How much do international schools in Vilnius cost in 2026? Budget roughly EUR 4,000 to 7,000 a year at bilingual and Lithuanian private schools, EUR 8,000 to 13,000 at mid-sized English-medium schools, and EUR 14,000 to 20,000 for the IB Diploma years at the largest international campuses. Registration fees of EUR 300 to 1,000 and exam entry fees sit on top.
Last reviewed: September 2026 by Catherine from ISA. Fee ranges are indicative; always confirm with the school.
Vilnius has quietly become one of the better value capitals in the European Union for English-medium schooling. International school fees in Vilnius sit well below Helsinki, Stockholm or Warsaw at the same curriculum level, and the gap is not explained by quality alone. It is partly a funding mechanism that most arriving families have never heard of.
This guide sets out the ranges by stage, the extras that are billed separately, and the one structural factor that makes Lithuanian private education cheaper than it looks.
Why Vilnius fees are lower than the regional average
Lithuania funds general education through a per-pupil allocation that follows the student, and accredited private schools delivering the national curriculum receive that allocation alongside state schools. The school still charges tuition, but part of its core teaching cost is covered from public funds. Schools that sit entirely outside the national curriculum, running only the IB or an English programme, do not benefit in the same way, which is precisely why the price gap between the two groups in Vilnius is so wide.
The practical reading for parents: a Lithuanian licensed school with a strong English stream can be half the price of a standalone international campus, and the difference is a funding question rather than a quality judgement. Whether it suits your family depends on how long you are staying and which transcript your child needs at the end.
Curricula available in Vilnius
- International Baccalaureate: PYP, MYP and the Diploma Programme are all present in the city.
- English National Curriculum: including IGCSE, at the British-curriculum school.
- American college-preparatory: with a high school diploma route and AP options.
- French national curriculum: served by a dedicated French school.
- Lithuanian curriculum with bilingual or immersion streams: the value segment, and the fastest growing.
Schools to compare in Vilnius
Vilnius International School
One of the long-established English-medium options in the city, running an IB-oriented programme. Ask how many students carry through from primary into the Diploma years, because retention is the clearest signal of whether the upper school works.
The British International School of Vilnius
English National Curriculum with IGCSE. In a city this size, confirm the subject options actually running at IGCSE in the year your child would sit them rather than relying on the published list.
The American International School of Vilnius
An American-programme school, which matters for families expecting to move back to the United States or to another American-curriculum posting. Ask about AP availability, since small cohorts limit how many courses can run.
Erudito Licejus
A Lithuanian private school with international elements, and a useful reference point for what the lower half of the fee range buys. Families staying long term often end up comparing this tier against the standalone international schools.
Lycee International Francais de Vilnius
The French-programme option, following the curriculum of the French Ministry of Education. Relevant if the family is likely to return to the French system, since the transfer is seamless in a way that no other route in the city is.
What you will actually pay in 2026
Tuition is annual and typically billed in two or three instalments. Indicative ranges for 2026 entry:
- Kindergarten and early years: roughly EUR 4,000 to 9,000.
- Primary: roughly EUR 4,500 to 13,000.
- Lower secondary: roughly EUR 6,000 to 16,000.
- IGCSE and IB Diploma years: roughly EUR 8,000 to 20,000.
The extras to budget for: an application fee of EUR 100 to 250, usually non-refundable. A registration or enrolment fee of EUR 300 to 1,000. A deposit, often one month or one term of fees, credited against the final invoice at some schools and not at others, so ask which. Lunches of roughly EUR 700 to 1,200 a year. School transport where offered, roughly EUR 800 to 1,500, though Vilnius is compact enough that many families skip it. Uniform, where required, EUR 150 to 300. Examination entry fees for IGCSE, A Level or the IB Diploma, which in the final year commonly add EUR 700 to 1,400.
Two billing details worth checking in writing. First, whether the published fee is per academic year or per semester, because both conventions are used in Vilnius and the difference is obviously enormous. Second, what happens if you leave mid-year, since notice periods of one full term are standard and a February departure can still mean paying through June.
Practical advice before you commit
Compare the total, not the tuition. A school charging EUR 9,000 with lunches, transport and books included can be cheaper than one charging EUR 8,000 with everything billed separately. Ask each school for a sample full-year invoice for a child of your child's age.
Ask what the state funding covers. If the school receives the per-pupil allocation, ask which part of the programme it funds and what the tuition adds. Schools that answer this clearly tend to be the ones with transparent billing generally.
Think about the exit. The cheapest option in Vilnius is excellent value if you are staying. If you expect to move within three years, the transcript your child leaves with matters more than the annual saving, and that argues for an internationally recognised programme.
Compare schools side by side
To see how these schools rank on curriculum, fees and parent feedback, start with our independent ranking: best international schools in Vilnius.
More guides to schools in Vilnius
- How to choose an international school in Vilnius
- Bilingual schools in Vilnius
- Best international schools in Vilnius
Frequently asked questions
Are there discounts for siblings in Vilnius schools?
Yes, most schools apply a sibling discount of five to fifteen per cent on the second and subsequent children, usually on tuition only and not on registration or lunches. A few schools also discount payment in full before the start of the academic year, typically by around three to five per cent.
Is the IB Diploma available in Vilnius?
Yes, the Diploma Programme runs in the city, alongside IGCSE and an American high school route. Cohorts are small, so the number of subjects offered at higher level is narrower than in a large capital. Ask which subjects have actually run in the last three years before committing to the upper school.
Can non-Lithuanian children attend state schools for free?
Children legally resident in Lithuania can attend state schools without tuition fees, and the teaching is in Lithuanian with support for new arrivals. It works well for younger children and for families settling permanently. Teenagers arriving without the language usually do better in an English-medium school.