Quick answer: How much do international schools in BrasÃlia cost in 2026? BrasÃlia's international schools quote monthly tuition, typically roughly R$ 4,500 to 7,000 for primary and R$ 7,500 to 11,000 for the IB or high school years, billed over twelve or thirteen months. Add an annual enrolment fee equal to about one month, materials, lunches and optional transport, so the true yearly cost is usually R$ 65,000 to 150,000 per child.
Last reviewed: September 2026 by David from ISA. Fee ranges are indicative; always confirm with the school.
Understanding international school fees in BrasÃlia starts with one local habit: schools quote a monthly figure, the mensalidade, rather than an annual total. That makes headline prices look modest to families arriving from Europe or Asia, until they realise it is paid twelve or thirteen times a year and sits on top of a separate enrolment fee. This guide converts those figures into honest annual budgets, school by school, and lists the extras you should expect.
The ranges below reflect published 2026 fee tables and parent feedback across the five schools listed in our directory. Brazilian schools adjust prices every December for the school year that starts in February, so treat all numbers as indicative and confirm the current table with each admissions office.
Why schooling in BrasÃlia has its own price logic
BrasÃlia was inaugurated on 21 April 1960 and has been a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1987, which explains its unusual layout: a planned city of superquadras along the Asa Norte and Asa Sul wings, with embassies clustered in the Setor de Embaixadas and the Lago Sul lakeside neighbourhood where many diplomatic and international families live. Most international schools sit in Lago Sul, Lago Norte or the nearby Setor de Clubes, so commutes are short compared with São Paulo or Rio, and few families need paid school transport.
The city's international school population is dominated by diplomatic missions, multilateral agencies and federal government contractors. That gives it stability but also means fee increases track Brazilian inflation closely, often 6 to 10 percent a year. Foreign families whose salaries are paid in dollars or euros have seen fees fall in real terms in some years and rise sharply in others, so build a buffer into any education allowance.
Curricula on offer and what they cost
BrasÃlia offers a narrower curriculum menu than the coastal cities, but every major track is represented.
- International Baccalaureate: the American School of BrasÃlia and School of the Nations offer the IB Diploma, which pushes fees to the top of the local range in the final two years.
- American curriculum with AP: the American School of BrasÃlia also runs a US high school diploma alongside the Brazilian one.
- British curriculum: The British School of BrasÃlia follows the English National Curriculum with Cambridge assessments and is priced in the middle band.
- Swiss and German bilingual: SIS Swiss International School BrasÃlia teaches bilingually in English and Portuguese with a European approach, at a mid-range price.
- Brazilian bilingual programmes: BrasÃlia International School and others combine the national BNCC curriculum with English immersion, usually the most affordable route.
Fees at BrasÃlia's international schools
American School of BrasÃlia (EAB)
The oldest international school in the city, EAB serves a large diplomatic community on its Lago Sul campus and offers both the IB Diploma and a US diploma. Families report monthly tuition of roughly R$ 8,000 to 11,000 in high school, with a one-time capital fee for new students. It is the most expensive option but also the most established.
School of the Nations
Nations offers a fully bilingual Portuguese and English programme culminating in the IB Diploma, with a strong values-based ethos. Monthly fees sit roughly between R$ 5,500 and 8,500 depending on grade, and the school is known for transparent pricing that bundles most materials.
The British School of BrasÃlia
A smaller school following the English National Curriculum, popular with European families who want a British route without São Paulo prices. Monthly tuition is roughly R$ 5,000 to 7,500, and class sizes are small, which parents cite as the main reason for choosing it.
SIS Swiss International School BrasÃlia
Part of the SIS group, this campus teaches bilingually with a Swiss pedagogical framework and prepares students for both Brazilian and international qualifications. Expect roughly R$ 4,800 to 7,000 a month, with an enrolment fee equal to one monthly payment.
BrasÃlia International School
A bilingual school anchored in the Brazilian curriculum with extended English, and the most accessible price point in this list at roughly R$ 4,500 to 6,000 a month. It suits families planning a long stay who want children to keep pace with the Brazilian system.
Annual budgets in reais and the extras to expect
Converting the monthly figures, a realistic 2026 annual budget per child is roughly R$ 65,000 to 90,000 for bilingual primary programmes, R$ 80,000 to 110,000 for international primary and middle years, and R$ 110,000 to 150,000 for the IB Diploma or US high school years at EAB. Most schools bill twelve instalments, some thirteen, so ask which applies before dividing.
One verifiable detail that affects cash flow: Brazil's school year runs from early February to mid December, and enrolment fees for the following year are typically due in October or November. Families relocating mid-year pay a pro-rated tuition but usually the full enrolment fee. The following extras are common.
- MatrÃcula (annual enrolment fee): equal to one monthly payment, due each year.
- Capital or admission fee for new families: R$ 5,000 to 20,000 at some schools, one-off.
- Materials and textbooks: R$ 2,500 to 6,000 a year, higher in IB years.
- Lunch: R$ 6,000 to 9,000 a year where not included.
- School transport: R$ 8,000 to 14,000 a year, optional and rarely needed in Lago Sul.
- Uniforms: R$ 1,500 to 3,000 in the first year.
- IB or AP exam fees: R$ 4,000 to 8,000 in the final two years.
Practical advice for paying school fees in BrasÃlia
Check which month the increase lands. Brazilian law requires schools to publish the new fee table 45 days before the enrolment period, and the increase applies from February. If you enrol in August, you will see a jump six months later, so ask for the projected table rather than the current one.
Pay in reais from a local account. Schools invoice by boleto or direct debit and few accept international cards without a surcharge. Diplomatic families often have employer arrangements; everyone else should open a Brazilian account early. If your allowance is fixed in dollars, remember that a 10 percent move in the exchange rate is normal within a single school year.
Ask about bundled pricing. Some schools include materials and lunches in the mensalidade while others itemise everything. Two schools with the same headline monthly fee can differ by R$ 12,000 a year once extras are counted, so compare total annual cost, not the monthly number.
Compare BrasÃlia schools with verified reviews
Filter BrasÃlia schools by curriculum and price band, and read what current parents say about value for money, in the ISA ranking of the best schools in Brazil.
More guides to schools in BrasÃlia
- Bilingual Schools in BrasÃlia: A 2026 Guide for Expat and Local Families
- ISA ranking of the best schools in Brazil
Frequently asked questions
Are international schools in BrasÃlia cheaper than in São Paulo?
Generally yes. The most expensive BrasÃlia school charges roughly R$ 11,000 a month at the top end, while leading São Paulo international schools exceed R$ 14,000 to 16,000 a month. Housing in Lago Sul is also cheaper than the equivalent São Paulo neighbourhoods, so the total cost of an expat posting is noticeably lower.
How many monthly payments do BrasÃlia schools charge?
Most schools bill twelve monthly instalments from January or February to December, and a few bill thirteen with the enrolment fee counted separately. Always ask whether the quoted mensalidade is one of twelve or thirteen, because the difference on a R$ 8,000 fee is R$ 8,000 a year per child.
Do BrasÃlia international schools offer discounts for diplomats or siblings?
Sibling discounts of 5 to 10 percent are common from the second child. Several schools have long-standing agreements with embassies and international organisations that fix fees for the posting period or waive the capital fee. Ask your mission's administrative office and the school's admissions team, since these are not published.