International schools in Sofia - realistic costs and how hard is admission?

The wild range you saw is real, because Sofia has schools in genuinely different price tiers. The top tier is the Anglo-American School of Sofia (AAS) - the IB world school most multinational families default to. For 2026/27, annual tuition is roughly 22,300 euro for elementary, about 24,000 euro for middle school, and up to around 25,600 euro for high school, plus one-off entrance and capital fees that add several thousand euro in year one. The middle tier includes the British School of Sofia and St George International School, running very roughly 10,000-18,000 euro depending on age. There is also a value tier that expats often overlook: the French Lycee Victor Hugo and the German school, tied to their national systems, charge far less - single-digit thousands - and deliver strong academics if your kids can work in those languages. On top of tuition, budget for buses, meals, uniforms and trips, easily 2,000-4,000 euro more per child at the bigger schools. Admission reality: apply 6-12 months ahead, so for next summer you should start now. AAS in particular fills specific grade levels and runs waiting lists - your 12-year-old hits the middle-school years where places are tightest. The process is records from the current school, an age-appropriate assessment, and often a family interview; coming from an American-curriculum school in Dubai your kids will slot in easily academically. One practical tip: several schools prioritize corporate-sponsored applications, and admissions offices respond well to a clear relocation date and employer letter - lean on the company relocation support team. School-and-neighborhood logistics are covered in our guide at /guides/living-in-sofia-guide.