Expat Education Guide: Schools in Barcelona

Education Overview

Barcelona scores 4.0/5 for education quality and 4.0/5 for family-friendliness. The city has 15 school neighborhoods with international, bilingual, and local options for expat families. Expect approximately 27 education-related costs.

Barcelona offers a high-quality education system with distinctive multilingual instruction reflecting Catalonia's autonomous status. The city features a diverse range of educational options from public schools to prestigious international institutions. Barcelona's education system is particularly known for its trilingual approach (Catalan, Spanish, and English) and strong emphasis on arts and sciences, making it attractive for both local and expatriate families.

Quick Stats

Education Score

4.0 /5

Family Score

4.0 /5

School Areas

Cost Items

Estimated Costs

One-Time Costs

$6,280

Monthly Costs

$3,735/mo

Sample Costs

Full Breakdown →

One-Time

School Registration $100

Private School Application Fee $300

International School Application Fee $500

Monthly

Tuition Fees Private $650/mo

Tuition Fees International $1,400/mo

Transportation Monthly $120/mo

Showing 6 of 27 costs — sign up to see all

Top School Neighborhoods

See All 15 →

Sarrià Sant Gervasi

Density 5/6

Types: Private, international, religious, bilingual schools

Notable: Oak House School, Deutsche Schule Barcelona, Col·legi Sant Ignasi

Pedralbes

Density 5/6

Types: International, private and university campuses

Notable: St. Paul's School, Lycée Français, Escola Isabel de Villena

Eixample

Density 4/6

Types: Public, private, international, and bilingual schools

Notable: Escola Pia de l'Eixample, Col·legi Sagrat Cor de Jesús

Want to See Your Numbers?

Get personalized education costs, timelines, and checklists for your family in Barcelona.

Free to start. No credit card required.

Practical Tips

Explore private and international schools in Barcelona for English-Catalan bilingual options

these schools are more likely to offer true bilingual immersion programs than public schools

they run free conversation groups in multiple languages and have better attendance than other libraries

Enroll in Catalan classes at CNL Horta-Guinardó

this center often has immediate openings while other locations have waiting lists

Join school waiting lists in January, even for September start

schools often have unexpected openings due to families leaving for job relocations

Useful Links

Barcelona Education Consortium

Official joint body of the Generalitat and Barcelona City Council managing public education, enrollment processes, and school information in Barcelona.

›

Generalitat de Catalunya Education Department

Official Catalan government education portal with information on school systems, homologation of foreign degrees, and enrollment procedures.

›

Study in Barcelona

Official platform with comprehensive information on Barcelona's universities, international student requirements, and higher education programs available in English.

›

Universitat de Barcelona (UB)

Barcelona's largest and oldest university, offering numerous programs in Spanish, Catalan and English, with specific resources for international students.

›

Escola Oficial d'Idiomes (EOI)

Official language school network in Barcelona offering affordable, certified Spanish and Catalan courses for foreigners, with multiple locations across the city.

›

Explore Other Guides

Immigration Guide Housing Guide Healthcare Guide Finance Guide Transport Guide Pets Guide

Education Guides in Spain

Alicante

Bilbao

Las Palmas de Gran Canaria

Madrid

Málaga

San Sebastián

View all 140+ city guides →

Frequently Asked Questions

Barcelona has 15 neighborhoods with excellent school options. The best areas depend on whether you need international, public, or private schools. Check ReloPlanner for detailed school density scores per neighborhood.

International school tuition in Barcelona varies widely by school and grade level. Create a free ReloPlanner account to see detailed education cost breakdowns personalized to your family size.

There are approximately 27 education-related costs to consider when moving to Barcelona, including both one-time and recurring expenses. Create a free ReloPlanner account to see the full personalized cost breakdown.

Plan Your Entire Move to Barcelona

Access step-by-step guides, personalized budgets, and expert tips for education and 6 other relocation categories across 140+ cities.

Free to start. No credit card required.

Data verified: March 2026

This was the general picture

Your move to Barcelona looks nothing like this

This guide covers Barcelona for everyone. Your plan covers your origin country, your kids' ages, your budget, your dog — with real costs, a sequenced task list, and the things most families don't find out until it's too late.

Build your personalised plan — free →

Takes 2 minutes to set up