TL;DR: OBS and CLIP headline tuition fees run €9,000–€15,000/year but the true annual cost per child — including registration, lunch, transport, uniform, trips, and activities — is typically €13,000–€20,000. For two children, budget €26,000–€40,000/year in school costs alone. This is the single most important number to model honestly before committing to Porto international school education, and the one most commonly underestimated by families during their research.
The fees listed on OBS and CLIP’s websites are tuition fees. They are not the total cost of your child’s education. The gap between the headline fee and what families actually pay each year is consistent, significant, and worth understanding before you sign an enrolment contract.
This guide breaks down the full cost structure of Porto’s two main English-medium international schools — OBS (Oporto British School) and CLIP (The Oporto International School) — based on 2025/26 fee schedules and conversations with families currently enrolled at both.
OBS (Oporto British School) — Full Cost Breakdown
Tuition fees 2025/26 (approximate — verify directly with OBS)
| Year group | Annual tuition |
|---|---|
| Nursery / Pre-school (ages 3–5) | €9,000–€10,500 |
| Primary (Years 1–6, ages 5–11) | €11,000–€12,500 |
| Secondary (Years 7–11, ages 11–16) | €13,000–€14,500 |
| Sixth Form / IB Diploma (ages 16–18) | €14,000–€15,500 |
Additional costs to budget for at OBS
- Registration fee: €1,500–€2,500 (one-off, non-refundable, paid on acceptance)
- Capital levy / building fund: some schools charge an annual capital contribution — ask OBS specifically
- School lunch: €5–€8 per day, approximately €800–€1,300 per year
- School transport (bus): €800–€1,500 per year depending on route and distance
- Uniform: €300–€600 initial year (OBS has a uniform); €100–€200 replacement per year
- School trips: €200–€800 per year depending on year group (residential trips in secondary are at the upper end)
- Extra-curricular activities: €200–€600 per year (sports, music, drama — most are charged separately)
- Exam fees: IGCSE and IB Diploma exam fees, charged in exam years — approximately €400–€800 per student
- After-school care (if needed): €100–€300 per month
True annual cost at OBS — realistic total
| Stage | Tuition | Extras (estimate) | True annual total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Primary | €11,500 | €3,500–€5,500 | €15,000–€17,000 |
| Secondary | €14,000 | €4,000–€6,000 | €18,000–€20,000 |
| IB Sixth Form | €15,000 | €4,500–€6,500 | €19,500–€21,500 |
CLIP (The Oporto International School) — Full Cost Breakdown
Tuition fees 2025/26 (approximate — verify directly with CLIP)
| Year group | Annual tuition |
|---|---|
| Pre-school (ages 3–6) | €9,100–€10,800 |
| Primary (Years 1–6) | €11,500–€13,000 |
| Secondary (Years 7–11) | €13,500–€15,000 |
| IB Diploma (Years 12–13) | €15,000–€15,500 |
CLIP’s additional cost structure is broadly similar to OBS — registration fees, lunch, transport, uniform, trips, and activities add €3,500–€6,000 per year on top of tuition. True annual total per child at CLIP: approximately €14,500–€21,000 depending on year group.
The Two-Children Reality
For a family with two children — one in primary and one in secondary — at either Porto international school, the combined true annual school cost is approximately:
- Lower estimate (minimal extras, shared transport): €28,000/year
- Realistic estimate (standard extras, transport, activities): €34,000–€38,000/year
- Upper estimate (full extras, exam years, residential trips): €40,000–€44,000/year
This figure — €3,000–€3,700/month just in school costs — is the number that most fundamentally shapes the Porto family budget. At this level, the cost advantage of Porto over Lisbon (lower rent, lower school fees) narrows considerably compared to choosing Portuguese state school.
What You Actually Save Versus Lisbon
Porto international school fees are lower than Lisbon equivalents — OBS and CLIP are meaningfully cheaper than St Julian’s or CAISL. The typical saving per child per year in Porto versus Lisbon international schools: €3,000–€8,000 depending on schools compared. For a family with two children, this is a real saving — but factor in that you also pay lower rent in Porto, so the overall advantage of Porto remains.
Sibling Discounts
Both OBS and CLIP offer sibling discounts — typically 5–10% on tuition for a second child. Ask each school directly for their current sibling discount policy; this changes and is not always prominently advertised.
Fee Increases: What to Plan For
International school fees in Portugal have increased year-on-year — typically 3–7% annually in recent years, reflecting both inflation and demand. When modelling the cost of a 5–10 year schooling journey, plan for fees to be meaningfully higher in the final years than they are today. A child starting in Year 1 today will face fees that are 20–40% higher by the time they reach the IB Diploma years, depending on the rate of increase.
The Alternative: Private Portuguese Schools
For families who need more English support than a state school provides but whose budget is strained by international school fees, private Portuguese schools with bilingual programmes are worth investigating. Fees run €3,000–€8,000/year — significantly lower than OBS or CLIP, with smaller classes and stronger pastoral care than state schools. The curriculum is Portuguese national rather than British or IB — relevant if curriculum continuity matters. See our full schools guide for more on this middle path.
All fees are approximate and change annually. Contact OBS and CLIP directly for current fee schedules before making decisions. All additional cost estimates are based on typical family experience and will vary.