At a glance
| Factor | Madrid | Tokyo |
|---|---|---|
| Average international school fees (secondary) | EUR 4,000 to 30,000 | JPY 2,000,000 to 3,500,000 (USD 13,500 to 23,500) |
| Dominant curricula | IB, British, American, Spanish bilingual | IB, American, British |
| Cost of living (Numbeo, May 2026) | Madrid is roughly 35 percent cheaper than Tokyo overall (Numbeo, May 2026) | |
| Family visa | Highly qualified professional visa or non-lucrative visa with family | Highly Skilled Professional visa or work visa with dependent visas |
| Expat share of population | About 22 percent of metro | About 4 percent of metro |
| Typical relocation timeline | 8 to 12 weeks | 10 to 14 weeks |
Madrid is the cheaper, sunnier landing of the two, with one of Europe's broadest pools of bilingual Spanish-English schooling at very competitive fees. Tokyo is the safer, more academically intense option, with one-off building levies and capital fees that Madrid schools rarely match. Both deliver IB Diploma pathways at strong flagships.
Schools landscape side by side
Madrid has more than 40 international schools, with a notable concentration in the leafy northern suburbs. Flagships include the American School of Madrid (ASM), the British Council School, Runnymede College, the King's College schools, International College Spain (ICS) and St George's British International. Spanish bilingual schools like Colegio Estudio extend the choice. See the Madrid schools hub.
Tokyo has roughly 30 international schools. Flagships include the American School in Japan (ASIJ) in Chofu, the British School in Tokyo (BST), K. International School Tokyo, Tokyo International School, Yokohama International School, Saint Maur International and Aoba-Japan International School. Premium Tokyo schools charge layered fees: tuition plus capital levy plus enrolment plus refundable deposit. The Tokyo schools hub covers each in detail.
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
Madrid premium secondary fees sit between EUR 18,000 and EUR 26,000 per year, with IB Diploma running EUR 21,000 to EUR 30,000 at top schools. The mid-tier between EUR 9,000 and EUR 14,500 is exceptionally well populated and rare in a Western European capital. Enrolment fees of EUR 1,500 to EUR 3,500 are standard, plus a refundable deposit of one term. Most expat packages on a Madrid assignment build in a tuition allowance of EUR 10,000 to EUR 25,000.
Tokyo's published tuition runs JPY 2,000,000 to JPY 3,500,000 per year. The headline understates the real cost: expect a one-off enrolment fee of JPY 200,000 to JPY 500,000, a refundable deposit of one term, a capital levy of JPY 200,000 to JPY 500,000 per year, plus bus, lunch and trips on top. First-year totals can run 40 to 60 percent above the headline.
Curriculum availability
Both cities offer IB, British (IGCSE and A Level) and American (AP and SAT) pathways. Madrid uniquely adds the bilingual Bachillerato plus IB option through King's College, Runnymede and Colegio Estudio, alongside a meaningful Spanish-medium tier that does not exist in Tokyo. Tokyo tilts toward American and IB through ASIJ and ASIJ-style schools, with British provision concentrated at BST. The IB Diploma remains the safest portable credential in either city. See the IB hub.
Neighbourhoods families pick
In Madrid families pick the northern districts of Chamberi, Chamartin, Aravaca and the wealthier Pozuelo de Alarcon and La Moraleja suburbs. La Moraleja in particular hosts the largest concentration of British and American school families. A four-bedroom house in La Moraleja runs EUR 3,500 to EUR 6,500 per month; a three-bedroom apartment in Chamberi EUR 2,200 to EUR 3,800.
In Tokyo expat families pick Hiroo, Azabu, Shibuya, Aoyama and Roppongi for central living, and Setagaya, Den-en-chofu and Yokohama for those wanting space close to ASIJ, BST and YIS. A three-bedroom apartment in Hiroo runs JPY 600,000 to JPY 1,100,000 per month. Public transport is exceptional so most families do not need a car.
Lifestyle and climate
Madrid has a continental climate with cold dry winters around 2 to 10 degrees Celsius, hot dry summers up to 36 degrees and famously sunny shoulder seasons. Family life leans on parks, tapas, weekends in the Sierra de Guadarrama and short flights to Lisbon, Barcelona and Mediterranean beaches. Tokyo has four full seasons, cold winters at 2 to 8 degrees, hot humid summers around 30 to 35 degrees and a wet rainy season in June. Tokyo offers world-class safety, food and public transport; Madrid offers genuine outdoor life year round.
Verdict: who picks which city
Choose Madrid if your family values sunshine, slower rhythm, broad school choice at fees well below Northern European hubs, and an attractive expat tax regime through the Beckham law. The bilingual Spanish-English education pipeline is genuinely unique.
Choose Tokyo if your career trajectory needs Japan exposure, your employer covers the all-in school costs and your family values world-class safety, cleanliness and infrastructure. Tokyo also suits families approaching IB Diploma years where the consistency of premium Tokyo schools translates to strong university outcomes. Most families we work with model both cities through the cost calculator. The five-year delta runs EUR 100,000 to EUR 200,000 in Madrid's favour for a family of four.
Frequently asked questions
Is Madrid or Tokyo cheaper for international school families in 2026?
Madrid is materially cheaper on housing, dining and most school tiers. Tokyo's international school fees, with their capital levies and one-off enrolment costs, sit at the top of Asia's table while Madrid's premium tier sits in the European middle band.
Which city has stronger international schools?
Both have strong flagships. Tokyo's top tier (ASIJ, BST, YIS, K. International) is academically intense and well resourced. Madrid offers wider choice across IB, British and bilingual Spanish-English, with ASM and Runnymede leading the Anglophone field.
Is the family visa easier in Madrid or Tokyo?
Spain's highly qualified professional visa and the Beckham law for inbound professionals are well-trodden and relatively fast. Japan's Highly Skilled Professional and standard work visa with dependent visas are reliable but more paperwork-heavy.
How does the climate compare for families?
Madrid is dry and sunny most of the year, with hot summers and cold dry winters. Tokyo has four full seasons with a wet rainy season in June and humid summers. Outdoor sport is easier year round in Madrid.
Where do most expat families live in each city?
In Madrid families cluster in Chamberi, Chamartin, Aravaca, Pozuelo and La Moraleja. In Tokyo they pick Hiroo, Azabu, Shibuya, Aoyama, Roppongi, Setagaya and Yokohama, almost always chosen by school proximity.
