At a glance
| Factor | London | Seoul |
|---|---|---|
| Average international school fees (secondary) | GBP 25,000 to 37,000 (USD 31,000 to 47,000) | USD 22,000 to 40,000 |
| Dominant curricula | British, IB, American | American (AP), IB, British |
| Cost of living vs London (Numbeo, 2026) | Baseline | About 25 percent lower |
| Family visa | Skilled Worker visa with dependants | F-3 dependant visa via E-series work pass |
| Expat share of population | About 37 percent foreign-born | About 3 percent |
| Typical relocation timeline | 10 to 14 weeks | 12 to 16 weeks |
London offers a school market that no other city can match for British provision, alongside an unusually deep IB and American bench. Seoul is harder to crack, with several schools restricted to non-Korean passport holders or returnees, but the top names produce some of Asia's strongest university outcomes.
Schools landscape side by side
London's international school inventory tops 80 establishments. The best known are ACS International Schools Cobham and Hillingdon, the International School of London (ISL) in Knightsbridge and the Surrey campus, the American School in London (ASL) in St John's Wood, Southbank International, TASIS England in Thorpe and the Halcyon London International School. Add to this the British independent sector, from Westminster and St Paul's to North London Collegiate, which serves a significant slice of relocating families on a British curriculum.
Seoul's English-medium scene is anchored by Seoul Foreign School (SFS), Seoul International School (SIS), Korea International School (KIS), Chadwick International (Songdo), Dwight School Seoul and Dulwich College Seoul. Korean law restricts enrolment at the major foreign schools to children holding non-Korean passports or with proven multi-year overseas residency, so apply early and ensure documentation is in order. Tier 1 places fill 6 to 12 months ahead at peak entry points.
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 tuition is high and now sits above pre-2025 levels because VAT at 20 percent applies to most private school fees from January 2025. Premium IB and American schools charge GBP 28,000 to 35,000 at primary and GBP 32,000 to 37,000 at IB Diploma, with all-in costs of GBP 42,000 to 48,000 once you include capital levies, transport and lunches. Run a five year projection on the cost calculator before signing.
Seoul tuition at premium schools runs USD 22,000 to 40,000 per year, with capital levies and bus fees adding USD 4,000 to 8,000 more. Korea International School and Chadwick International tend to publish at the upper end, while Seoul International and Seoul Foreign sit in the middle. Schools raise fees about 3 to 5 percent annually. Compare current published fees on the GlobalSchoolGuide fees database.
Curriculum availability
London is the world's strongest market for British curriculum, with parallel IB and American provision through ACS, ASL and ISL. Seoul leans American at SFS, SIS, KIS and Chadwick, with IB Diploma offered at Dulwich and Dwight, and growing IB enrolment city-wide. For relocating families likely to move again, the IB Diploma remains the most portable credential. See the British curriculum hub for an overview of IGCSE and A Level recognition.
Neighbourhoods families pick
London families cluster around St John's Wood and Hampstead for ASL, ISL Knightsbridge and the Halcyon, Notting Hill and Holland Park for Southbank, Cobham and Surrey for ACS, and Wandsworth, Wimbledon and Richmond for British independent options. Rent for a three-bedroom flat in core school catchments runs GBP 3,000 to 6,500 a month.
Seoul families pick Hannam-dong, Itaewon and UN Village for SFS, Gangnam and Seocho for SIS and KIS, Pangyo for international tech moves, Songdo for Chadwick International, and Bundang for Korean International School. Three-bedroom apartments in core expat neighbourhoods run KRW 4 to 9 million a month, often with a sizeable jeonse deposit alternative that many corporate packages will fund.
Lifestyle and climate
London delivers cultural depth, deep university recruitment, four-season weather and a famously busy school sport scene. Seoul offers world-class public transport, exceptional safety, faster wifi and a four-season climate similar to New York. London has stronger English-language extracurricular variety, Seoul a more disciplined academic culture and easier travel to Tokyo, Shanghai and Singapore.
Verdict: who picks which city
Choose London if the British curriculum, UK university pipeline or established IB and American provision matter most, and your package can absorb the post-VAT fee uplift.
Choose Seoul if you are joining a Korean conglomerate or tech company that funds school fees, want a safer urban environment for younger children, and have the documentation to clear the foreigner-only enrolment rules.
Most relocating families run both cities through the cost calculator. London is materially more expensive once VAT is in, but offers a wider Tier 1 school choice and easier university entry routes for UK-bound applicants.
Frequently asked questions
Is London or Seoul cheaper for international school families in 2026?
Seoul is cheaper. Total all-in family costs typically run 20 to 30 percent lower than London once school fees, rent and disposable spending are summed.
Which city has stronger international schools?
London has the deeper bench and wider curriculum mix. Seoul's top schools are excellent academically but limited by foreigner-only enrolment rules at the major campuses.
Can Korean nationals attend international schools in Seoul?
Many require non-Korean citizenship or three to five years of overseas residency. Always check the published admissions rules before applying.
How much has VAT changed London school fees?
Most private and international schools added a 20 percent VAT line from January 2025. Some absorbed part of the cost initially but published tuition is now broadly 12 to 18 percent higher than 2024 figures.
Where do most international families live in each city?
London families cluster in St John's Wood, Notting Hill, Cobham, Wandsworth and Richmond. Seoul families pick Hannam-dong, Itaewon, Gangnam, Pangyo and Songdo.
