How much do school fees cost in Riyadh?
Choosing a school in Riyadh comes down to balancing tuition against curriculum, location and facilities. Across 853 schools with published fees, annual tuition runs from 2,430 SAR to 90,000 SAR, with a typical fee of about 14,000 SAR. The lower end is mostly national-curriculum and community schools, while international schools — British, American and IB — sit at the premium end.
This guide compares those 853 schools so you can see at a glance where fees sit in Riyadh, which schools are the most affordable, and how costs shift by curriculum and by stage. Every figure here is starting annual tuition; the exact amount can change by grade and usually excludes transport, registration and materials.
A guide to school fees in Riyadh
School fees in Riyadh vary widely by curriculum, school type, and location within the city. As the capital of Saudi Arabia, Riyadh offers the widest range of schools in the country — from private national-curriculum schools to international schools with accredited global curricula.
What affects the fees?
- Curriculum: international schools (British/American/IB) are usually higher than private national ones.
- Stage: fees rise gradually from kindergarten through high school.
- Location & facilities: upscale districts and advanced facilities push costs up.
Tips to lower the cost
- Ask about instalment plans and early-payment or sibling discounts.
- Compare the total annual cost (registration + books + transport), not just the headline tuition.
- Use the table below to compare Riyadh's most affordable schools.
Cheapest schools in Riyadh
Schools with the lowest starting annual tuition.
| School | Curriculum | Type | From (per year) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sri lankan International School | British | International | 2430 |
| Rawaby Childhood Private Schools - Al-Malqa | Saudi | National | 2500 |
| Rawaby Childhood Private Schools - Hittin | Saudi | National | 2500 |
| Ghasn almearafih national Kindergarten | Saudi | National | 3000 |
| Turkish International School | Turkish | International | 3250 |
| Eritrean International School | Eritrea | International | 4000 |
| Al Alia International School | Indian | International | 4075 |
| Eshraqah Afif national School | Saudi | National | 4200 |
| Bangladesh International School Riyadh | British | International | 4550 |
| International Indian School Riyadh | Indian | International | 4674 |
Most expensive schools in Riyadh
Schools with the highest starting annual tuition.
| School | Curriculum | Type | From (per year) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Digital Culture National Schools | Saudi | Special Education | 90000 |
| Beech Hall School Riyadh - American | American | International | 90000 |
| Misk International Schools | British | International | 85000 |
| Delta International Schools - Special Education | American | Special Education | 70000 |
| Artal Preparatory International School | British | International | 68000 |
| Home Sweet Home Preschool international school | American | International | 66000 |
| Al Bayariq National Schools | Saudi | Special Education | 60000 |
| Richmond International Schools | IB | Special Education | 60000 |
| King Faisal International Schools | IB | International | 59900 |
| Artal Preparatory International Schools | British | International | 59400 |
Fees by curriculum
| Curriculum | Schools | From | Typical | Up to |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saudi | 392 | 2500 | 12000 | 90000 |
| American | 283 | 6000 | 17000 | 90000 |
| British | 60 | 2430 | 21504 | 85000 |
| Bilingual | 24 | 10000 | 17500 | 29500 |
| Egyptian General | 20 | 6000 | 8500 | 18000 |
| IB | 14 | 30000 | 42750 | 60000 |
| Egyptian Experimental | 12 | 6000 | 9000 | 17000 |
| Indian | 12 | 4075 | 8000 | 10212 |
| American Diploma | 7 | 14000 | 18200 | 27000 |
| Filipino | 6 | 5000 | 6250 | 9000 |
| French | 5 | 16500 | 22500 | 35000 |
| Pakistani | 3 | 4980 | 12000 | 12000 |
| Sudanese | 2 | 5500 | 8750 | 12000 |
| SABIS | 2 | 30000 | 30000 | 30000 |
| Oxford | 2 | 15800 | 17400 | 19000 |
| Korean | 1 | 8800 | 8800 | 8800 |
| Turkish | 1 | 3250 | 3250 | 3250 |
| Ethiopian | 1 | 5000 | 5000 | 5000 |
| Sri Lankan | 1 | 2430 | 2430 | 2430 |
| Swedish | 1 | 35000 | 35000 | 35000 |
| German | 1 | 32288 | 32288 | 32288 |
| Singaporean | 1 | 37000 | 37000 | 37000 |
| Montessori | 1 | 14000 | 14000 | 14000 |
| Eritrea | 1 | 4000 | 4000 | 4000 |
Fees by stage
| Stage | Schools | From | Typical | Up to |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nursery | 54 | 2500 | 19250 | 85000 |
| Kinder | 735 | 2430 | 14000 | 92606 |
| Primary | 789 | 2430 | 16000 | 160000 |
| Middle | 608 | 2520 | 18000 | 125000 |
| Highschool | 512 | 2637 | 20800 | 185000 |
What affects school fees in Riyadh?
Several things move a school's price up or down:
Curriculum
International programmes (British, American, IB) cost more than national-curriculum schools because of accreditation, specialist staff and resources.
Education stage
Fees usually rise from kindergarten through to high school as teaching becomes more specialised.
Facilities & activities
Labs, sports, arts and technology raise a school's running costs — and its fees.
Location & reputation
Established schools in sought-after districts often command higher fees.
Costs beyond tuition
The headline fee rarely tells the whole story. In Riyadh, families typically also budget for one-off registration or application fees, transport, uniforms, books and supplies, and activity or exam fees. Ask each school for a full annual breakdown — including any sibling or early-payment discounts — before you compare.
How to choose a school within your budget
Start by setting a realistic annual budget, then shortlist schools whose starting fees fall within it — the tables above make that quick. Narrow further by curriculum, stage and distance from home, and remember to factor in the extra costs above. Once you have two or three strong matches, contact them to confirm current fees and availability.
Frequently asked questions
How much are school fees in Riyadh?
Across 853 schools in Riyadh, annual tuition is typically around 14,000 SAR, ranging from 2,430 SAR to 90,000 SAR.
What are the cheapest schools in Riyadh?
The most affordable schools start from about 2,430 SAR per year — see the full list above.
Do school fees vary by curriculum?
Yes. International curricula (British, American, IB) are usually more expensive than national-curriculum schools. See the by-curriculum breakdown above.
Do the fees include transport and books?
Usually not. Tuition is typically separate from transport, uniforms, books and registration — check each school for additional fees.
Are international schools in Riyadh more expensive?
Generally yes. International-curriculum schools (British, American, IB) usually charge more than national-curriculum schools — see the by-curriculum breakdown above for the typical range in Riyadh.
Can school fees be paid in installments?
Many schools in Riyadh offer termly or monthly installment plans, and some give sibling or early-payment discounts. Availability varies by school, so confirm directly with each one.