International School Fees in Almaty: 2026 Cost Guide for Expat Families

Quick answer: How much do international schools in Almaty cost in 2026? International school tuition in Almaty runs from roughly USD 6,000 a year at Kazakh-international bilingual schools to about USD 30,000 for the IB Diploma or A Level years at Haileybury Almaty and Almaty International School. Most schools price in tenge but index to the dollar, so budget in USD. Add an enrolment fee of USD 1,000 to 5,000, a deposit, transport and uniforms.

Last reviewed: September 2026 by Emma from ISA. Fee ranges are indicative; always confirm with the school.

Almaty is no longer the capital of Kazakhstan, but it remains the country's largest city, its commercial centre and the base for most of the international families working in energy, mining, banking and the fast-growing technology sector. It also has the widest range of international schools in Central Asia, from long-established American and British schools to newer Kazakh-international hybrids. That variety makes international school fees in Almaty harder to compare than in smaller markets, because the gap between the cheapest and most expensive options is roughly fivefold. This guide sets out what families pay in 2026, in tenge and dollars, and what sits outside the headline tuition.

Why fees in Almaty vary so widely

Almaty has around two million residents and sits at the foot of the Trans-Ili Alatau mountains, which rise to over 4,000 metres directly behind the city. Expatriate demand comes from oil and gas majors with Caspian operations, mining groups, the Almaty financial community, embassies and consulates, and a large cohort of relocated IT professionals who arrived from 2022 onwards. Alongside them is a wealthy Kazakh middle class that increasingly wants an English-medium education leading to universities abroad.

That second group has changed the market. A decade ago there were two or three international schools serving mainly foreigners; today there are at least six, several of them majority Kazakh, and pricing reflects whether a school is competing for expatriate packages or for local families paying out of pocket. Schools with British brand names and expatriate teaching staff sit at the top; Kazakh-international bilingual schools with mostly local teachers sit at the bottom.

Geography matters for cost too. The most expensive schools are in the southern foothills districts of Bostandyk and Medeu, where housing is also priciest. Traffic in Almaty is heavy, so most families either live near the school or pay for a bus.

Curricula available in Almaty

International Baccalaureate: the IB continuum at Almaty International School and Miras International School, the latter one of the earliest IB schools in Central Asia.
British and Cambridge: IGCSE and A Level at Haileybury Almaty, part of the UK Haileybury family, and at Kazakhstan International School.
American curriculum: an American-style programme with AP courses at Almaty International School, founded by Quality Schools International.
Kazakh-international bilingual: Galaxy International School and the International College of Continuous Education blend an international programme in English with Kazakh and Russian, at markedly lower fees.
Nazarbayev Intellectual Schools and state lyceums: selective, high-performing and largely free, but taught in Kazakh and Russian with English; rarely suitable for short postings.

International schools in Almaty and what they charge

Haileybury Almaty

Opened in 2008 as the first overseas school of Haileybury in the UK, this is the most prestigious and most expensive school in the city. It follows the English National Curriculum through IGCSE and A Level on a large campus in the southern foothills, with expatriate teaching staff and a strong record of placing students at UK and US universities. Tuition is roughly USD 18,000 in early years rising to about USD 30,000 in the sixth form, plus a substantial one-off enrolment fee.

Almaty International School

AIS was founded in 1993 by Quality Schools International and serves the diplomatic and corporate community with an American curriculum and the IB Diploma. Accredited by MSA, it has a genuinely international cohort and small classes. Fees are roughly USD 15,000 to 28,000 a year and are quoted in US dollars, which many corporate packages prefer.

Miras International School

Miras was one of the first IB schools in Central Asia and offers PYP, MYP and Diploma alongside recognition under Kazakh law, so students receive both the IB and the national attestat. The cohort is mainly Kazakh with an international minority, and fees sit in the mid band, roughly USD 10,000 to 18,000.

Kazakhstan International School

KIS offers a Cambridge pathway from early years to A Level with a mixed Kazakh and expatriate student body and a reputation for strong academics at a lower price than Haileybury. Fees are roughly USD 9,000 to 17,000 a year.

Galaxy International School

Galaxy is a bilingual Kazakh-international school teaching an international programme in English with Kazakh and Russian, at fees roughly USD 6,000 to 11,000. It suits families staying long term who want affordability and integration, and children who will eventually enter the Kazakh system.

International school fees in Almaty: the full 2026 picture

Most schools publish fees in tenge but adjust them annually with the dollar, and several quote directly in US dollars. With the tenge trading at roughly 500 to 540 KZT per dollar through 2025 and into 2026, a USD 20,000 place equates to about 10 to 11 million tenge a year. Indicative annual tuition by stage:

Early years (ages 3 to 5): roughly USD 6,000 to 18,000 (3 to 9.5 million KZT)
Primary (ages 6 to 11): roughly USD 8,000 to 24,000
Lower secondary (ages 11 to 16): roughly USD 10,000 to 27,000
IB Diploma or A Level: roughly USD 12,000 to 30,000

Costs outside tuition:

Application fee: USD 200 to 500, non-refundable.
Enrolment or capital fee: a one-off USD 1,000 to 5,000 per child at the top schools.
Deposit: often one term, refundable with a full term of notice.
Uniforms: USD 400 to 800 in year one, including winter kit for a city where January averages around minus 5 degrees Celsius with heavy snow.
Transport: USD 1,500 to 3,000 a year for school buses.
Lunches, trips and activities: USD 1,000 to 2,500 a year.
Exam fees: IB, IGCSE and A Level entries in the final years, roughly USD 800 to 1,500.

A realistic all-in figure for one sixth-form student at the most expensive school is therefore close to USD 35,000 in the first year. Sibling discounts of 5 to 15 percent are common from the second child, and several schools offer academic scholarships for entry at Year 7 and Year 12.

Practical tips for managing school costs in Almaty

Index the education allowance to dollars. The tenge has lost a large share of its value against the dollar over the past decade, and schools raise tenge fees to compensate. If your package is set in tenge, you carry that risk; if it is set in dollars or pegged to the school's published fee schedule, the employer does.

Consider a bilingual school for younger children. Families staying several years often use a Kazakh-international school at USD 6,000 to 11,000 for primary, then move to an IB or Cambridge school for the exam years, saving a large sum and giving children functional Russian or Kazakh.

Apply early for the top two schools. Haileybury Almaty and Almaty International School run waiting lists in several year groups, and both assess in English and maths. Start the process as soon as the posting is confirmed, ideally six months before arrival.

Compare international schools in Almaty

Fee schedules in Almaty are revised each year in line with the dollar, and the gap between schools is wide. Compare verified profiles, parent reviews and current fee bands in our ranking of the best international schools in Almaty.

More guides to schools in Almaty

Frequently asked questions

What is the most expensive international school in Almaty?

Haileybury Almaty is the most expensive, with tuition of roughly USD 18,000 in early years rising to about USD 30,000 in the sixth form, plus a one-off enrolment fee. Almaty International School, which offers an American curriculum and the IB Diploma, is close behind at roughly USD 15,000 to 28,000.

Do international schools in Almaty charge in tenge or dollars?

Most publish fees in tenge but revise them each year in line with the US dollar, and a few, including Almaty International School, quote directly in dollars. Because the tenge has weakened over time, families whose allowance is fixed in tenge should expect annual increases and negotiate a dollar-linked package where possible.

Are there affordable international schools in Almaty?

Yes. Kazakh-international bilingual schools such as Galaxy International School and the International College of Continuous Education charge roughly USD 6,000 to 11,000 a year and teach an international programme in English alongside Kazakh and Russian. They suit long-term residents more than short postings.