Teach Abroad with a Family: Top Countries to Consider
If you’re looking to teach abroad with family, getting the destination right can make or break your experience.
Along with a solid contract that offers high quality teaching benefits, you’ll want to find a place that supports your career and gives your children access to quality education. Bonus points for a solid expat network, and a cost of living that lets you live comfortably – and save.
We’ve taken a look at some of the most popular countries for teaching families working in international schools. This list is by no means exhaustive, but is based on job opportunities, school packages for dependents, and the teaching and broader community.
Whether you’re a teaching couple, bringing a non teaching partner of you’re a solo parent , here’s where other international educators are going – and why.
Why This List Matters
Some countries might have fantastic schools, but don’t include free tuition for your kids. Others might be great for families, but have limited job availability. We’ve tried to balance job prospects and family-friendliness in this post and give a sample of what’s out there for teaching families.
Top Countries for Teaching Families
Let’s look at some of the top countries for families in different destinations around the world.
Asia
🇨🇳 China
Why it’s popular: Teaching in China offers high salaries, a large number of international schools, generous housing and tuition packages.
Considerations: Air quality, censorship, and work culture – it’s definitely not for everyone, although many families love it.
School access: Many schools offer full or partial tuition for dependents.
🇲🇾 Malaysia
Why it’s popular: Teaching in Malaysia offers an affordable cost of living, English is widely spoken, and there are a wide range of international schools throughout the country.
Considerations: Salaries and packages can be lower than in other regions in Asia (Kuala Lumpur typically has the highest packages on offer in the country).
School access: Often covered by the school (2, sometimes 3 children) but varies by school.
🇹🇭 Thailand
Why it’s popular: Teaching in Thailand provides a high quality of life, a strong expat community, good healthcare and a range of schooling options.
Considerations: Salaries vary and aren’t always high – though this largely depends on where in the country you’re working and the specific school.
School access: Tuition support for dependents are offered at many top-tier schools.
Latin America
🇲🇽 Mexico
Why it’s popular: Affordable lifestyle, friendly culture, and a growing number of international schools.
Considerations: Safety varies by region; so be sure to choose your location wisely.
School access: Family-friendly packages at many larger schools, though not as many benefits as other regions, such as Asia or the Middle East.
🇨🇷 Costa Rica
Why it’s popular: Living and teaching in Costa Rica gives you access to a peaceful, eco-conscious, and relaxed way of life. There is also a strong expat network in the country.
Considerations: Fewer positions available and lower salaries and benefits than other regions.
School access: Some schools offer partial or full tuition support.
🇨🇱 Chile
Why it’s popular: Teaching in Chile gives your kids access to quality education, and safe, urban living in Santiago and other major cities.
Considerations: Fewer jobs than Asia or the Middle East come up and can be highly competitive (especially with American teachers given proximity to the US).
School access: Some international schools provide dependents’ tuition, but this varies depending on specific schools.
Africa
🇰🇪 Kenya
Why it’s popular: Nairobi is a hub for international families, with good schooling options and a mild climate.
Considerations: If you teach in Kenya, just be aware that security and infrastructure can vary greatly depending on where you’re located.
School access: Many top-tier schools offer generous family packages.
🇿🇦 South Africa
Why it’s popular: English-speaking, beautiful natural environment, good private/international schools in cities like Cape Town and Johannesburg.
Considerations: Safety can be an issue in many areas, so be sure to do your research. Even if considering highly rated schools like the American International School of Johannesburg, the location itself may require serious consideration.
School access: Some international schools offer family-inclusive benefits that typically include housing and tuition for kids.
🇪🇬 Egypt
Why it’s popular: Teaching in Egypt can offer you a low cost of living, decent school packages, and access to a rich culture with plenty of local travel opportunities.
Considerations: Salaries vary greatly and quality of schools in Cairo also vary (we’ve heard that there are only a couple of schools worth exploring, such as Cairo American College). You’ll also need to consider that is can be a challenging place to live with safety considerations. School access: Many schools offer full tuition for dependents.
Europe
🇪🇸 Spain
Why it’s popular: Mediterranean lifestyle, good healthcare, strong community life.
Considerations: Salaries are definitely lower than many other areas around the world (especially regions like Asia and the Middle East). And tuition for your kids isn’t always available.
School access: Some bilingual schools and international schools offer tuition remission – but not all.
🇵🇹 Portugal
Why it’s popular: Teaching in Portugal offers families a safe, (generally) affordable lifestyle and access to a good expat qualify of life. Plus the weather is a bonus!
Considerations: There are limited international school jobs (though many new schools are opening up) so competition may be fierce (especially if you don’t hold an EU passport). Salaries are also modest compared to other regions (and don’t typically include benefits like flights and relocation).
School access: Some established schools offer dependent benefits.
🇭🇺 Hungary
Why it’s popular: Budapest offers a safe, affordable, and family-friendly lifestyle with a strong expat community.
Things to consider: Salaries are lower than in Asia or the Middle East, but typically higher than Western Europe. Bureaucracy can be slow.
School access: Several top international schools in Budapest offer full or partial tuition for dependents.
Middle East
🇦🇪 United Arab Emirates
Why it’s popular: Teaching in the UAE gives you opportunities for a tax-free income, strong savings potential, and there are a large number of international schools.
Considerations: High cost of living; lifestyle varies between emirates.
School access: Many schools offer tuition and good benefits.
🇶🇦 Qatar
Why it’s popular: Teaching in Qatar offers you generous packages, family-focused expat life, and modern infrastructure.
Considerations: Expect conservative laws and lifestyle – give it a serious consideration, particularly if you have daughters.
School access: Tuition benefits for dependents is available at some schools, though many are reducing or removing these benefits.
🇴🇲 Oman
Why it’s popular: Oman can offer a slower pace than Dubai/Doha. It’s also got a reputation as being family-friendly, and offers beautiful natural landscapes.
Considerations: Fewer job openings than UAE/Qatar and greater competition with other teachers.
School access: Some schools offer family-friendly packages.
What Makes a Country Great for Teaching Families?
If you’re looking to teach abroad with your family, make sure to look for:
- School benefit packages that include tuition, flights, and housing
- A high concentration of international schools, making it easier to find work if you’ve got your heart set on a specific country or region
- A strong expat community, especially those with families which can make it easier for your kids to adapt
Final Tip: Teach Abroad with Family
If you want to teach abroad with family, there are HEAPS of quality options to choose from when it comes to finding the right country, school and package for your teaching family.
Finding the right country is just one part of the picture – and getting a job at an international school often comes down to timing and a bit of luck. You might be completely focused on scoring a role in Latin America, but if you see a job opening at a top school in Asia that offers amazing benefits for your whole family, it’s potentially worth applying!
It also depends on your priorities. Some families will prioritise savings, others want cultural immersion, and some need strong special education support. Be clear on what matters most to you before you start looking for a role. And best of all – keep an open mind. You never know what opportunities are out there that could end up being the perfect fit for your family!
