tuition

More bad news from the school sticker shock department: brace yourself for increased costs from international schools next year as the effects of China's new social insurance laws for foreigners begins to take effect.

Most expats have already heard news of China's new social insurance laws that will now require foreigners to pay into the social security system, which covers medical insurance, retirement, unemployment insurance and the like. The net effect for this is an increased cost of hiring expats of an estimated 33% to 39% of an employee's base salary.

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Common sense dictates that as Beijing continues to grow city authorities should be doing everything in their power to expand its infrastructure, as has been the case with our much-improved subway system and on the flip-side, the high-end housing glut.

But there are other areas where efforts, much less the supply, seemingly cannot keep pace with the demand. Beijing's beleaguered healthcare system, a woeful lack of roads and the dwindling water supply are at the top this list; but for the city's growing population of parents, perhaps most alarming is the Capital's school situation.

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Choices, choices: A 2011 Mazda Miata MX5 or senior year in an international school in Beijing? Both will cost you USD 30,500

Like rent, transportation and the cost of vegetables, international school tuition is quickly rising in Beijing.

The Global Times reported yesterday in a story on inflation that 2011/2012 tuitions posted on international school websites in Beijing were up by 10% or more from the previous year.

A quick reference check on a dozen of Beijing's top international schools reveals annual 12th grade (or its equivalent) tuitions that range from RMB 110,000 to RMB 216,000, with a median price of RMB 198,500.

In US dollar terms, that's a range of roughly $17,000 to $33,000, with a median of $30,500 for senior year of high school.

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