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

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

Families moving to the Boka, as locals call the Bay of Kotor, quickly discover that the choice of English-medium schooling is small and that published price lists are rare. This guide sets out what international school fees in Kotor look like in 2026, which extras to expect on top of tuition, and how to build a realistic annual budget before you sign a lease or a contract.

None of the three schools we list publishes its fees on its profile, so every figure here is a cautious estimate given as a range. Treat it as a planning tool, then ask each admissions office for the current fee schedule in writing. The good news is that the currency side is simple, as you will see below.

Kotor and the bay: where the schools actually are

Most international families who settle around Kotor arrive for remote work, yachting and marina jobs, hospitality, property projects or simply the lifestyle of a small Adriatic coast with mountains behind it. The old town of Kotor is a UNESCO World Heritage site, and the municipality stretches well beyond the walls: along the inner bay through Dobrota, Prčanj and Muo, and south over the hill into the Grbalj plain towards the open sea.

The geography matters for school runs. The bay road is narrow and busy in summer, and the Vrmac ridge separates Kotor from Tivat, which sits about 10 km away and is where many expatriate families rent near the marina. Tivat airport is the main local gateway, and the area around it has become a practical base for families who want quick access to both towns.

Here is the honest picture of the three options. Arcadia Academy has a Kotor municipality address in Lješevići, but its profile places it near Tivat airport on a secluded green site reached by a private road, so in practice it serves both Kotor and Tivat families. Knightsbridge School International gives no street address on its profile and simply describes itself as being in the Bay of Kotor, so ask for the campus location before you choose housing. UNITED KIDS INTERNATIONAL Montenegro is listed under Kotor, but its address and description place it in Podgorica, the capital, which is roughly a 90 minute drive inland. It is only realistic for families who live or work in Podgorica.

Curricula available

• Cambridge (British): Arcadia Academy describes itself as a Cambridge international school offering a British primary and secondary education for ages 3 to 18.
• British-modelled international programme: Knightsbridge School International is modelled on Knightsbridge School in London and on international standards, for ages 3 to 18, with day and boarding places.
• Multi-level English-medium programme: UNITED KIDS INTERNATIONAL Montenegro offers preschool and elementary and middle school in mixed-level classrooms, in Podgorica.

All three teach in English. Montenegrin is the host language, and it is worth asking each school how much local language teaching is included in the fee, since extra tutoring is a common hidden cost.

The schools and what you are paying for

Arcadia Academy

Arcadia Academy takes children from age 3 to 18 and follows Cambridge programmes in English. Its profile describes a 5,000 square metre site in a green zone near Tivat airport, accessed by a private road and a few minutes from the sea, with sport, outdoor and social activities alongside academics. Tip: because the site is out of town, ask whether a school bus runs from Kotor old town and from Tivat, and whether it is priced per term or per trip. Also ask whether Cambridge exam entry fees for IGCSE and A Level are billed separately, which is normal at British-curriculum schools.

Knightsbridge School International

Knightsbridge School International Montenegro is a day and boarding school for boys and girls aged 3 to 18, teaching in English and drawing on the model of Knightsbridge School in London. The profile stresses a community of many nationalities and languages. Tip: boarding changes the budget entirely, so ask for the day fee and the boarding supplement as separate lines, and check whether weekly boarding exists for families who live on the bay but travel often.

UNITED KIDS INTERNATIONAL Montenegro

UNITED KIDS INTERNATIONAL Montenegro (UKIM) offers preschool plus elementary and middle school to local and expatriate children in Podgorica, using a multi-level classroom approach. Its profile says it was set up in 2016 by a parent who saw a need for affordable, quality education in Podgorica. Tip: it is the one to compare if your work is in the capital, and its stated focus on affordability makes it a useful benchmark when you ask the coastal schools to justify their fees.

International school fees in Kotor by stage

Because no fees are published on the profiles, the ranges below are rough estimates for 2026 based on typical pricing for small English-medium schools in the region. Ask for the official schedule before relying on them.

• Early years (ages 3 to 5): roughly EUR 6,000 to EUR 10,000 a year, sometimes with half-day options at a lower rate.
• Primary (ages 5 to 11): roughly EUR 10,000 to EUR 16,000 a year.
• Secondary (ages 11 to 16): roughly EUR 13,000 to EUR 20,000 a year.
• Sixth form or pre-university (ages 16 to 18): roughly EUR 15,000 to EUR 22,000 a year.
• Boarding supplement, where offered: roughly EUR 15,000 to EUR 25,000 a year on top of day tuition.

For readers comparing with home, EUR 10,000 is roughly USD 11,000 to 12,000 at recent exchange rates. Montenegro is not a member of the eurozone, but it has used the euro as its sole currency since 2002 (it adopted the Deutsche Mark in 1999 and switched to the euro in 2002), so school fees are invoiced in EUR with no currency exchange risk for families paid in euros. Families paid in dollars or pounds still carry that exposure, so it is worth budgeting with a margin of 5 to 10 percent.

Extras to ask about before you accept a place:

• Application or registration fee: usually non-refundable, often a few hundred euros.
• Enrolment deposit: sometimes refundable when the child leaves with proper notice; check the notice period carefully.
• Capital or development levy: a one-off or annual charge at some private schools.
• Transport: important for sites outside town; ask about routes from Kotor, Dobrota and Tivat.
• Meals: lunch may be included or charged per term.
• Uniforms and sports kit: typically a few hundred euros in the first year.
• Exam entry fees: Cambridge IGCSE and A Level entries are often billed per subject.
• Devices and trips: laptops or tablets, residential trips and after-school clubs.

Practical advice for budgeting

Ask for the full annual cost, not just tuition. Request a single written figure that includes registration, deposit, transport, meals and exams for your child's year group. In a market this small, the difference between two schools is often in the extras rather than the headline fee, and the transport line can be significant if you live on the far side of the bay.

Check payment terms and discounts. Ask whether fees can be paid termly or monthly, whether there is a discount for paying the year up front, and whether siblings receive a reduction. If an employer is paying, confirm whether the school invoices the company directly and how quickly it expects payment. Ask too what happens to fees if you leave mid-year, since seasonal work contracts on the coast often end early.

Match the school to where you will live. Choosing housing first and then discovering a 40 minute summer drive each way is a common mistake around the bay. Visit at peak traffic times, compare the commute from Kotor and from Tivat, and remember that the Podgorica option only makes sense if your life is based in the capital.

Compare the options

To see how these schools sit alongside each other on curriculum, ages and location, read our guide to the best international schools in Kotor, then contact each school for its 2026 to 2027 fee schedule.

More guides to schools in Kotor

• best international schools in Kotor

Frequently asked questions

Are international schools in Montenegro expensive?

By Western European standards they are moderate. Around the Bay of Kotor, day tuition is roughly EUR 10,000 to EUR 22,000 a year for school-age children, with early years cheaper. Boarding adds a large supplement. Because fees are invoiced in euros, families earning in euros face no exchange risk, but dollar and sterling earners should budget a margin.

Is there a school bus to international schools near Kotor and Tivat?

Ask each school directly, because routes change each year. Arcadia Academy sits on a secluded site near Tivat airport reached by a private road, so transport matters there. Check pick-up points in Kotor old town, Dobrota and Tivat, whether the bus is charged per term, and how long the summer journey takes on the bay road.

Can I find an international school in Kotor for under EUR 10,000 a year?

Possibly at early years level, where fees are roughly EUR 6,000 to EUR 10,000 a year. For primary and secondary, most families should plan for more once transport, meals and exams are added. UNITED KIDS INTERNATIONAL Montenegro states a focus on affordability, but it is in Podgorica, roughly 90 minutes inland.