Cost of Living Abroad with a Family: What to Consider Before You Accept a Job

When it comes to living overseas as a teaching family, one of the most important factors to get your head around when deciding on an offer is the cost of living.

While making sure you’re getting the best teaching benefits for your family, even with a high salary, if the cost living isn’t sustainble you’ll be struggling to survive.

And it’s not just enough to compare rent and groceries on sites like Numbeo to work out the price differences between where you’re currently living and potential destinations.

With a family in tow, you’ll need to consider any tuition costs (if not covered), daily transport, out of pocket healthcare and those fun, random unplanned costs with kids! Like birthday parties, weekend outings, new shoes and school uniforms. They all can make a huge difference to your lifestyle — and how far your salary actually goes.

Here’s our top considerations for assessing cost of living when deciding on moving abroad as a teaching family.

1. Look Beyond the Salary Figure

An international teaching job that offers a higher salary doesn’t always mean more disposable income. A lower-paying role in a country with a much lower cost of living might actually stretch further.

For example, living in Thailand costs a lot less than living in South Korea. So on paper the offer might not seem affordable, but with lower living costs (think rent, food, entertainment), you could actually end up saving more.

Use cost-of-living comparison tools and expat forums to get a feel for everyday expenses like groceries, utilities, and dining out. Then, map those costs against the benefits offered by the school — housing, flights, tuition discounts, healthcare, pension contributions etc.

Pro tip: Don’t forget taxes. Some countries tax foreign workers at high rates, while others offer low or even zero income tax — a major factor in your take-home pay.

2. Understand Housing Costs and Allowances

Housing is usually the biggest expense for teaching families abroad.

Ask early on whether your school:

• Provides accommodation (and what type — an apartment, villa, or shared complex).
• Offers a housing allowance — and if so, is it enough to rent in a safe, family-friendly area?
• Includes utilities or furniture.

If housing is your responsibility, research average rental prices near the school. Try to get some approximate costs for the type of accommodation you’d need. A generous allowance can quickly lose its shine if rent consumes most of it.

3. Factor in Schooling for Your Children

Many international schools offer free or discounted tuition for staff children — but not all. And in some cases, only part of the fees are covered. There are other factors to consider too, such as extra costs for uniforms, specific technology requirements (e.g. some schools specify secondary students require a MacBook), transport, or after-school care.

As your kids get older, you’ll also have to factor in costs for school camps, educational excursions and sporting trips (like FOBISIA in Asia). These can quickly add up – especially for international destinations.

If your children are too young for school, make sure you check out local childcare options. Costs vary dramatically by country, and the quality can too!

4. Investigate Healthcare Costs

While many schools include health insurance in your package, coverage levels differ. Some include family members automatically, while others charge extra.

You may need to think about researching the cost of private healthcare in your destination — especially if the local public system is limited or your health insurance benefits aren’t upt o scratch. Think about whether you’re likely to might face out-of-pocket costs for things like dental care, prescriptions, or specialist visits.

5. Don’t Overlook Everyday Expenses

It’s often the “little things” that surprise teaching families most. Consider:

• Groceries: Imported goods and familiar brands can be significantly more expensive in some countries. For example, in Peru a jar of peanut butter can set you back USD$20!
• Transport: Will you need a car, or can you rely on public transport? Is fuel cheap or heavily taxed? What about insurance and road tax?
• Domestic help: In many countries, hiring help is affordable and common — but still worth budgeting for. Explore and compare costs for live-in help vs day to day help, or even babysitters.
• Leisure: The cost of family outings, classes, memberships, and holidays varies widely.

Talking to teachers already living in the country you’re considering is one of the best ways to get a realistic idea of everyday costs. But remember, every family’s circumstances are unique! Don’t base your choice solely on how another family lives and budgets!

6. Plan for the Extras: Travel and Relocation

When you’re moving overseas you’ll also need to consider those one-off expenses, like visas, shipping your belongings, and setting up your new home. Some schools cover these costs as part of relocation benefits (or at least partially), while others don’t.

Once you’re settled, you may also want to budget for annual trips – either travelling back home to see family and friends, or new adventures. If your contract doesn’t include annual flights you’ll also need to budget in flight costs – which can quickly escalate for families with four or five people.

7. Build a Savings and Safety Net Strategy

Finally, think beyond the day-to-day. Will your salary allow you to save or invest while abroad? If not, is that something you’re comfortable with during this chapter of your family’s life?

A good benchmark is whether you can set aside at least 10–20% of your income after essential expenses — both for emergencies and for future plans, like university costs for your kids or returning home.

Cost of Living Considerations: Make Sure the Numbers Work for Your Family

At the end of the day, cost of living isn’t just about comparing one country to another. It’s about how the realities of daily life line up with your salary, benefits, and priorities.

What feels affordable and sustainable for one family might look very different for another. By doing thorough research, asking the right questions, and looking beyond the headline salary, you’ll have a much clearer picture of whether a job offer will support the lifestyle you want for your family.

It can also help you to make confident choices — and enjoy the adventure, rather than stress over the bills.