and BIS deliver world-class IB at 25 to 40 percent less than London's top internationals. Germany's Chancenkarte and EU Blue Card routes are now among the most efficient in Europe. Model both through the cost calculator.
Frequently asked questions
Is London or Munich cheaper for international school families in 2026?
Munich is meaningfully cheaper. Top IB fees at MIS or BIS sit at EUR 22,000 to 30,000 against London's GBP 36,500 to 42,000 (post-VAT). Housing for a three-bedroom family unit is roughly 35 percent cheaper in Munich. Net pay can favour London at the top of the labour market but the family bill is consistently lower in Munich.
Which city has stronger international schools?
London has greater breadth and the strongest American option in Europe at ASL. Munich has fewer schools but MIS and BIS are world-class IB providers. Quality at the top is comparable; breadth and US Diploma access favour London; IB intimacy and value favour Munich.
Is the family visa easier in London or Munich?
Germany is now faster for qualifying families thanks to the Chancenkarte points-based route and the streamlined EU Blue Card, with cases often closed in six to ten weeks. London's Skilled Worker visa is well-established but the salary thresholds and Immigration Health Surcharge add cost. Munich is the lighter touch in 2026.
How does the climate compare for families?
London is mild maritime, 3 to 24 degrees, with grey winters and short summers. Munich is continental, minus 4 to 24 degrees, with proper snowy winters and warm dry summers. Year-round outdoor life is easier in London; Alpine weekends are a Munich exclusive.
Where do most expat families live in each city?
In London families cluster in St John's Wood, Chiswick, Wimbledon, Hampstead and Cobham. In Munich they pick Schwabing, Bogenhausen, Gruenwald, Pullach and the Starnberger See villages, mostly chosen for school proximity and the Alpine lifestyle.
