Quick answer: how much do international schools in Quito cost in 2026? Expect roughly 8,000 to 18,000 US dollars a year, paid as an enrolment fee plus ten monthly instalments. Colegio Menor and the British School Quito are at the top, Montebello and the SEK schools lower. Add an entrance fee, transport to the Cumbaya valley, uniforms and exam fees, roughly 10 to 15 percent more.
Last reviewed: September 2026 by Catherine from ISA. Fee ranges are indicative; always confirm with the school.
Quito is one of the few Latin American capitals where you can budget for school with no exchange-rate anxiety, because Ecuador uses the US dollar. That makes international school fees in Quito unusually transparent compared with Bogota or Lima, but the structure of the fees, with a regulated enrolment charge and ten monthly instalments, still catches new arrivals out. This guide sets out what the main schools charge, how the Ecuadorian fee system works, and where the extra costs hide, particularly transport to the valley suburbs where most international schools are located.
Why most international schools are outside the city
Quito sits at 2,850 metres in a long, narrow valley. Over the last two decades the international and bilingual schools have moved east, down the hill into the warmer, flatter valleys of Cumbaya and Tumbaco, where land was available for large campuses. Colegio Menor, the British School Quito, Montebello Academy and SEK Los Valles are all in that corridor. Many expatriate families now live in Cumbaya for exactly that reason; those who live in the north of Quito, around La Carolina or Gonzalez Suarez, should budget both time and money for the school bus, because the descent through the Guapulo or Interoceanica roads takes 30 to 60 minutes at peak times.
The school calendar also matters for budgeting. Quito follows the Sierra regime, running from early September to late June, so fees are invoiced across that period and a family arriving in January will normally be charged pro rata by month.
Curricula available in Quito
- International Baccalaureate: the strongest presence in the city. Colegio Menor, SEK Los Valles and SEK Ecuador offer the IB Diploma, often alongside the Ecuadorian bachillerato.
- American curriculum: Colegio Menor combines a US-style programme with IB and is accredited in the United States.
- British curriculum: the British School Quito and Montebello Academy follow the English National Curriculum with Cambridge examinations.
- Ecuadorian bilingual bachillerato: every school also delivers the national curriculum requirements, which is why graduates typically leave with two qualifications.
International schools in Quito and what they charge
Colegio Menor
The largest and most prestigious international school in Ecuador, on a big campus in Cumbaya, with an American programme, the IB Diploma and strong US university placement. Fees are the highest in the city, roughly 14,000 to 18,000 USD a year in the upper school, plus a significant one-off entrance fee. Waiting lists are real in the early years.
British School Quito (BSQ)
A smaller, family-feel British school in Cumbaya following the English National Curriculum through to IGCSE and A Level, with a high proportion of expatriate children. Fees are roughly 10,000 to 15,000 USD a year. It is the natural choice for families on a UK or Commonwealth track.
Montebello Academy
A British-curriculum school in the Tumbaco valley with smaller classes and a more affordable fee structure, roughly 8,000 to 12,000 USD a year. Parents mention the individual attention; the trade-off is a smaller sixth form and narrower subject choice at A Level.
SEK Los Valles
Part of the Spanish SEK group, in Cumbaya, offering the IB continuum with Spanish as a strong second language of instruction. Fees are roughly 8,000 to 12,000 USD a year. It works particularly well for Spanish-speaking expatriate families and for those planning a move to Spain or elsewhere in Latin America.
SEK Ecuador
The older SEK campus in the north of Quito, in Carcelen, and therefore one of the few IB options for families who want to avoid the valley commute. Fees are similar to SEK Los Valles. Ask about IB Diploma results by year, which fluctuate more than at the larger schools.
How Ecuadorian school fees are structured, and the extras
Ecuador regulates private school pricing more than most countries. Each year a school must have its fee increase authorised by the Ministry of Education, and by ministerial regulation the enrolment fee (matricula) may not exceed 75 percent of one monthly instalment (pension). Tuition is then paid in ten monthly pensiones from September to June. That is why Ecuadorian schools quote a monthly figure, and why you should multiply by ten and add the matricula to compare with schools elsewhere.
- Early years (ages 3 to 5): roughly 600 to 1,200 USD a month at the international schools.
- Primary (ages 6 to 11): roughly 800 to 1,500 USD a month.
- Secondary and IB Diploma or A Level: roughly 900 to 1,800 USD a month.
Extras to budget for. Entrance or admission fee: a one-off payment on joining, several thousand dollars at the top schools, partially refundable at some. Transport: the school bus is priced by route and is close to unavoidable for families living in Quito proper; roughly 100 to 200 USD a month. Uniforms: compulsory everywhere, including PE kit. Exam fees: IB Diploma, IGCSE and A Level registrations are billed at cost. Lunches, clubs and school trips: optional and invoiced separately. Insurance: a small compulsory student accident policy.
A tax point for 2026: Ecuador raised its standard VAT rate from 12 to 15 percent in April 2024, but formal education services remain VAT-exempt, so tuition, matricula and pensiones should not carry VAT. Uniform suppliers, catering and some transport contractors do charge it.
Practical advice for families budgeting for Quito
Decide where to live and where to school together. The single biggest hidden cost in Quito is not a fee but time: a north Quito to Cumbaya school run can consume two hours a day. Many families choose Cumbaya or Tumbaco specifically to walk or drive ten minutes to school.
Ask for the Ministry-approved fee sheet. Every school has an authorised fee schedule for the current year. Asking for it tells you the exact matricula and pension, removes any ambiguity about what is included, and shows you the increase trend over recent years.
Confirm the pro-rata policy for mid-year arrivals. Because fees are monthly, most schools simply start charging from the month of entry, but the matricula is usually payable in full whenever you join.
Compare Quito schools side by side
Use the ranking of the best schools in Ecuador to compare the Quito schools in this guide on fees, curriculum and parent reviews before you request visits.
More guides to schools in Quito
Frequently asked questions
How much do international schools in Quito cost per year?
Roughly 8,000 to 18,000 US dollars a year at the main international schools in Quito and the Cumbaya valley, made up of an enrolment fee (matricula) plus ten monthly instalments (pensiones). Colegio Menor and the British School Quito sit at the top of that range, SEK and Montebello Academy somewhat lower. Early years places cost less; IB Diploma years cost more.
Are Quito school fees charged in dollars?
Yes. Ecuador has used the US dollar as its official currency since 2000, so every school quotes and invoices in dollars and there is no exchange-rate risk for families paid in USD. Families paid in euros or pounds should still budget for currency movement over a multi-year posting.
What extras should I budget for beyond tuition in Quito?
Budget for a one-off admission or entrance fee, an enrolment fee each year that by regulation cannot exceed 75 percent of one monthly instalment, uniforms, the school bus (essential for the 30 to 60 minute run between Quito and Cumbaya), lunches, IB or Cambridge exam fees, and the mandatory school insurance. Together these typically add 10 to 15 percent to the headline figure.