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

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

Nantong is not the first city most expatriate families think of in Jiangsu, yet its manufacturing base and its fast link to Shanghai bring a steady flow of engineers, managers and returning Chinese families. This guide explains what international school fees in Nantong look like for the 2026 to 2027 school year, what sits on top of tuition, and how the licensing rules in China shape what each school can charge and to whom.

None of the three schools we list publishes fees on its profile, so the figures below are cautious ranges in Chinese yuan with rough US dollar equivalents. Use them to plan, then ask each admissions team for a written fee schedule for your child's exact year group.

Nantong for international families: where and why

Nantong sits on the north bank of the Yangtze, facing Suzhou and Shanghai across the river. Road and rail crossings link it to Shanghai, and the train to central Shanghai takes roughly 1 to 1.5 hours depending on the service. That makes the city practical for families where one parent works in Nantong's industrial parks and the household still wants easy weekends, flights and hospital access in Shanghai.

Most international families work in shipbuilding, chemicals, textiles, electronics, logistics or the city's industrial parks. The Su-Xi-Tong Science and Technology Industrial Park is where Huili School Nantong has its address, and it is a natural place to look for housing if your employer is based there. If you are looking at central districts such as Chongchuan, plan for a car journey to school rather than a short walk, and test the commute at rush hour before you sign a lease.

Curricula available

• Bilingual English and Chinese: Huili School Nantong combines the English Early Years Foundation Stage with the Chinese curriculum for ages 3 to 6 and integrates Chinese and UK curricula in primary.
• A Level: Huili School Nantong's secondary and high school prepare pupils for public examinations and university entry up to A Level.
• Cambridge and IB: Nantong Stalford International School's profile describes it as a certified Cambridge International school and lists the International Baccalaureate among its programmes, from primary to pre-university.
• Nord Anglia international programme: Nord Anglia School Nantong belongs to the Nord Anglia Education group and lists English and Mandarin as languages of instruction.

The schools and how their fees differ

Huili School Nantong

Now known as Hiba Academy Nantong according to its profile, this is a bilingual English and Chinese immersive boarding school within Wellington College Education (China). It runs from nursery through primary and secondary to A Level, at 66 Haide Road in the Su-Xi-Tong park. Its primary curriculum fully meets the Chinese national curriculum. Tip: because it follows the national curriculum in the compulsory years, it falls under the private education rules described below, so ask how fees are approved and whether boarding is priced as a separate line.

Nantong Stalford International School

Nantong Stalford International School teaches in English and covers primary, secondary and pre-university levels, with Cambridge International certification and IB listed on its profile. The school's own description puts weight on student wellbeing alongside grades. Tip: ask which programme applies at each stage, as schools offering both Cambridge and IB often charge different fees for IGCSE years and for the pre-university programme, and exam entries are usually extra.

Nord Anglia School Nantong

Nord Anglia School Nantong is part of the Nord Anglia Education global family and lists both English and Mandarin as instructional languages. Its profile gives little curriculum detail and no address. Tip: ask the school directly which students it may enrol under its licence, since this affects whether a foreign-passport child and a Chinese-passport sibling can attend the same school at the same fee.

International school fees in Nantong by stage

The ranges below are rough 2026 estimates based on typical pricing for international and bilingual schools in Jiangsu's second-tier cities. Fees are in CNY; USD equivalents use roughly CNY 7.1 to the dollar.

• Nursery and kindergarten (ages 3 to 6): roughly CNY 100,000 to CNY 180,000 a year (about USD 14,000 to USD 25,000).
• Primary (ages 6 to 11): roughly CNY 150,000 to CNY 220,000 a year (about USD 21,000 to USD 31,000).
• Middle and secondary (ages 11 to 16): roughly CNY 170,000 to CNY 250,000 a year (about USD 24,000 to USD 35,000).
• A Level, IB or pre-university (ages 16 to 18): roughly CNY 190,000 to CNY 280,000 a year (about USD 27,000 to USD 39,000).
• Boarding, where offered: roughly CNY 30,000 to CNY 70,000 a year on top of tuition.

Regulation shapes the market. China's revised Regulations for the Implementation of the Law on the Promotion of Private Education took effect on 1 September 2021 and tightened control of private schools, including fee oversight and restrictions on for-profit compulsory education; schools for children of foreign personnel operate under a separate licence. In practice, bilingual schools teaching the national curriculum to Chinese nationals in the compulsory years face closer scrutiny of fees, while licensed schools for foreign children set fees under their own framework. Ask every school which licence it holds and which passports it may accept.

Extras that commonly appear on Nantong invoices:

• Application fee: usually non-refundable, often CNY 1,000 to CNY 3,000.
• Enrolment deposit or seat reservation: may be deducted from the first term or held until departure.
• Development or capital levy: charged once or annually at some schools.
• School bus: priced by zone; essential if you live far from the Su-Xi-Tong park.
• Lunch and snacks: sometimes included, often billed per term.
• Uniform and sports kit: a few thousand yuan in the first year.
• Exam entries: Cambridge IGCSE, A Level and IB fees are usually billed per subject.
• Devices, trips and activities: laptops, residential trips and paid clubs.

Practical advice on paying fees in Nantong

Start with your employer's package. Many families in Nantong are posted by manufacturers or engineering firms, and education allowances are common. Find out whether the company pays the school directly, whether it covers the full fee or a capped amount, and whether extras such as transport and boarding are included. A capped allowance in dollars can leave a gap if the school raises fees in yuan.

Think about currency and timing. Fees are invoiced in CNY, so families paid in dollars, euros or won carry exchange risk. Paying a full year up front can secure a discount at some schools, but it also locks in the exchange rate on one day. Ask about termly instalments, refunds on early departure, and how much notice you must give to recover a deposit.

Ask about fee rises and sibling reductions. Request the last two or three years of fee changes so you can project the cost of a full school career, and ask whether a second or third child receives a reduction. For a family planning to stay five years or more, the annual increase matters as much as the starting fee.

Compare schools across the province

If you are also weighing Suzhou or Wuxi, our ranking of the best international schools in Jiangsu puts Nantong's options in a wider context, so you can compare curriculum and location before you ask for fee schedules.

More guides to schools in Nantong

• best international schools in Jiangsu

Frequently asked questions

Can foreign children attend bilingual schools in Nantong?

It depends on each school's licence. Schools for children of foreign personnel operate under a separate licence from Chinese private schools, so ask admissions which passports they can enrol at each stage. Huili School Nantong follows the Chinese national curriculum in primary, which matters if you hold a foreign passport and want a fully international programme.

How much is boarding at international schools in Nantong?

Where boarding is offered, plan for roughly CNY 30,000 to CNY 70,000 a year on top of tuition, depending on weekly or full boarding and room type. Huili School Nantong describes itself as a boarding school. Ask whether weekend supervision, laundry and meals are included, as these are sometimes listed separately.

Is it cheaper to send my child to school in Nantong or Shanghai?

Nantong fees are often somewhat lower than at the top Shanghai schools, but the gap can narrow once boarding, transport and exams are added. Some families live in Nantong and accept the train journey of roughly 1 to 1.5 hours for work in Shanghai. Compare the full annual cost, not tuition alone.