At a glance
| Factor | Shanghai | Amsterdam |
|---|---|---|
| Average international school fees (secondary) | USD 33,000 to 55,000 | EUR 22,000 to 28,500 private, EUR 5,500 to 6,500 subsidised |
| Dominant curricula | IB, American, British | IB, British, American, Dutch bilingual |
| Cost of living vs Amsterdam | About 10 percent lower | Baseline |
| Family visa | Z visa with dependants, employer sponsored | Highly Skilled Migrant, DAFT, or EU citizenship; 30 percent ruling possible |
| Expat share of population | About 0.8 percent | About 30 percent |
| Typical relocation timeline | 12 to 18 weeks | 8 to 12 weeks |
Shanghai's international school market is one of the deepest in Asia, but only for foreign-passport holders. Amsterdam has a much smaller market, balanced by the unique subsidised Dutch International School option that charges a fraction of the private fee. Amsterdam wins on visa, EU access, English fluency in public life and lifestyle stability. Shanghai still wins on package economics for senior corporate roles.
Schools landscape side by side
Shanghai hosts more than 35 foreign-passport-only international schools, plus joint-venture bilingual schools. The flagship names are Shanghai American School, Concordia International, the British International School Shanghai (Nord Anglia), Dulwich College Shanghai, Wellington College Shanghai and Western International School of Shanghai. Most run the IB or American pathway. Foreign passport restrictions apply and Chinese nationals are excluded from these schools by regulation. See the Shanghai schools overview.
Amsterdam runs a dual system. The fully private schools that dominate shortlists are the International School of Amsterdam (ISA), the British School of Amsterdam, Amity International School and Amsterdam International Community School (AICS). Alongside this sits the Dutch International School (DIS) network, partly funded by the Dutch state and charging a heavily subsidised fee. Several DIS schools deliver the IB Primary, Middle Years and Diploma programmes at world standard. Apply early for ISA and AICS senior places.
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
Average international school tuition in Shanghai sits at RMB 260,000 to 350,000 (USD 36,000 to 48,000) for primary at the mid-tier and RMB 380,000 to 450,000+ (USD 52,000 to 62,000) at premium names such as SAS, Dulwich and Wellington. Add RMB 20,000 to 60,000 in enrolment fees, RMB 18,000 to 32,000 a year for the bus and RMB 8,000 to 15,000 for lunch. Most senior expat packages reimburse two children's fees in full. See the Shanghai fees guide.
Amsterdam is dramatically cheaper at the subsidised Dutch International School level, with annual fees of EUR 5,500 to 6,500. Private international schools charge EUR 22,000 to 28,500 for the IB Diploma years, with a small additional capital fee of EUR 2,000 to 5,000. Application fees run EUR 250 to 750. Add EUR 1,500 to 2,800 a year for the bus. Use the cost calculator to model the five year total per child, by route.
Curriculum availability
Both cities cover IB, British (IGCSE and A Level) and American (AP and SAT pathway). Shanghai's premium tier is IB and American dominant. Amsterdam offers IB, the Dutch bilingual stream and a strong British provision at BSA. The IB Diploma remains the safest portable credential. For deeper detail see the IB hub and British curriculum hub.
Neighbourhoods families pick
In Shanghai, international school families cluster in Jinqiao (near Concordia, SAS Pudong and Dulwich), Hongqiao (near SAS Puxi, British International School and Shanghai Community), and the French Concession for city-centre families. School-bus routes are dense and a four-bedroom serviced apartment runs USD 4,500 to 8,500 per month. In Amsterdam, the catchments that matter are Amstelveen (ISA, the International School of Amsterdam), Buitenveldert, Zuid (BSA) and the canal ring. A four-bedroom family home with a garden runs EUR 3,200 to 5,800 per month.
Lifestyle and climate
Shanghai is humid subtropical, with hot summers above 35 degrees, mild winters and a wet spring. Family life centres on serviced compounds, club memberships and weekend travel inside Asia. Air quality is materially better than a decade ago but still a parent concern. Amsterdam is temperate maritime, around 3 to 22 degrees year round, with frequent rain. The lifestyle is bicycle first, public-life heavy and English-fluent. Both cities are safe; Amsterdam ranks meaningfully higher on liveability and child-wellbeing surveys.
Verdict: who picks which city
Choose Shanghai if you have a senior corporate role with full package economics, your work is in finance, manufacturing or tech, and you want a globally recognised IB or American education with employer reimbursement. Choose Amsterdam if EU residency matters, you value English-fluent public life, and the Dutch International School subsidy can turn your school budget from premium into normal. The five year all-in delta on private schools alone is usually USD 100,000 to 160,000 in Amsterdam's favour, with subsidised DIS access tipping that further. Run both through the cost calculator.
Frequently asked questions
Is Shanghai or Amsterdam cheaper for international school families in 2026?
Amsterdam is cheaper on schools if you can access the subsidised Dutch International School network. Private international school fees in Shanghai run two to three times higher than equivalent Amsterdam private fees. Housing is similar in cost in absolute terms.
Which city has better international schools?
Shanghai has more Tier 1 names by count, with SAS, Dulwich and Wellington at the global top tier. Amsterdam has fewer flagship names but the Dutch International School option delivers IB outcomes at subsidised prices that nothing in Shanghai can match.
Is the family visa easier in Shanghai or Amsterdam?
Amsterdam is easier. The Highly Skilled Migrant Permit, the DAFT entrepreneur route and the 30 percent ruling tax incentive all support family relocation, and EU citizens move freely. Shanghai requires an employer-sponsored Z visa with dependant attachments.
How long does the school admissions process take in each city?
In Shanghai, decisions often come back within six to ten weeks, with longer for SAS and Dulwich at peak intake. In Amsterdam, DIS schools and ISA have running waiting lists at popular year groups; budget a full term lead time.
Where do most international school families live in each city?
Shanghai families cluster in Jinqiao, Hongqiao and the French Concession. Amsterdam families pick Amstelveen, Buitenveldert and Zuid depending on the school they target.
