International School Fees in Cambodia 2026: What Parents Actually Pay

International school fees in Cambodia vary more widely than many families expect. At the lower end, options in Siem Reap or locally-oriented international schools sit well below USD 5,000 per year. At the higher end, full IB programmes in Phnom Penh can exceed USD 30,000 annually. Whether you are a Cambodian family weighing the investment or relocating from abroad, here is an honest picture of what fees look like across the market in 2026, what they include, and what they do not.

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Fee Tiers at a Glance

Cambodia's international school landscape has expanded considerably, and fee levels now broadly fall into three tiers. The table below gives a sense of where schools sit, using annual tuition as the reference point. Fees shown are approximate and subject to change. Verify directly with each school.

Schools shown for informational purposes only. doris does not rank or promote any school.

What Fees Cover — and What They Do Not

Annual tuition is rarely the full picture. Most international schools in Cambodia charge a registration or application fee at initial enrolment, typically between KHR 200,000 and KHR 800,000 (USD 50 to 200). Some schools also levy a one-time or annual capital fee, which funds facilities and infrastructure. This can add KHR 4,000,000 to KHR 20,000,000 (USD 1,000 to 5,000) on top of tuition, particularly at premium schools.

English as an Additional Language (EAL) support, where offered, is often charged separately. Families whose children need this support should ask about it explicitly before enrolment, as it can add meaningfully to the annual bill. Exam fees for IGCSE, A-Level, IB Diploma and Cambridge qualifications are almost universally excluded from tuition and are invoiced separately as students reach examination years.

Transport, where schools provide it, is typically billed as an optional extra. Uniforms are purchased separately through the school or an approved supplier. Some schools include certain extracurricular activities in their tuition; others operate a pay-per-activity model. Lunch may or may not be included depending on the school. The safest approach is to ask each school for a full schedule of fees, not just the tuition figure, before making comparisons.

How Fees Compare Across Curricula

Curriculum type is one of the strongest predictors of where a school sits in the fee structure. Schools offering the full International Baccalaureate continuum, such as International School of Phnom Penh and Northbridge International School Cambodia, tend to sit at the premium end, reflecting IBO licensing costs, teacher training requirements, and the resources the programme demands. For a detailed look at how IB compares with British curricula on structure and cost, the IB vs British curriculum guide on doris is a useful reference.

Cambridge-based programmes cover a broad range. Paragon International School Cambodia and Invictus International School Phnom Penh offer Cambridge pathways at considerably lower price points than full IB schools. The Lycée Français René Descartes is notably more affordable, largely because it receives partial subsidisation from the French government, making it an option worth considering for French-speaking families. East-West International School, with its blended American, IB and Cambridge offering, sits in the mid-range.

How Fees Increase Year on Year

Parents planning beyond the first year should expect annual fee increases. Most international schools in Cambodia have historically raised tuition by between 3% and 8% per year, though this varies by school and can be influenced by currency pressures, staff costs, and facility development.

When speaking with admissions teams, it is worth asking directly: what has the average annual fee increase been over the past three years, and is there a published fee schedule for the next two to three years? Some schools can provide multi-year projections; others cannot. Knowing this upfront makes financial planning significantly more manageable, especially for families enrolling young children with a long horizon ahead of them.

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Is It Worth It?

For Cambodian families, the decision rests on what the international curriculum offers that the national system does not, and whether that justifies a fee that for many represents a substantial proportion of household income. Schools like Paragon International School Cambodia and Invictus International School Phnom Penh sit at a price point that makes international education accessible to a wider range of Khmer families, particularly those prioritising English fluency and internationally recognised qualifications. The International School of Siem Reap offers the most affordable entry point in the country for families outside the capital.

For relocating families, the calculus is different. Phnom Penh's premium schools compare favourably in cost with international schools in Bangkok, Singapore or Ho Chi Minh City. Families moving from higher-cost markets often find Cambodia's fees reasonable relative to what they have paid elsewhere, though the range of school choice is narrower. The affordable international schools in Southeast Asia guide on doris sets Cambodia's market in useful regional context.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is the average annual fee for an international school in Cambodia in 2026?

A: Across all tiers, average annual tuition sits roughly between KHR 25,000,000 and KHR 80,000,000 (USD 6,250 to 20,000). The range is wide because the market includes everything from small Cambridge schools outside the capital to full IB programmes in Phnom Penh.

Q: Do international schools in Cambodia charge fees in USD or KHR?

A: Most Phnom Penh schools publish and invoice fees in US dollars, which is widely used in Cambodia's private education sector. Some schools will accept payment in KHR at a fixed or market exchange rate. Always confirm the invoicing currency and exchange rate policy before enrolment.

Q: Are there scholarships or fee reductions available at international schools in Cambodia?

A: A small number of schools offer merit-based or needs-based bursaries, but these are not widely advertised. It is worth asking admissions directly. The Canadian International School of Phnom Penh and some Cambridge schools have been known to consider individual cases.

Q: How much should I budget beyond tuition for the first year?

A: A reasonable estimate is to add 15% to 25% on top of published tuition for the first year, to account for registration fees, a capital levy if applicable, uniforms, transport, exam fees in upper years, and activity costs. Ask each school for their complete schedule of fees to get an accurate figure.

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This guide was written by Aziza F, part of the doris editorial team. doris sources school data from institutions worldwide and speaks directly with parents navigating the school search process. Fee data reflects published and publicly available information for the 2026 to 2027 academic year and is reviewed annually. External sources: International Baccalaureate Organisation, Cambridge Assessment International Education.

Schools are listed for informational purposes only. doris does not rank or promote any school.