International school fees in Phnom Penh are quoted in US dollars, which makes them unusually easy to compare with other postings, and unusually easy to underestimate. Cambodia is a low-cost country, but its international schools are not proportionally cheap, because the good ones import teachers on international packages and the campuses are built to standards the local construction market does not naturally supply.
This guide sets out what families actually pay in Phnom Penh in 2026, where the extras sit, and how the city compares with the rest of Southeast Asia.
Tuition bands in Phnom Penh for 2026
Annual tuition per child at Phnom Penh's international schools generally falls into these ranges:
- Nursery and kindergarten: USD 3,500 to 12,000
- Primary (Grades 1 to 5): USD 5,500 to 18,000
- Middle school (Grades 6 to 8): USD 7,000 to 21,000
- High school (Grades 9 to 10, IGCSE): USD 8,500 to 24,000
- IB Diploma or A Level years (Grades 11 to 12): USD 10,000 to 28,000
That spread is the widest of any major Southeast Asian capital, and it reflects a genuinely stratified market. The lower band covers well-run English-medium schools following a Cambridge or American programme, generally with locally recruited teaching staff and modest facilities. The upper band covers the internationally accredited schools with expatriate faculty, purpose-built campuses, IB authorisation and university counselling operations. Both issue recognised qualifications. They are not the same product.
What sits on top of tuition
- Application fee: USD 100 to 500, non-refundable, per school.
- One-time capital or enrolment fee: USD 500 to 5,000 at the established schools, payable on joining and generally not refundable. This is the single biggest first-year surprise.
- Refundable deposit: USD 500 to 2,000 at some schools, returned on exit subject to notice.
- Transport: USD 600 to 1,800 a year. Phnom Penh traffic has worsened considerably and most families use school buses or drivers.
- Meals: USD 400 to 1,200 a year where catering runs through the school.
- Uniform, books and technology: USD 200 to 900, front-loaded into the first year. Some schools now require a specific laptop or tablet.
- Examination fees: IGCSE, A Level or IB registration and subject entries, typically USD 500 to 2,500 across the exam years, usually billed separately.
- Trips and activities: USD 150 to 2,000, the top of that range reflecting international residentials that some schools treat as curricular.
Expect a realistic all-in figure 20 to 30 per cent above headline tuition in year one, and 12 to 18 per cent above in subsequent years.
Phnom Penh schools across the price range
Northbridge International School Cambodia
An IB continuum school on a large campus in the north of the city, part of an international group, sitting at the upper end of the market with day provision and extensive facilities. See the Northbridge International School Cambodia profile and fees on ISA.
CIA FIRST International School
A large Cambridge-curriculum school with multiple campuses in Phnom Penh, positioned in the mid market and known for scale and a broad Cambodian and expatriate mix. View the CIA FIRST International School profile on ISA.
Heritage International School
An American-curriculum school offering provision from early years through high school, generally in the mid to upper band. Check the Heritage International School profile.
Lycee Francais Rene Descartes
The French international school in Phnom Penh, following the French national curriculum. Fees at French AEFE-network schools are structured differently from Anglophone schools and French nationals may qualify for scholarship support through the network. Read more on ISA.
Payment terms and negotiation
Most Phnom Penh schools bill in two or three instalments, and a discount of 3 to 5 per cent for full annual payment is common. Sibling discounts of 5 to 10 per cent are widely available and are frequently negotiable in Cambodia in a way they are not in Singapore or Hong Kong, particularly at the mid-market schools competing for enrolment.
Two clauses to read before signing. The notice period on withdrawal: a full term's notice requirement can cost you a third of the annual fee when a posting ends abruptly, which in the NGO and development sector is common. And the fee escalation clause: Phnom Penh schools have been raising fees 5 to 8 per cent a year as the market has professionalised, so model your child's final year rather than their first.
A Cambodia-specific point on currency. Fees are quoted and usually payable in US dollars, and the riel is pegged loosely to the dollar, so there is little exchange exposure for dollar-earning families. If your income is in euros, sterling or yen, your effective cost moves with the dollar and a five-year plan should account for that.
How Phnom Penh compares in the region
At the premium end, Phnom Penh runs roughly 40 to 60 per cent below Singapore and Hong Kong, and 20 to 35 per cent below Bangkok and Ho Chi Minh City for a comparable tier of school. At the mid and lower end the gap narrows in absolute terms but the value is still favourable.
The real trade-off is choice and depth. Bangkok has many more schools at every price point, more IB providers, and a deeper pool of experienced teachers. Phnom Penh has fewer options, which means a family with a specific requirement, such as a strong learning-support department or a particular language pathway, may find only one or two schools that fit. Ask about teacher retention specifically: in a small market, the departure of two senior staff can materially change a department.
Compare Phnom Penh fees against verified data
Published fee schedules are structured differently by every school, which makes headline comparison misleading. Browse the International School Advisor ranking of schools in Phnom Penh to see verified profiles, fee ranges, curricula and parent reviews side by side.
Frequently asked questions
How much do international schools in Phnom Penh cost per year?
Tuition typically runs USD 3,500 to 12,000 at kindergarten, USD 5,500 to 18,000 at primary, and USD 10,000 to 28,000 in the IB Diploma or A Level years. Add 20 to 30 per cent in the first year for capital fees, transport, meals and uniform.
Are international school fees in Phnom Penh cheaper than Bangkok?
Yes. For a comparable tier of school, Phnom Penh generally runs 20 to 35 per cent below Bangkok and Ho Chi Minh City, and 40 to 60 per cent below Singapore and Hong Kong. The trade-off is a much narrower choice of schools and curricula.
What extra fees should I expect beyond tuition in Phnom Penh?
Budget for a non-refundable application fee of USD 100 to 500, a one-time capital or enrolment fee of USD 500 to 5,000, transport at USD 600 to 1,800 a year, meals, uniform and technology, plus IGCSE, A Level or IB examination entries in the senior years.