At a glance
| Factor | Paris | Jakarta |
|---|---|---|
| Average international school fees (secondary) | EUR 23,000 to 37,000 plus EUR 4,000 to 12,000 capital levy | IDR 250,000,000 to 560,000,000 (USD 16,000 to 36,000) |
| Dominant curricula | IB, French Bac, British (IGCSE, A Level), American | IB, British (IGCSE, A Level), American, Australian |
| Cost of living (Numbeo, May 2026) | Jakarta is the baseline. Paris runs roughly 60 to 70 percent more expensive on housing and daily costs (Numbeo, May 2026) | |
| Family visa | Talent Passport, ICT or salaried employee visa with family reunification | KITAS work permit with dependant cover or Second Home visa |
| Expat share of population | About 20 percent of Paris metro is foreign born | Around 1 percent of Jakarta metro, concentrated in a handful of suburbs |
| Typical relocation timeline | 10 to 14 weeks | 6 to 10 weeks |
Paris is the more expensive landing by a wide margin but offers a deeper school market, EU mobility and the French bilingual advantage. Jakarta is cheaper across housing and daily life with a tight, well-connected expat scene, particularly for resource and commodities families.
Schools landscape side by side
Paris hosts roughly 30 international schools spanning American, British, IB and French bilingual pathways. The headline names include the American School of Paris in Saint Cloud (US Diploma plus IB), International School of Paris in central Paris (IB continuum), Marymount International School Paris (IB Diploma in Neuilly), the British School of Paris in Croissy sur Seine (IGCSE and A Level), the Lycee International de Saint Germain en Laye (free state school with national sections in 14 languages), EIB Monceau and Ecole Jeannine Manuel. See the Paris schools hub.
Jakarta has about 60 international schools concentrated in South Jakarta, Tangerang and Bekasi. The flagship names are Jakarta Intercultural School (JIS) in Pondok Indah and Cilandak, British School Jakarta (BSJ) in BSD City, Australian Independent School (AIS) in Pejaten, Sekolah Pelita Harapan and Mentari Intercultural School. Most cluster around Pondok Indah, Kemang and the BSD corridor. The Jakarta 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
Paris private international school fees climb steeply with year group. Maternelle (ages 3 to 5) runs EUR 14,000 to EUR 20,000. Elementary (CP to CM2) sits at EUR 18,000 to EUR 26,000. College (years 6 to 9) lands between EUR 23,000 and EUR 31,000. Lycee, IB and AP years sit at EUR 27,000 to EUR 37,000. Capital and registration fees of EUR 5,000 to EUR 9,000 are due in Year 1. ASP, ISP and Marymount sit at the premium end. The Lycee International, a public school with international sections, is essentially free for residents and is the value option for families happy to commute to Saint Germain en Laye. See the fees explorer for distribution.
Jakarta has a wide fee range. Premium British and American schools (BSJ, JIS) charge IDR 250,000,000 to IDR 560,000,000 a year (USD 16,000 to USD 36,000), with senior IB and IGCSE years at the top of the range. Mid-tier IB and British options run IDR 130,000,000 to IDR 230,000,000. Add IDR 15,000,000 to IDR 50,000,000 in registration fees and IDR 25,000,000 to IDR 70,000,000 in IGCSE or IB exam entry fees. The biggest hidden cost in Jakarta is school transport: the school bus or driver across heavy traffic adds IDR 25,000,000 to IDR 60,000,000 per year.
Curriculum availability
Both cities cover IB, British and American pathways, but Paris adds the French Baccalaureat at the state Lycee International and bilingual schools. Jakarta tilts strongly toward IB at JIS, BSJ and AIS, with American Diploma at JIS and IGCSE at BSJ. The IB Diploma is the safest portable credential in either city. Families considering French university often pick Paris partly for the French Bac route. Families who plan to return to an English-speaking university often pick the Jakarta IB option. See the IB hub for cross-city analysis.
Neighbourhoods families pick
In Paris families cluster in the 16th arrondissement and Passy for central living near Marymount, Neuilly sur Seine for proximity to ASP and BSP, Saint Cloud and Saint Germain en Laye for ASP and the Lycee International, and Boulogne Billancourt for newer apartment stock. A three-bedroom apartment in the 16th rents at EUR 3,500 to EUR 6,500 a month. Detached family houses in Saint Germain en Laye start around EUR 4,500 and run to EUR 9,500.
In Jakarta families pick Pondok Indah for JIS proximity and a leafy gated feel, Kemang for cafe and gallery life, Menteng and Cikini for central living near embassies and the BSD City corridor for BSJ access and newer townhouse stock. A four-bedroom house in Pondok Indah rents at IDR 65,000,000 to IDR 180,000,000 per month (around USD 4,200 to USD 11,500). Cilandak and Cipete sit slightly lower.
Lifestyle and climate
Paris is temperate, 3 to 8 degrees Celsius in winter and 18 to 26 in summer, with rainfall spread across the year. Family life leans on parks, museums, weekend Eurostar to London and TGV to the Alps or the Mediterranean. Healthcare is excellent and largely covered through CPAM and private top-up. Jakarta is hot and humid year round, 24 to 33 degrees, with a marked rainy season from November to March. Traffic is severe; commute planning is the single biggest constraint on family routines. Weekends revolve around club memberships, the Thousand Islands, Bandung and short flights to Bali. Air quality during the dry season is poor; many compounds run filtered air for children.
Verdict: who picks which city
Choose Paris if culture, EU mobility and the French bilingual advantage matter. The Lycee International is the secret value play; corporate packages tend to land children at ASP or BSP. Healthcare, public transport, food and weekend access to the rest of Europe are unmatched.
Choose Jakarta if you are deploying into commodities, finance or infrastructure roles and value matters. A senior package buys a lifestyle (large house, full-time staff, club membership, frequent regional travel) that Paris cannot match at any price. The five-year all-in delta on housing alone is EUR 200,000 to EUR 400,000 in Jakarta's favour. Most families we work with model both cities through the cost calculator and shortlist schools through the school finder.
Frequently asked questions
Is Paris or Jakarta cheaper for international school families in 2026?
Jakarta wins on housing, food and household help by a wide margin, typically 60 to 70 percent below Paris on Numbeo. Schools are closer than you might expect. Paris international school primary runs EUR 18,000 to 26,000 with senior years at EUR 27,000 to 37,000. Jakarta premium schools (BSJ, JIS) sit at IDR 250,000,000 to 560,000,000 (around EUR 14,500 to 32,500).
Which city has stronger international schools?
Paris has greater depth at the top with the American School of Paris, International School of Paris, Marymount International Paris, the British School of Paris, EIB Monceau and the Lycee International de Saint Germain en Laye. Jakarta has fewer schools but strong flagships, led by Jakarta Intercultural School (JIS), British School Jakarta (BSJ), Australian Independent School and the Bina Bangsa School group. Quality at the top is comparable; Paris has more IB and bilingual options.
Is the family visa easier in Paris or Jakarta?
France's Talent Passport covers senior employees, founders and researchers with a four-year residence permit and family reunification. Indonesia's KITAS work permit is processed in six to ten weeks and the Second Home visa option introduced in 2023 offers a ten-year residency for qualifying investors. France gives EU mobility; Indonesia gives lower friction once approved.
How does the climate compare for families?
Paris is temperate, 3 to 8 degrees Celsius in winter and 18 to 26 in summer, with rainfall spread across the year. Jakarta is hot and humid year round, 24 to 33 degrees, with a marked rainy season from November to March. Outdoor sport is feasible year round in Jakarta if you accept the heat; Paris excels in spring and autumn.
Where do most expat families live in each city?
In Paris families cluster in the 16th arrondissement, Neuilly, Saint Cloud and Saint Germain en Laye for proximity to ASP, BSP and the Lycee International. In Jakarta they pick Pondok Indah, Kemang, Menteng and the BSD City and Cilandak corridors for JIS and BSJ access.
