At a glance
| Factor | Tokyo | Berlin |
|---|---|---|
| Average international school fees (secondary) | JPY 2.5M to 4.5M (USD 16,000 to 30,000) | EUR 14,000 to 28,000 |
| Dominant curricula | IB, American, British, Japanese bilingual | IB, American, British, German bilingual |
| Cost of living vs Tokyo (Expatistan, 2026) | Baseline | About 20 to 30 percent lower |
| Family visa | Engineer or Highly Skilled with family | EU Blue Card or work permit with family |
| Expat share of city | About 3 percent in Tokyo metro | About 22 percent in Berlin city |
| Typical relocation timeline | 10 to 14 weeks | 8 to 12 weeks |
Tokyo has the deeper international school bench, including some of the oldest and most stable IB and American schools in Asia. Berlin is significantly cheaper on fees, housing and lifestyle, with a younger but credible international school market and a more accessible creative culture. Both cities deliver outstanding safety and public transport.
Schools landscape side by side
Tokyo's top tier includes the American School in Japan (ASIJ, Chofu), the British School in Tokyo (Showa campus), Nishimachi International School, St Mary's International School, Sacred Heart International School, Aoba-Japan International School and the K International School Tokyo. ASIJ, St Mary's and Sacred Heart are the diplomatic and corporate defaults; waiting lists at Years 1, 6 and 11 are common.
Berlin's market is led by Berlin Brandenburg International School (BBIS, Kleinmachnow), Berlin International School (BIS Berlin, Schoeneberg), John F Kennedy School (German-American public bilingual, free), the Nelson Mandela School (state IB, capped on language criteria), and the Metropolitan International School. JFK and Nelson Mandela are oversubscribed; BBIS and BIS Berlin are the standard fee-paying defaults. See our Tokyo city guide and Berlin city guide for current admission notes.
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
ASIJ publishes 2026 to 2027 fees of JPY 2.65M in lower elementary up to JPY 3.05M in high school (USD 18,000 to USD 22,000), plus a JPY 1.2M facilities fee. The British School in Tokyo runs JPY 2.5M to JPY 3.6M across the year groups. St Mary's and Sacred Heart run JPY 2.3M to JPY 3.1M. Add 12 to 20 percent for bus, lunch, IB exam fees and capital. Most relocating families budget USD 25,000 to USD 35,000 per child all in.
BBIS publishes 2026 to 2027 fees of EUR 14,500 in early years up to EUR 25,500 in IB Diploma, plus a EUR 3,500 enrolment fee. BIS Berlin runs EUR 13,800 to EUR 23,200 across the year groups. Metropolitan International School runs EUR 13,200 to EUR 20,800. JFK and Nelson Mandela are state-funded and free for eligible families. Most relocating families budget EUR 18,000 to EUR 28,000 per child all in. Use our school fees explorer for live comparisons.
Curriculum availability
Tokyo is dominated by the IB Diploma (BST, K International, Aoba-Japan, Sacred Heart), American AP at ASIJ and St Mary's, and Japanese bilingual at selected sections. Berlin offers IB Diploma at BBIS and Nelson Mandela, American AP at JFK, and a strong German Abitur route at state schools for families on long-term postings. For deep dives see the IB hub, British curriculum hub and American curriculum hub.
Neighbourhoods families pick
In Tokyo, international school families cluster in Minato-ku (Hiroo, Azabu, Roppongi) for short commutes to St Mary's and Sacred Heart, in Setagaya for ASIJ and BST, and in Meguro for Nishimachi. A 4-bedroom apartment in Hiroo runs JPY 900,000 to JPY 1.6M per month. In Berlin, families pick Zehlendorf, Dahlem and Wannsee in the south west for JFK and Nelson Mandela, Kleinmachnow for BBIS, and Charlottenburg or Prenzlauer Berg for the inner-city schools. A 4-bedroom flat in Dahlem runs EUR 3,500 to EUR 5,800 per month.
Lifestyle and climate
Tokyo offers world-class safety, transport that runs to the second, world-class food at every price point, and a four-season climate with cherry blossom springs and crisp autumns. The language barrier is real outside the international bubble. Berlin is creative, multilingual, green (Tiergarten, Wannsee, Tegel), and significantly more affordable. Public transport is good, although less polished than Tokyo. Berlin's startup and arts ecosystem makes it attractive for dual-career families.
Verdict: who picks which city
Choose Tokyo if you want unmatched safety, an Asia-Pacific posting on a serious package, and one of the world's deepest international school benches. Choose Berlin if cost matters, you value creative culture and EU access, and you can absorb the slower pace of German bureaucracy. Run both cities through the cost calculator before committing. The five year delta typically runs EUR 90,000 to EUR 160,000 in Berlin's favour.
Frequently asked questions
Is Tokyo or Berlin cheaper for international school families in 2026?
Berlin is moderately cheaper across schools, housing and food. The combined family budget runs about 20 to 30 percent lower in Berlin once fees, rent and groceries are added up.
Which city has better international schools?
Tokyo has the deeper bench with longer track records (ASIJ, BST, St Mary's, Sacred Heart). Berlin's Tier 1 (BBIS, BIS Berlin, JFK) is credible and stable, but the IB Diploma cohort depth is thinner.
Can I get my child into JFK or Nelson Mandela for free?
JFK is a German-American bilingual public school with a long waiting list and a German-language threshold for older intake. Nelson Mandela is a state IB school capped by language requirements. Both are free but extremely oversubscribed.
Is the family visa easier in Tokyo or Berlin?
Berlin is faster for EU nationals. Germany's EU Blue Card and skilled worker permits cover the family in standard cases. Japan's Highly Skilled Professional and Engineer/Specialist routes are well established for the principal, with family dependants typically processed in eight to twelve weeks.
Where do most international families live in each city?
Tokyo families cluster in Hiroo, Azabu, Roppongi, Setagaya and Meguro. Berlin families pick Zehlendorf, Dahlem, Kleinmachnow, Charlottenburg and Prenzlauer Berg.
