KAMPALA, Uganda — New research released May 21, 2025, reveals that Kampala stands in the middle range for the cost of international school education across Africa. The comprehensive study by the International Schools Database, authored by Edel Blake, analyzed tuition fees in seven major African cities, offering critical insights for Ugandan parents and expatriate families considering education options.
Using an exchange rate of approximately 3,651 Ugandan Shillings (UGX) to 1 U.S. Dollar (USD), based on rates around the research date, the financial implications for local families become clearer.
According to the 2024 data, the median price for an international school in Kampala is $4,341 per year, equivalent to approximately UGX 15,846,000. This places Uganda’s capital squarely in the middle of the pack, ranking fourth among the surveyed cities. However, the study also highlights a wide range of costs within Kampala itself, with prices varying significantly from a minimum of $1,361 (about UGX 4,969,000) to a maximum of $24,300 (about UGX 88,719,000)Â annually, reflecting diverse educational offerings and facilities.
The research identified Nairobi, Kenya, as the most expensive city for international schooling on the continent, commanding a median price of $7,116 per year (about UGX 25,980,000). This figure is notably higher — by more than $1,500 (UGX 5,476,500) — than the second most expensive city, Johannesburg, South Africa, which recorded a median price of $5,657 (about UGX 20,654,000). Nairobi’s international school fees spanned a broad spectrum, from $1,512 (about UGX 5,521,000) to an upper limit of $33,400 (about UGX 121,943,000) per year.
Within South Africa, the study revealed a significant difference in costs between its two major cities. Johannesburg’s median price was 30% higher than that of Cape Town, where the median cost for international schooling was $3,979 per year (about UGX 14,530,000). Cape Town was notably the second least expensive overall among the African cities included in the research, with its prices ranging from $2,276 (about UGX 8,310,000) to $9,544 (about UGX 34,846,000).
Further insights from the report show that Mauritius presented the most consistent international school costs among the surveyed African cities. With a narrow range from a minimum of $2,491 (about UGX 9,095,000) to a maximum of nearly $7,000 (about UGX 25,557,000), its median price was $4,216 (about UGX 15,395,000), indicating less price variability compared to other locations.
Conversely, Cairo, Egypt, was identified as the least expensive city for international schooling in the African region, with a median price of just under $2,966 per year (about UGX 10,830,000). While its minimum price was an accessible $1,470 (about UGX 5,367,000), the maximum price reached $15,815 (about UGX 57,742,000), suggesting a diverse array of options from budget-friendly to more premium institutions.
The International Schools Database, which collects and analyzes extensive global data on international schools, emphasized that this research aims to provide a comprehensive view beyond just an average, showcasing the full range of prices in each destination. The findings underscore the varied economic landscapes and educational market dynamics that families navigating international school choices across Africa will encounter.
For Ugandan families and others interested in detailed cost breakdowns and further information, the full results for Africa can be accessed directly through the International Schools Database website.
