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

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

Ulaanbaatar is a small international education market with a surprisingly clear price structure. If you are relocating for mining, diplomacy, development work or a university post, the first thing to understand about international school fees in Ulaanbaatar is that there are only three genuinely international options, all of them price in US dollars, and the gap between the cheapest and most expensive is wide enough to change how you negotiate your relocation package. This guide sets out what families actually pay in 2026, what sits outside the headline tuition figure, and where the money goes.

Why fees in Ulaanbaatar look the way they do

Mongolia has a population of about 3.5 million and almost half of it lives in the capital, yet the expatriate community is modest and concentrated. Demand for international schooling comes mainly from embassies, international NGOs, mining contractors linked to Oyu Tolgoi and the coal sector, and a growing group of Mongolian families who want their children to enter universities abroad. That mix keeps the market small, so schools cannot rely on volume and price accordingly.

Geography matters too. The three international schools sit in different parts of the city: the International School of Ulaanbaatar is on the eastern edge near the Tuul river, the British School of Ulaanbaatar is in the Khan-Uul district to the south, and the American School of Ulaanbaatar is towards the west. Traffic in Ulaanbaatar is notoriously heavy in winter, so families tend to choose housing after choosing the school, and the school bus fee is not an optional extra for most.

Winter is a real cost factor. Average January temperatures sit around minus 20 to minus 25 degrees Celsius, which means schools mandate heavy outdoor kit, indoor shoes and specific cold-weather uniform pieces that add several hundred dollars in the first year.

Curricula available in Ulaanbaatar

Each school follows a different system, which is unusual for a city of this size and makes the choice easier than in bigger hubs.

• International Baccalaureate (PYP, MYP and Diploma): the full IB continuum is offered by the International School of Ulaanbaatar, the only IB World School in Mongolia authorised for all three programmes.
• British curriculum (Cambridge): English National Curriculum in primary, Cambridge IGCSE and A Levels in secondary, at the British School of Ulaanbaatar.
• American curriculum: a US-style programme with Advanced Placement options and a high school diploma at the American School of Ulaanbaatar.
• Mongolian national programme with English streams: several private Mongolian schools offer bilingual tracks at far lower prices, but they are not accredited international schools and are rarely a fit for short-term expatriate postings.

The international schools in Ulaanbaatar and what they charge

International School of Ulaanbaatar

ISU is the oldest and largest international school in the country, founded in 1992 and accredited by CIS and NEASC. It is the only option for families who want the IB Diploma, and its graduates head mostly to universities in the United States, Canada, the UK and Australia. Tuition is the highest in the city, roughly USD 14,000 in early years rising to about USD 27,000 in Grades 11 and 12, plus a one-off capital fee. Class sizes are small and the campus includes purpose-built science labs and a full-size gym, which matters in a city where children are indoors for five months a year.

British School of Ulaanbaatar

BSU opened in 2011 and follows the English National Curriculum through to Cambridge A Levels. Fees sit in the middle band, roughly USD 10,000 to 20,000 depending on year group, with a separate registration fee. The school attracts a mixed cohort of Mongolian and international families and is a practical choice for children who will later move to schools in the UK, the Gulf or Southeast Asia, where the Cambridge pathway is widely recognised.

American School of Ulaanbaatar

ASU offers a US-style programme from kindergarten to Grade 12 and is the most accessible of the three on price, with tuition roughly USD 8,000 to 18,000 a year. The student body is predominantly Mongolian, so it is a good fit for families who want strong English-medium teaching, exposure to local culture and a US high school diploma, and are less concerned about a majority expatriate peer group.

International school fees in Ulaanbaatar: what to budget in 2026

Schools publish their fee schedules in US dollars and accept payment in dollars or in Mongolian tugrik at the day rate. With the tugrik trading at roughly 3,400 to 3,600 MNT per dollar through 2025 and into 2026, a mid-range secondary place of USD 18,000 equates to somewhere between 61 million and 65 million MNT a year. Indicative annual tuition by stage:

• Early years (ages 3 to 5): roughly USD 8,000 to 14,000
• Primary (ages 5 to 11): roughly USD 10,000 to 20,000
• Lower secondary (ages 11 to 16): roughly USD 13,000 to 24,000
• IB Diploma, A Level or Grade 11 to 12: roughly USD 15,000 to 27,000

Costs that sit outside tuition and that families regularly underestimate:

• Application and enrolment fees: USD 200 to 500 to apply, then a one-off enrolment or capital fee of USD 1,000 to 3,000 per child.
• Refundable deposit: typically one term of fees or a fixed USD 1,000 to 2,000, returned when you give a full term of notice.
• Uniforms and winter kit: USD 400 to 800 in year one, including the mandatory cold-weather items.
• School bus: USD 1,200 to 2,500 a year. Given winter traffic and air quality, most families use it.
• Examination fees: IB Diploma and Cambridge exam entries are billed separately in the final years, usually USD 800 to 1,500 in total.
• Lunches, trips and after-school activities: budget another USD 1,000 to 2,000 a year.

A realistic all-in figure for one child in secondary at the most expensive school is therefore close to USD 30,000 in the first year. Families with two or three children should ask about sibling discounts, which several schools apply from the second child.

Practical tips for managing school costs in Ulaanbaatar

Negotiate the education allowance before you accept the posting. Most corporate and diplomatic packages in Mongolia include school fees, but the cap is often set with the cheapest school in mind. Ask for the allowance to be indexed to the fee schedule of the school you actually intend to use, and to cover the enrolment fee and bus.

Pay in dollars if you can. The tugrik has depreciated steadily over the past decade. If your salary is paid in a hard currency, settling fees in dollars removes exchange-rate risk from a five-figure annual bill.

Apply early for the IB years. ISU is the only IB Diploma provider and its upper-secondary cohort is small. Families who arrive mid-year sometimes find that the Diploma class is full and must consider a different pathway, so start the conversation with admissions as soon as the posting is confirmed.

Compare international schools in Ulaanbaatar

Fee schedules change each academic year and some schools quietly add new charges. Before you commit, compare verified profiles, reviews and current price bands in our ranking of the best international schools in Ulaanbaatar.

More guides to schools in Ulaanbaatar

• How to choose an international school in Ulaanbaatar: 2026 guide
• ranking of the best international schools in Ulaanbaatar

Frequently asked questions

What is the cheapest international school in Ulaanbaatar?

The American School of Ulaanbaatar is generally the most affordable of the three accredited international schools, with tuition starting at roughly USD 8,000 a year in the early grades. The British School of Ulaanbaatar sits in the middle band and the International School of Ulaanbaatar, the only IB World School, is the most expensive.

Do international schools in Ulaanbaatar charge in US dollars or tugrik?

All three international schools publish their fees in US dollars. You can usually pay in dollars or in Mongolian tugrik converted at the exchange rate on the day of payment. Because the tugrik has weakened over time, families paid in foreign currency generally prefer to settle invoices in dollars.

Are there sibling discounts at international schools in Ulaanbaatar?

Yes, most schools reduce tuition for the second and subsequent children, typically by 5 to 15 percent. Discounts rarely apply to enrolment fees, deposits, transport or exam entries, so ask admissions for a written breakdown before you sign the enrolment contract.