Shanghai International School Rates Soaring Through The Roof

The latest survey from the International Schools Database has again ranked the cost of an international school education in Shanghai as the most expensive in the world.

For new expats in Shanghai as well as their employers who’re fronting the cost, finding the right international school can be a challenge as there’s not much in the way of more affordable alternatives. Average monthly tuition fees for a six-year old run at an eye-watering RMB17,586, with charges in Beijing not much lower at RMB16,145. In comparison, the cost of international education at that level in Copenhagen comes out at RMB2,391. Of course, as children get older, the costs of an international standard of education balloons still further.

A recent article in the South China Morning Post attributes the shocking cost of education to the ever-increasing number of expat professionals arriving in China. In addition, it seems employers are stepping back from expensive hirings of expat professionals in favour of their local equivalents, if in fact there are any. They’re also slow to adopt increases in schooling allowances to take account of ever-rising costs, but demand is still growing within the expat community in spite of the difficulties it’s causing. AT the same time, affluent local families are taking up the slack in ever-increasing numbers.

Comparing the cost of education in Shanghai with rental costs, education is 116 per cent dearer than the average cost of renting a home, a figure common in the rest of the expat professional world. However, the percentage differential between education in Hong Kong at an almost bargain price of RMB8,217 a month and average rental costs on the island at an amazing RMB32,688 a month at least puts overall average outgoings in Shanghai in a slightly different light.