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

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

International school fees in Nanjing sit noticeably below Shanghai and Beijing, yet the gap between the cheapest and most expensive option in the city is wide. A family with two children can spend anything from about RMB 200,000 to well over RMB 550,000 a year depending on the school, the age of the children and the extras they choose. This guide explains what drives that spread, what each school in our directory broadly charges, and which additional costs tend to surprise newcomers.

All figures are indicative ranges gathered from published fee schedules and parent feedback in 2025 and 2026. Schools revise their fees every spring, and several Nanjing schools now quote separate prices for the local bilingual track and the international track, so always confirm the exact amount with the admissions office before signing anything.

Why Nanjing is a good value city for expat schooling

Nanjing is the capital of Jiangsu province, a two-hour high-speed train ride from Shanghai, and home to large clusters of German, Korean, Japanese and American manufacturing and research employers. Most expat families live in Jiangning to the south, near the university and hi-tech zones, in the older Gulou and Xuanwu districts around the city centre, or in the newer Hexi area along the Yangtze. Where you live shapes your school shortlist because bus routes and traffic across the river or through the Zijin Mountain tunnels add real time to the school day.

The market is smaller than in first-tier cities, which keeps competition for places manageable, but it also means fewer discount options. Since China's revised Private Education Promotion Law regulations came into force on 1 September 2021, schools have separated their offerings more clearly: schools for foreign passport holders on one side, and licensed private bilingual schools that follow the national curriculum with an international flavour on the other. That split is now the single biggest factor in what you will pay.

Curricula available in Nanjing and how they affect price

Each curriculum carries its own cost structure, mainly because of teacher recruitment and examination fees.

• International Baccalaureate (PYP, MYP, DP): the full continuum is offered at Nanjing International School and drives the highest fees in the city, partly because of IB registration and exam charges in the Diploma years.
• British curriculum (IGCSE and A Levels): The British School of Nanjing and Wycombe Abbey School Nanjing follow the English National Curriculum; Cambridge exam fees are billed separately in Years 11 to 13.
• American style programmes: BASIS International School Nanjing runs its own accelerated liberal arts model with AP courses at the top end, priced in the upper band.
• Bilingual Chinese and English: EtonHouse and the bilingual streams at several campuses blend the national curriculum with English immersion at a much lower price point.
• Early years only: several kindergartens charge by term rather than by year, which helps cash flow but can look cheaper than it is.

What Nanjing's international schools charge

Nanjing International School

Founded in 1992 and the only full IB continuum school in the city, NIS is the benchmark for fees in Nanjing. Families report annual tuition of roughly RMB 200,000 in the early years rising to about RMB 290,000 for the IB Diploma, plus a one-time capital levy. The Xianlin campus has excellent sports and arts facilities, which is part of what you are paying for.

The British School of Nanjing

BSN follows the English National Curriculum from nursery to sixth form on a campus in Jiangning. Tuition sits a little below NIS, roughly RMB 180,000 to 260,000 depending on year group, and the school publishes sibling discounts. Bus fees vary by zone, so a Hexi address costs more than one in Jiangning.

BASIS International School Nanjing

Part of the US based BASIS network, this campus runs a demanding programme with early subject specialists and AP courses. Fees are in the upper band, roughly RMB 190,000 to 270,000, and the school charges a non-refundable enrolment deposit that is credited against the first invoice.

EtonHouse International School Nanjing

EtonHouse is a strong option for pre-school and primary families who want a bilingual, inquiry-based approach at a lower price. Expect roughly RMB 90,000 to 150,000 a year, with meals and bus quoted separately. Places in the nursery years fill early because of the price point.

Wycombe Abbey School Nanjing

The Nanjing campus of the Wycombe Abbey family offers a British style education with boarding options, which adds a further layer to the fee schedule. Day tuition is broadly comparable with BSN, while weekly boarding can add RMB 50,000 or more a year. Ask specifically for the international track price list.

Fee ranges in RMB and the extras that add up

As a rule of thumb for 2026, budget roughly RMB 90,000 to 150,000 a year for bilingual primary programmes, RMB 180,000 to 230,000 for international primary years and RMB 240,000 to 290,000 for the IB Diploma or A Level years at the leading schools. Kindergarten pricing is often quoted per term, so multiply by three to compare fairly.

One hard fact worth building into any negotiation with an employer: education services provided by licensed schools are exempt from Chinese VAT, so the tuition figure you see is the figure you pay, but the same is not true of bus contracts, meals and uniforms, which are usually supplied by third-party vendors and can carry tax. The recurring extras below are the ones parents most often forget.

• Application or assessment fee: RMB 1,500 to 3,000, non-refundable.
• Capital levy or enrolment fee: RMB 15,000 to 30,000, sometimes payable once per child.
• School bus: RMB 8,000 to 18,000 a year depending on distance.
• Lunches: RMB 6,000 to 10,000 a year.
• Uniform and PE kit: RMB 2,500 to 5,000 in the first year.
• IGCSE, A Level or IB exam registration: RMB 5,000 to 12,000 in exam years.
• Residential trips and after-school clubs: highly variable, often RMB 5,000 to 15,000.

Practical advice on paying school fees in Nanjing

Ask for the payment calendar, not just the total. Most Nanjing schools invoice by semester and offer a small discount for paying the full year up front, typically 2 to 3 percent. Payments must be made from a Chinese bank account in most cases, so open one before the first invoice lands. If your employer pays directly, check whether the school accepts corporate transfers from abroad and what documentation the tax bureau requires.

Negotiate the package before you sign the employment contract. Many Nanjing expat packages cap education at a fixed RMB amount per child. If the cap is set at RMB 200,000 and you want NIS or BASIS through secondary, you will be topping up from salary within two years. Ask for the allowance to be indexed to actual fees or to a named school.

Consider the bilingual route for younger children. Families who plan to stay four years or more often start in a bilingual programme, save RMB 100,000 or more a year in the early stages, and move to an international school for the exam years. The transition is easiest before Year 7.

Compare Nanjing schools by fees and reviews

Our directory lets you filter Nanjing schools by curriculum, age range and price band, and read verified parent reviews before you book a visit. Start with the ISA ranking of the best schools in China.

More guides to schools in Nanjing

• ISA ranking of the best schools in China

Frequently asked questions

Are international school fees in Nanjing cheaper than Shanghai?

Yes, usually by 15 to 30 percent for comparable programmes. A top IB school in Shanghai can exceed RMB 350,000 a year, while the equivalent in Nanjing is closer to RMB 290,000. Bilingual schools show a similar gap. Lower housing costs in Nanjing widen the overall saving for families relocating from Shanghai.

Do Nanjing schools offer sibling discounts or scholarships?

Most schools offer a sibling discount of 5 to 15 percent on the second and third child, applied to tuition only. Merit or need-based scholarships are rare below Year 10 but several schools run small bursaries for the IB Diploma or A Level years. Ask admissions directly; these are seldom advertised online.

Can I pay international school fees in Nanjing in a foreign currency?

A few schools accept USD or EUR transfers from overseas employers, but most invoice in RMB and expect payment from a Chinese account. Exchange rate movements between offer and invoice can matter, so if your package is set in a foreign currency, ask whether the school will fix the RMB amount at enrolment.