When parents research international school fees in Jakarta, they typically start with tuition. It's the number published on school websites, repeated in expat forums, and quoted by admissions offices. It is also not the number you will pay.
Across Jakarta's international schools, the real first-year cost typically runs 20-30% above headline tuition. For a family with two children - a common scenario for corporate relocations - the difference between the advertised figure and the actual annual outlay can be $10,000 or more. This guide lays out what those additional costs are, where they vary significantly between schools, and what a realistic budget looks like across three different spending tiers.
The Full Fee Structure: What You're Paying
Jakarta international school fees consist of several distinct charges. Some are one-time. Some are annual. Some are event-triggered. Understanding which is which matters for budgeting - especially in the first year, when one-off fees stack on top of everything else.
Tuition
This is the core fee - the annual cost of instruction. Tuition is year-group specific: it rises as children get older. In Jakarta, the range across the full international school market runs from around $4,800 at the budget end to over $30,000 at the premium end.
Broad market tiers for 2025-26 (tuition only, per child):
- Budget tier: $4,800-$10,000/year
- Mid-range: $10,000-$20,000/year
- Premium: $20,000-$30,000+/year
Tuition at most schools is lower in early years and higher at secondary. A child starting in Nursery at a premium school might pay $17,000-$20,000 in tuition; the same child at IGCSE level would pay $25,000-$30,000.
Application and Enrolment Fees
A one-time charge payable at the point of application or on accepting a place. Typically $300-$2,500. Non-refundable at most schools. JIS charges approximately $320 (IDR 5,300,000) as a non-refundable application fee per student.
Capital Levy (Development Levy)
Often the most significant surprise for new families - and the subject of our more detailed capital levy guide. It is a separate charge that funds school infrastructure. It can be:
- Annual (paid every year): typical at mid-range schools
- One-time (paid once on enrolment): typical at some premium schools
At ISJ (2025-26), the capital contribution is IDR 52,270,000 per year (~$3,102), paid annually, non-refundable. At BSJ and JIS, development contributions also apply - verify the current schedule directly with the school. Critically: some capital levies are refundable on exit (effectively a bond), while others are not. Always confirm refundability before you pay.
Materials and Technology Fees
Many schools charge an annual materials fee on top of tuition. At ISJ, this is IDR 15,080,000 (~$942) per year, covering classroom consumables. Technology fees - for device programmes or digital platforms - may appear separately. JIS charges a one-time technology fee for new students.
EAL (English as an Additional Language) Fees
If your child requires English language support, expect a significant additional charge. JIS charges IDR 71,318,000 (~$4,460) as a one-time EAL programme fee, and states that if EAL support is assessed as needed, participation is mandatory to remain enrolled. Other schools handle EAL differently - some include limited support in tuition, others charge per session. Always ask upfront if your child is not a fluent English speaker.
Exam Fees
At every school offering IGCSE, A-Level, IB Diploma or AP courses, external exam fees are charged separately and are not included in tuition. These go directly to the examining body and are non-negotiable.
Approximate exam fee ranges:
- IGCSE (per subject, per sitting): $60-$120
- A-Level (per subject, per sitting): $80-$150
- IB Diploma (per student, full diploma): $1,200-$1,600
- AP exams (per exam): $100-$150
A student sitting 8 IGCSE subjects and then the full IB Diploma will pay $500-$1,000 in IGCSE fees plus $1,200-$1,600 for the Diploma. Schools sometimes pass these through at cost; others add an administration margin.
Transport
School bus services are common and practical given Jakarta's traffic. Typical school bus fees: $800-$2,000/year depending on route. Private drivers - widely used among Jakarta expats - may cost $300-$600/month.
Uniforms
Not included in tuition and must be purchased on enrolment. Typical outlay: $200-$600 for a new student's full kit, depending on the school's dress code requirements.
Lunch and Meals
Optional at most schools. Budget $300-$800/year per child if using school catering. Many families send packed lunches.
School Trips and Experiential Learning
Local and international trips are charged separately at every Jakarta international school. At JIS, international LEAD Week activities are explicitly listed as supplementary fees billed separately. Budget $500-$2,000/year for domestic trips; international school trips at secondary level can run $1,500-$4,000+ per event.
Worked Example: A Family With Two Children
One child in Year 4 (primary), one in Year 9 (secondary), entering in 2025-26, first year of enrolment.
Budget Tier (~$4,800-$8,000 tuition per child)
| Item | Child 1 (Yr 4) | Child 2 (Yr 9) |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition | $5,500 | $7,000 |
| Capital levy (annual) | $500 | $500 |
| Materials/tech fee | $300 | $400 |
| Application/enrolment | $400 | $400 |
| Transport | $900 | $900 |
| Uniforms | $250 | $300 |
| Lunch | $400 | $400 |
| Trips | $400 | $600 |
| First-year total | $8,650 | $10,500 |
Combined first-year cost: ~$19,150. Annual ongoing (from year two): ~$17,600.
Mid-Range Tier (~$12,000-$18,000 tuition per child)
| Item | Child 1 (Yr 4) | Child 2 (Yr 9) |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition | $13,500 | $16,500 |
| Capital levy (annual) | $2,000 | $2,000 |
| Materials/tech fee | $700 | $900 |
| Application/enrolment | $800 | $800 |
| Transport | $1,200 | $1,200 |
| Uniforms | $350 | $400 |
| Lunch | $500 | $500 |
| Trips | $600 | $1,200 |
| First-year total | $19,650 | $23,500 |
Combined first-year cost: ~$43,150. Annual ongoing: ~$38,500.
Premium Tier (ISJ, BSJ, JIS - ~$24,000-$32,000+ per child)
ISJ's 2025-26 fees bundle tuition, materials, and capital contribution into one figure - no separate levy line. A Year 4 pupil: IDR 437,819,200 (~$27,400) covers everything instructional. Lunch and trips are compulsory additional charges on top. The enrolment deposit (IDR 16,328,000 / ~$1,020) is refundable on exit with 90 days notice - unlike most Jakarta school levies.
| Item | ISJ (Yr 4, primary) | JIS (Yr 9, secondary) |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee (all-in: tuition + materials + capital) | $27,400 | ~$28,000 tuition (verify) |
| Separate capital levy | None - bundled | Verify directly |
| Application + enrolment deposit | ~$320 app fee | |
| Lunch & trips (compulsory at ISJ) | ~$1,500 | ~$1,200 |
| Transport | $1,200 | $1,500 |
| Uniforms | $400 | $500 |
| Optional extras | $500-$1,500 | $500-$1,500 |
| First-year estimate | ~$32,300 | ~$28,000+ |
Combined first-year cost: ~$60,000+. Annual ongoing: ~$57,000-$60,000.
All figures illustrative. Verify directly with each school before budgeting.
What Changes Year-on-Year
First-year costs are always the highest because of one-off enrolment charges. From year two, the profile shifts:
Remove from the calculation: application/enrolment fees, one-time technology fees, initial uniform kit. Add to the calculation: annual fee increases (typically 3-8% per year at Jakarta international schools), exam fees as children reach IGCSE and IB level, and growing trip costs as children get older. A family budgeting based on year-two costs should also model for secondary exam years, when external exam fees, international trips, and potential learning support costs can spike significantly.
Questions to Ask Every School Before You Commit
What is included in tuition? Get a line-by-line breakdown, not a one-line figure.
Is the capital levy refundable, and under what conditions? Some schools return it; many don't.
What are the exam fees for the year groups my children are entering? Particularly relevant at secondary.
Are there any fees that can be levied mid-year based on assessment? EAL and learning support fees in particular can be added after enrolment if the school determines they're needed.
What is the expected annual fee increase? Most schools increase fees annually - knowing the expected percentage lets you model forward for budgeting purposes.