Primary school fees in Manila (2026/27)

Manila runs one of Southeast Asia's deepest international school markets, and the primary years are where most expat families first enrol, spread across Makati, Bonifacio Global City and the southern corridor. The premium schools quote in United States dollars, so the figures here are published in dollars, and primary tuition rises steadily from grade one to grade six. The International School Manila and the British School Manila anchor the premium tier.

The table below shows the primary range from grade one to grade six for named Manila schools, drawn directly from our Manila fees guide. These are the school's own published entry and grade six rates, so treat them as a starting point and confirm the exact year group before you budget. Start from the Manila schools hub to shortlist by curriculum and district, and compare with the nursery and preschool bands.

Primary fees by school, grade one to grade six

Figures are the schools' own grade one and grade six tuition rates from our Manila fees research. Intermediate grades fall between the two. Confirm the exact year group directly with each school before you budget.

Registration, deposit and other costs

Tuition is only part of the primary 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 drawn 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 primary price. The premium American and British schools staff their primary years largely with overseas hires and bill in dollars, which sits at the top, while the mid international schools deliver strong English medium primary with more locally hired staff at a lower price. The breadth of specialist primary teaching, in music, sport, languages and science, widens the gap between the tiers.

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 primary at the upper middle of the range. A mid international school can deliver solid English medium primary 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. 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 equal several months of primary tuition, so factor it into the first year budget and check whether an employer package covers it.

The rising grade scale comes next. Primary tuition steps up from grade one to grade six at every school, so a family budgeting on the entry rate can be caught out by the grade six figure. Metro Manila traffic makes the school bus a common line at USD 900 to 2,500 a year, a refundable security deposit is held by the premium schools, and uniform, devices and canteen add further across the primary phase.

For the earlier stage, read the Manila nursery and preschool 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

Primary tuition at Manila international schools runs from roughly USD 7,000 to 27,500 a year and rises through the grades. The International School Manila and British School Manila sit at the top, while mid international schools such as Everest Academy and Singapore School Manila sit lower. Confirm the exact year group with each school.

Yes. Tuition steps up from grade one to grade six at every school. At the International School Manila it moves from about USD 22,000 to USD 27,500, and at the British School Manila from about USD 19,500 to USD 25,000.

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, upper primary device schemes and canteen.

Among named schools, European International School Manila, Singapore School Manila and Everest Academy Manila sit at the lower end for primary, from roughly USD 8,000 to 12,000 a year, while the premium schools sit far higher.