Jakarta's international school market starts at around $5,000 a year and runs past $30,000. The headline figures from the city's top-tier schools - JIS, ISJ, BSJ - dominate most conversations, but most families relocating to Jakarta are not looking at those fees. They are looking at what a good international education costs in the $8,000 to $18,000 range, and what they are and aren't getting for that money.
This guide covers that range honestly: what the mid-tier options offer, where they compromise, and which schools are worth shortlisting.
TL;DR
- The mid-tier in Jakarta runs from around $6,000 to $18,000 a year - eight credible schools compete in this range
- Lower fees mean lower teacher quality - this is the primary trade-off, and families should go in clear-eyed about it
- One exception: ISJ's early years fees fall in this range, but it is a top-tier school - fees step up steeply as children progress
What "Affordable" Means in Jakarta's Context
The top-tier schools - JIS, ISJ, BSJ - run from around $18,000 to $30,000+ per year. Below that sits a mid-tier of credible international schools at $8,000 to $18,000.
Affordable, in this market, means anything in or below that mid-tier range. It does not mean cheap. Even $10,000 a year is a significant spend, and families should be clear on what they are evaluating before shortlisting on price alone.
The Mid-Tier at a Glance
JIS, ISJ, BSJ, and AIS are not in this table - they are covered separately below.
| School | Curriculum | Approx. Annual Tuition | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| GMIS | Cambridge | $6,000-$10,000 | South Jakarta |
| Mentari International School | Cambridge / National Plus | $8,000-$14,000 | Multiple campuses |
| NAS (Nord Anglia School Jakarta) | Cambridge / British | $9,000-$15,000 | South Jakarta |
| NJIS (North Jakarta Intercultural School) | IB | $10,000-$18,000 | North Jakarta (Kelapa Gading) |
| SIS (Sinarmas International School) | Cambridge / IB | $10,000-$18,000 | Multiple campuses |
| Binus International School | Cambridge / National Plus | $10,000-$16,000 | Multiple campuses |
| ACG School Jakarta | IB / Cambridge | $12,000-$18,000 | IB DP offered |
| NZ School Jakarta | New Zealand / Cambridge | $10,000-$16,000 | Smaller independent |
All figures approximate. Verify directly with each school before financial planning. Fees indicative as of early 2026.
Top-Tier Schools With Fees in This Range
Two top-tier schools are worth knowing about if your budget sits below $20,000 - not because they belong in the mid-tier, but because their fees partially overlap with it.
ISJ charges $9,300 at Pre-Nursery and $10,800 at Nursery. Those figures sit in the mid-range bracket. But ISJ is not a mid-tier school. It offers a full British independent school environment: British-qualified teachers, small class sizes, and pastoral care that mid-tier schools cannot match. The catch is trajectory - by Year 4 the annual fee reaches $27,400. Families should model the full picture, not just the entry fee. ISJ's secondary campus opens September 2028, taking pupils through to A-levels.
AIS Jakarta runs from around $14,000-$20,000 depending on year group. CIS-accredited, Australian curriculum plus IB Diploma, and the only Jakarta school founded specifically around inclusion of students with learning differences. It sits at or near the top tier by most measures. Covered in more detail in the Best Jakarta Schools for SEN & Learning Support guide.
Mid-Tier School Profiles
GMIS (Global Mandiri International School)
Located in South Jakarta, GMIS offers Cambridge-aligned programmes at the lower end of the mid-tier. For families on tighter budgets who want a Cambridge pathway, it merits a visit. Verify class sizes, teacher qualifications, and current Cambridge Centre status directly with the school.
Mentari International School
Mentari operates across multiple campuses and offers a blend of Cambridge and national plus programmes. A practical option for families spread across Jakarta's geography. Fees and curriculum delivery vary by campus; confirm directly which campus suits your location and what the specific programme offers.
NAS (Nord Anglia School Jakarta)
Nord Anglia School Jakarta is the city's Nord Anglia-branded campus, offering a British-influenced curriculum with Cambridge qualifications. Fees sit in the $9,000-$15,000 range depending on year group. A mid-tier school with a recognisable international brand; worth visiting if South Jakarta works for your commute. Verify current accreditation status and staffing model directly before shortlisting.
NJIS (North Jakarta Intercultural School)
NJIS sits in Kelapa Gading in North Jakarta and runs an IB programme from primary through to the IB Diploma. For families based in North Jakarta - a geography most international schools ignore - it is one of very few credible options. Fees sit in the $10,000-$18,000 range depending on year group. Worth a visit for North Jakarta-based families; verify current IB authorisation status, teacher qualifications, and class sizes directly.
SIS (Sinarmas International School)
SIS operates multiple campuses across Greater Jakarta, offering Cambridge and IB pathways depending on the campus. The multi-campus model gives families geographic flexibility - useful in a city where commute times define school choices. Fees range from around $10,000-$18,000 depending on campus and year group. Confirm which curriculum pathway is available at your nearest campus, and verify accreditation and staffing directly.
Binus International School
Binus runs multiple campuses across Jakarta and offers both Cambridge and national plus programmes. A mid-tier option with reasonable scale - multiple campuses mean more resources than many smaller independents. Fees vary by campus and year group; confirm the specific campus fee schedule before comparing.
ACG School Jakarta
ACG offers IB Primary Years Programme through to IB Diploma - one of the more affordable routes to an IB pathway in Jakarta. Fees at $12,000-$18,000 sit at the upper end of the mid-tier. If an IB pathway matters and the top-tier IB schools are out of reach, ACG is worth a direct conversation.
NZ School Jakarta
NZ School Jakarta is a smaller independent school offering a New Zealand-influenced curriculum alongside Cambridge qualifications. A less well-known option but worth considering for families who prefer a smaller environment. Verify fees, accreditation, and year group availability directly.
What Mid-Tier Schools Trade Off
Teacher quality is the primary trade-off. International schools compete for a limited pool of qualified, experienced teachers. The schools that pay better attract better candidates. A school charging $8,000 a year cannot offer the same salaries as one charging $25,000 - and salary determines who applies. The odds are different at lower fee points, and families should go in knowing that.
Facilities tend to be more modest. Smaller sports halls, fewer specialist rooms, less outdoor space. Jakarta's land costs are high; schools operating below $15,000 are managing tighter capital budgets.
Specialist staffing is thinner. Learning support, counselling, music specialists, sports coaches - all expensive. Smaller schools at lower fees tend to rely more on class teachers covering multiple roles.
Accreditation is the non-negotiable to verify. CIS accreditation is the most meaningful external quality signal in this market. Schools without it are not automatically poor, but the absence means no external verification of standards, governance, or teacher qualifications.
Exit qualifications matter more as children get older. At primary level, stable pastoral care and adequate teaching can work well. At secondary level, the quality of IGCSE, A-level, or IB delivery has a direct bearing on university outcomes.
Questions to Ask Before Shortlisting on Price
What proportion of teachers are internationally qualified? A school can be registered as international and employ primarily Indonesian-qualified teachers. Ask directly.
Is the school CIS accredited, or working toward it? If neither, ask why.
What is the student-to-teacher ratio? Below 15:1 is reasonable at primary level. Above 20:1 at any level warrants a question.
What happens if my child needs learning support? At the mid-tier, specialist provision is often limited or charged additionally.
What are the full costs? Even at a $10,000 school, lunch, transport, uniforms, and trips can add $3,000-$5,000 a year. Ask for a full cost breakdown, not just the tuition figure.