At a glance
| Factor | Seoul | Lisbon |
|---|---|---|
| Average international school fees (secondary) | KRW 30 million to 42 million (USD 21,800 to 30,500) at top tier | EUR 6,000 to 29,000 across primary and secondary |
| Dominant curricula | American, IB, British, Korean immersion | IB, British, American, Portuguese bilingual |
| Cost of living (Numbeo, May 2026) | See narrative below for index detail | See narrative below for index detail |
| Family visa | F-3 dependent visa attached to working spouse, E-7 specialised | D7 retirement, D8 Digital Nomad, Tech Visa, EU Blue Card |
| Expat share of population | Around 4 percent of Seoul residents are foreign nationals | Around 14 percent of the Lisbon metro is foreign-born and growing fast |
| Typical relocation timeline | 6 to 10 weeks | 6 to 10 weeks |
Seoul and Lisbon both deliver world-class IB and British pathways. The deciding factors are climate, cost of living, visa, and which curriculum your family wants to commit to for the next five to ten years.
Schools landscape side by side
Seoul's international school market is led by Seoul Foreign School (SFS, since 1912) in Yeonhui-dong, Seoul International School (SIS) in Bundang, Yongsan International School of Seoul (YISS), Dwight School Seoul, Dulwich College Seoul in Mapo. See the Seoul schools hub for the full landscape.
Lisbon's market is led by St. Julian's School in Carcavelos (IB and IGCSE since 1932), Carlucci American International School of Lisbon (CAISL) in Linho, The British School of Lisbon, TASIS Portugal in Sintra, Park International School. See the Lisbon schools hub for the full landscape.
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
Seoul fees in 2026: SFS runs KRW 30M to 38M, SIS KRW 32M to 39M, YISS KRW 33M to 36M, and Dulwich Seoul KRW 33M to 40M. First-year capital and registration fees add KRW 5M to 12M. See the fees explorer for distribution across year groups.
Lisbon fees in 2026: St. Julian's School runs EUR 12,384 to 29,097 by year group, CAISL EUR 11,716 to 22,736 for 2025/26, Park International EUR 12,000 to 18,000 and the Cambridge route at TASIS Portugal EUR 14,000 to 22,000. Seoul is roughly 25 to 40 percent more expensive than Lisbon on housing and eating out, according to Numbeo's May 2026 indices. Corporate-funded families rarely feel the difference; self-funded families absolutely do, especially through the IB Diploma years.
Curriculum availability
Seoul offers American, IB, British, Korean immersion. Lisbon offers IB, British, American, Portuguese bilingual. The IB Diploma remains the safest portable credential in either city for university entry to the US, UK, Canada, Australia and continental Europe. See the IB hub for cross-city analysis.
Neighbourhoods families pick
In Seoul families cluster in Yongsan and Hannam-dong for SFS and YISS proximity and embassy-belt life, Itaewon for central international vibe, Mapo and Sangam for Dulwich families, Seongbuk-dong for traditional villa style, Gangnam for the Korean professional set. A four-bedroom Hannam apartment runs KRW 9 million to KRW 18 million per month, with central Yongsan flats at KRW 6 million to KRW 11 million.
In Lisbon families pick Cascais and Estoril for the coastal British and IB corridor, Carcavelos for St. Julian's families, Sintra for CAISL and TASIS, Lapa and Estrela for central living, Lumiar and Telheiras for the airport side. A three-bedroom villa in Cascais runs EUR 2,800 to EUR 5,500 per month and a central Lapa apartment EUR 2,200 to EUR 4,200.
Lifestyle and climate
Seoul climate: Four sharp seasons: minus 3 to 4 degrees in winter, 25 to 32 in humid summer, brilliant autumns and crisp dry springs. Public safety widely rated among the world's best, very fast healthcare, Han River parks, food culture, Jeju and Tokyo weekends.
Lisbon climate: Mediterranean: 8 to 16 degrees in winter, 17 to 28 in summer, 2,800 hours of sunshine per year. Atlantic surf at Carcavelos and Guincho, day trips to Sintra and the Alentejo, low-key family-first culture and one of Western Europe's safest capitals.
Verdict: who picks which city
Choose Seoul if you want premium American or IB schooling at SFS, SIS or YISS, exceptionally low street crime and a city that rewards intellectual ambition. Plan for KRW 30 to 42 million per child plus capital fees in year one.
Choose Lisbon if you want a softer rhythm, surf at Carcavelos, the St. Julian's and CAISL pipeline and Western Europe's most relaxed visa stack. Most families we work with model both options through the cost calculator.
Frequently asked questions
Is Seoul or Lisbon cheaper for international school families in 2026?
Seoul is roughly 25 to 40 percent more expensive than Lisbon on housing and eating out, according to Numbeo's May 2026 indices. On schools, Seoul sits at KRW 30 million to 42 million and Lisbon at EUR 6,000 to 29,000. The right comparison depends on whether your package is corporate-funded or self-funded.
Which city has stronger international schools?
Seoul flagships include Seoul Foreign School (SFS. Lisbon flagships include St. Julian's School in Carcavelos (IB and IGCSE since 1932). Both cities deliver strong IB Diploma pathways; choice between them turns more on curriculum mix and neighbourhood logistics than on quality at the top end.
Is the family visa easier in Seoul or Lisbon?
Seoul typically uses the F-3 dependent visa attached to working spouse, E-7 specialised pathway, with relocation in 6 to 10 weeks. Lisbon uses the D7 retirement, D8 Digital Nomad, Tech Visa, EU Blue Card pathway, in 6 to 10 weeks. Both are well-trodden routes for relocating families.
How does the climate compare for families?
Seoul: Four sharp seasons: minus 3 to 4 degrees in winter, 25 to 32 in humid summer, brilliant autumns and crisp dry springs. Lisbon: Mediterranean: 8 to 16 degrees in winter, 17 to 28 in summer, 2,800 hours of sunshine per year. The climate difference is one of the most underestimated factors in long-stay family decisions.
Where do most expat families live in each city?
In Seoul families cluster in Yongsan and Hannam-dong for SFS and YISS proximity and embassy-belt life and other expat-heavy districts. In Lisbon the picks are Cascais and Estoril for the coastal British and IB corridor and similar school-proximity neighbourhoods.
