Nursery and preschool fees in Manila (2026/27)

Manila runs one of Southeast Asia's deepest international school markets, spread across Makati, Bonifacio Global City, Alabang and the wider metro. The premium schools quote in United States dollars, and the early years is where families first weigh the premium campuses against the strong mid tier. Because tuition is billed in dollars, the figures here are published in dollars. The International School Manila and the British School Manila anchor the premium tier, admitting children from early childhood upward.

The bands below are indicative early years figures drawn from the reception and grade one rates in our Manila fees guide, and early years sit below those entry rates. Confirm the exact early childhood schedule with each school, as nursery and preschool are billed separately from the primary years. Start from the Manila schools hub to shortlist by curriculum and district, and compare with the primary bands.

Early years fee bands by tier

School names illustrate each band and are indicative rather than exact quotes for your child year. Confirm current fees directly with each school before you budget.

Registration, deposit and other costs

Tuition is only part of the early years bill in Manila, where the premium schools carry a substantial one off capital levy. Total cost of a place can add 15 to 25 per cent to headline fees at the top tier. The line items below are indicative bands from our Manila fees research and should be confirmed with each school.

Bands above are indicative ranges, not a single school quote. Always confirm current figures in a school fee schedule before budgeting.

What drives the cost

Curriculum and staffing set the early years price. The premium American and British schools staff their early years largely with overseas hires and bill in dollars, which sits at the top, while the mid international schools deliver strong English early years with more locally hired staff at a lower price. The International School Manila anchors the premium tier with its long established reputation.

Campus and district drive the rest. The premium schools in Bonifacio Global City and along the southern corridor sit on large purpose built campuses whose capital costs feed into the levy and fees, and schools such as Brent International School and Reedley International School offer strong early years at the upper middle of the range. A mid international school can deliver solid English early years at a lower price, usually trading campus scale rather than teaching quality.

Hidden costs parents miss

The one off capital levy catches families out first. Unlike many cities, the premium Manila schools charge a substantial building or capital levy per child, from USD 2,400 to 6,500, due when a place is confirmed and often non refundable. This can dwarf a single term of early years tuition, so factor it into the first year budget and check whether an employer package covers it.

Transport and the smaller extras come next. Metro Manila traffic makes the school bus a common line at USD 900 to 2,500 a year, and a refundable security deposit of USD 500 to 1,200 is held by the premium schools. Uniform, canteen and wraparound care add further across the early years. Confirm which charges are annual and which are one off before you commit.

For the next stage, read the Manila primary fees or browse the profiles on the Manila schools hub, including Everest Academy Manila and Singapore School Manila. To weigh Manila against another city, the international school fee calculator totals tuition plus living costs, or open the compare tool.

Frequently asked questions

Early years places at Manila international schools run from roughly USD 5,000 to 20,000 a year. The premium International School Manila and British School Manila sit at the top, upper mid schools such as Brent and Reedley sit in the middle, and mid international schools sit lower. Bands are indicative, so confirm with each school.

Several schools run early childhood departments, including the International School Manila, British School Manila, Brent International School, Reedley International School and Everest Academy Manila, alongside a deep field of mid international schools.

The premium schools charge a one off capital or building levy per child, from USD 2,400 to 6,500, on top of tuition when a place is confirmed. This makes the first year materially more expensive than later years.

Total cost of a place can add 15 to 25 per cent at the top tier, including the one off capital levy, a refundable security deposit, the school bus, uniform, canteen and wraparound care.

Yes. Early years fees sit below the primary and senior rates, where the premium schools reach the high twenties and low thirties in United States dollars. Our banding is indicative, so confirm the early childhood schedule with each school.