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With over 54,000 teacher reviews across 1,296 international schools in 163 countries, the International School Community database offers a uniquely honest window into what it’s really like to teach abroad. Two regions consistently dominate the conversation: Asia and the Middle East. Both attract thousands of international educators every year — but the experience of teaching in Bangkok versus Dubai, or Seoul versus Doha, can be worlds apart.
We’ve pulled real, unfiltered comments from teachers on the ground to give you a genuine comparison across salary, lifestyle, workload, benefits, and more.
Salary and Tax: The Financial Picture
Asia dominates ISC’s review data by sheer volume. Bangkok leads all cities globally with 2,291 teacher reviews, followed by Shanghai (1,866), Beijing (1,561), Ho Chi Minh City (1,399), and Singapore (1,326). The Middle East’s strongest showing is Dubai at 1,155 reviews — a significant number, but telling of the relative size of each region’s international teaching community.
Middle East: Tax-Free and Loaded with Allowances
The Middle East’s biggest draw has always been its tax-free salary structure. Teachers at schools like Nord Anglia International School Dubai describe competitive starting salaries with cost-of-living supplements — all tax-free. For many Western teachers, this represents a significant step up in take-home pay compared to what they’d earn at home.
Benefits packages in the Middle East tend to be comprehensive and clearly structured — flights home, housing, health insurance, and sometimes even car allowances are bundled in as standard. The package-based model means less negotiation but more predictability.
Asia: Higher Ceilings, More Variation
Asia’s salary landscape is broader and more variable. Schools in Bangkok can offer strong salary scales with significant headroom for experienced teachers, though pay is typically in local currency, meaning exchange rate fluctuation is a real consideration.
Singapore sits in a league of its own. Teachers there benefit from low income tax rates and schools like Singapore American School offer generous housing allowances and relocation support. The cost of living is high, but compensation generally reflects that.
Benefits in Asia vary enormously by school and city. Retirement contributions, professional development allowances, and annual flights are common at well-established schools. Shanghai schools tend to offer housing and flights, though trailing spouses cannot work on a dependent visa, which is a recurring concern for couples.
Lifestyle and Culture: Two Very Different Worlds
Asia: Vibrant, Complex, and Endlessly Stimulating
Teachers in Asia consistently describe an energetic, immersive lifestyle. Seoul teachers highlight excellent transport infrastructure, with Korea Kent Foreign School teachers noting clean and comfortable airports, though Incheon requires nearly two hours from the city. Travel around the region is a major perk, with many educators using holidays to explore Japan, Vietnam, and beyond.
Bangkok teachers describe a city of contrasts — the workload at some schools is heavy, but the food, culture, and social scene make it one of the most popular postings in the world for a reason. Schools like KIS International School Bangkok regularly feature among the most reviewed on ISC.
Shanghai offers a cosmopolitan experience with a strong expat community, though navigating bureaucracy — pet imports, visa restrictions for spouses — can be frustrating. Small practicalities like these paint a vivid picture of daily expat life that you’ll only find in candid teacher reviews.
Middle East: Modern, Well-Resourced, and Fast-Growing
Dubai’s international schools are increasingly world-class in terms of facilities. Nord Anglia International School Dubai boasts purpose-built facilities including multiple science labs, pools, an auditorium, and dedicated arts and performance spaces. For teachers who value resources and infrastructure, the Middle East often delivers in ways that even well-funded Asian schools can’t always match.
The lifestyle in the Gulf is comfortable but structured differently to Asia. Social life tends to revolve around expat communities and organised activities. Teachers with families often appreciate the safety, cleanliness, and predictability of cities like Dubai and Abu Dhabi.
Workload and School Culture
Asia: Growing Pains and High Expectations
Several Bangkok teachers flagged increasing workload pressures, with teachers at some schools noting heavier teaching loads than at comparable international schools, with limited substitute cover. Others noted that while administrative direction was largely positive, the pace could be exhausting.
Class sizes in Bangkok typically run in the mid-to-upper teens. Seoul’s Korea Kent Foreign School showed a more settled culture — smaller classes in lower years, accreditation intact, and a stable hiring process through established recruiting channels.
Middle East: Stability and High Standards
Dubai schools in the ISC database tend to emphasise stability and accreditation. Nord Anglia International School Dubai noted low staff turnover, strong international accreditations, and consistent Outstanding ratings from regulators. Average class sizes are manageable and clearly communicated to prospective staff.
Not all Middle East schools match this picture — the region is as varied as any other when it comes to school quality, which is exactly why reading real teacher reviews before accepting a contract matters.
Wellbeing and Support
Teacher wellbeing is an increasingly prominent theme across both regions. Shanghai schools run dedicated staff wellbeing programmes with regular workshops. Singapore’s Chatsworth International School was praised for a detailed, unhurried orientation process where the school takes good care of teachers both new and experienced. Health insurance at top Singapore schools was described as excellent compared to other for-profit schools in the city.
In Dubai, healthcare access is generally strong, underpinned by UAE regulation of private international schools. Teachers in the Gulf often cite peace of mind around safety and medical infrastructure as a key reason for choosing the region.
So Which Region Is Right for You?
There’s no universal answer — and that’s exactly the point. The right region depends on what you’re optimising for.
Choose Asia if you want cultural immersion, regional travel opportunities, a higher potential salary ceiling, and don’t mind navigating more variability in school quality and bureaucracy. Start by browsing schools in Bangkok, Shanghai, Singapore, and Seoul.
Choose the Middle East if tax-free income, predictable benefits packages, modern facilities, and a more structured expat lifestyle appeal to you — especially if you’re moving with a family. Explore schools in Dubai and beyond.
The best decision starts with the best information. Browse thousands of real teacher reviews on International School Community — and hear it straight from the teachers who’ve been there.
All data and perspectives in this article are drawn directly from teacher reviews submitted to International School Community. Views expressed are those of individual teachers and do not represent the official position of any school.
Everyone Can Now Post School Comments (And Earn Premium Membership)
For years, International School Community has been built on a simple idea: the best informative comments about international schools come from the teachers who’ve actually worked in them. Every comment on ISC is a real experience, shared by a real educator, for the benefit of someone else, making one of the biggest decisions of their career.
That contribution comes with a reward – now available for everyone!
What’s New
ISC members can now post comments directly as regular members — no special status required. If you’ve worked at an international school and have something to say about the salary, the housing, the admin culture, the city, or anything else that matters to teachers in the field, you can now say it.
And for every 10 comments you submit, you’ll receive one month of free ISC Premium.
Why Comments Matter More Than You Think
ISC currently holds 54,798 comments across 2,381 schools in 223 countries (6 May 2026). That number didn’t come from nowhere — it came from thousands of teachers who took a few minutes to share what they knew.
But here’s the thing about crowdsourced information: it’s only as good as the people contributing to it. A school with 3 comments tells you almost nothing. A school with 40 comments, spread across different years and different topics, tells you something you can actually use.
Every comment you add makes the picture clearer for someone else. And in international teaching — where a bad contract in the wrong school can cost you a year of your life — clarity is everything.
What You Get With Premium
One month of ISC Premium gives you access to:
Full salary comparison data — see what teachers are actually earning at schools around the world, broken down by location and position
Unlimited Isca questions — our AI assistant has read every comment on the platform; Premium members can ask her as much as they want
Advanced school search and filtering — find schools that match your specific criteria, fast
Full access to comments and search — search across all 54,798 comments by keyword, topic, or school
Ten comments earn you a month. Post regularly, and your Premium access keeps renewing.
Sample school view for posting comments as a member with basic membership access.
How To Get Started
If you’ve worked at one or more international schools, you already have everything you need. Head to any school page on IS Community, choose one of the comment sections, and share what you know.
International school reviews/comments can cover anything relevant to other teachers: salary and benefits, housing quality, admin culture, workload, the city itself, onboarding experience, or how the school handles teacher support. The more specific, the more useful.
There’s no minimum length requirement — but the comments that help people most tend to be the ones that go beyond “it was great” or “I hated it.” Context is everything.
The ISC community has always run on teachers’ generosity and willingness to share what they know. This is just our way of saying thank you for it.
Your ISC Team
AI Assistant guide to the world of International Schools
AI Assistants are slowly taking over search on a lot of websites. And let’s be honest, the research of your future international schools can feel like a full-time job. Whether you’re trying to calculate your savings potential in Kuwait or figuring out which international school in Singapore actually covers full tuition for your kids, you’ve traditionally had to spend hours scrolling through thousands of reviews to find the “truth.”
Today, that changes.
We are thrilled to introduce Isca—the first smart AI assistant designed specifically to navigate the realm of international school teaching.
More Than an AI Assistant: A Collective Brain
Isca isn’t just another chatbot. She is the result of a massive architectural undertaking developed by Sofija Hotomski, PhD.
The goal was ambitious: How do we take the collective wisdom of over 55,000 international school teacher comments and reviews and make them instantly accessible? Sofija built the “brain” of the AI Assistant, but the community provided its knowledge and soul. Isca has read every single review on our platform. She understands the nuances of school culture, the hidden red flags in contracts, and the “real-life” costs of living across the globe.
Why Every International School Teacher Needs Isca in Their Arsenal
Think of Isca as the colleague who has worked at every international school and lived in every global city, and is always ready to give you the “unfiltered” scoop over coffee.
Synthesized Insights: Instead of reading 50 reviews for one international school, ask Isca: “What is the general sentiment about management at this school over the last two years?”
Complex Comparisons: Ask her to compare benefits between regions: “Which international schools in Japan offer the best flight packages for families compared to schools in Korea?”
The “Hidden” Details: Isca knows the data points that aren’t on the official brochures—like which international schools actually help with visa applications or where teachers report the best work-life balance.
A “Cheeky” Hello Gift 🎁
To celebrate her arrival, Isca has decided to start her tenure with a bit of a surprise. She’s feeling a little mischievous and wants to show off what she can do, but to find out about it you will have to sign up for our newsletter!
How to Start
You’ll see Isca’s friendly globe-head popping up on our App and across the site. Simply click the chat bubble and ask your toughest question.
Is the salary in Zurich enough for a family of four?
Which schools in Dubai are flagging for payment delays?
Who has the best housing allowance in Southeast Asia?
We Want Your Feedback!
Isca is a learner, just like us. As you explore the site during this “open house” period, please leave comments and reviews about the AI Assistant. Your experiences are the fuel that makes Isca smarter and more helpful for the entire community.
Go ahead—put her to the test. Your next great adventure is just one question away.
Ron, the founder of the ISC
How International Teachers Accidentally Blow Their Savings #1: Travel Too Much
We all hear about the amazing savings potential of working at international schools.
And yet… a lot of us aren’t saving anything at all.
So what’s going on?
#1 Way NOT to Save Money: Travel. A lot.
Take a trip every break. Then maybe another one. And why not squeeze in a long weekend somewhere, too?
Let’s be honest—many of us feel a bit uneasy if we don’t have our next trip planned. Even worse if we don’t have two or three lined up.
And worst of all? Your colleagues have already booked theirs… and you haven’t. 😅
(Actually—even worse is when your colleagues copy the exact same trips you’re going on. Ha.)
“But this is the time to travel…”
And to be fair—it kind of is.
You might not be paying for a car, insurance, or a bunch of other expenses you’d have back home. So naturally, you think:
Why not take advantage of this and see the world?
And you should.
But… all those flights, hotels, and “quick weekend getaways” add up fast. You can’t exactly be heading to the Maldives every single break (even if Instagram makes it feel like you should).
Location matters (a lot more than you think)
Where you’re based can make a huge difference.
Living near a major hub? You might find decent deals.
Living in a smaller or more remote city? Get ready to pay a premium just to leave.
Those “cheap” trips suddenly aren’t so cheap when every journey starts with an expensive long-haul flight just to get somewhere affordable.
Are cheap flights even a thing anymore?
Remember when low-cost airlines were actually… low cost?
Now it’s:
Pay for your bag
Pay for your seat
Pay to breathe (almost)
If you’re not strategic about:
when you book
where you search
and how flexible you are
…you’ll end up paying way more than necessary.
And of course, there’s always that moment:
Your friend books a flight for a great price… You go to book it 5 minutes later… Price has gone up. 🙃
So how much are we actually flying?
Let’s be real.
Many international teachers are probably taking 10–20 flights a year.
And somehow… anything under 10 flights feels like you’re “not really travelling.” (Cue your friends back home rolling their eyes.)
So… should we travel less?
In theory? Yes.
In reality? …unlikely. 😄
A smarter way to approach it
If you do want to save a bit more, it helps to understand:
typical airfare costs from your host city
which destinations are realistically “cheap”
and when prices spike during the year
That’s exactly why we have a comment topic on ISC where teachers share real airfare examples from their cities.
A few examples:
“A flight ticket to a destination within the country will cost between $150 and $200, and to countries in the region, you will need to fork out between $500 and $700. The most affordable airline is Ethiopian.” Sandford International School (31 total comments)
“Sample RT airfare to the US is around $1200 USD. Most flights to US go through Doha or Dubai. You can also fly through Bangkok, Seoul or Tokyo.” International School of Islamabad (63 total comments)
“Flying out on direct flights is not cheap. So a return flight to Manila leaves at 1:00 am (approx.) and costs $410. If one were to fly via Hanoi – a longer journey – the cost is nearly half.” Canadian International School of Phnom Penh (28 total comments)
“Dakar/ New-York JFK 800-1000$ direct, Dakar/Paris 700-800$ direct, Dakar/Brussels 600-900$, Dakar/Madrid 300-500$.” International School of Dakar (201 total comments)
Final thought
Travel is one of the best parts of international teaching.
But if saving money is also a goal… you might need to slow down just a little on the travel madness.
Or at least… pick your Maldives trips more carefully. 😉
Teaching Abroad: Asia vs. Middle East – First Hand Teachers’ Experiences
With over 54,000 teacher reviews across 1,296 international schools in 163 countries, the International School Community database offers a uniquely honest window into what it’s really like to teach abroad. Two regions consistently dominate the conversation: Asia and the Middle East. Both attract thousands of international educators every year — but the experience of teaching in Bangkok versus Dubai, or Seoul versus Doha, can be worlds apart.
We’ve pulled real, unfiltered comments from teachers on the ground to give you a genuine comparison across salary, lifestyle, workload, benefits, and more.
Salary and Tax: The Financial Picture
Asia dominates ISC’s review data by sheer volume. Bangkok leads all cities globally with 2,291 teacher reviews, followed by Shanghai (1,866), Beijing (1,561), Ho Chi Minh City (1,399), and Singapore (1,326). The Middle East’s strongest showing is Dubai at 1,155 reviews — a significant number, but telling of the relative size of each region’s international teaching community.
Middle East: Tax-Free and Loaded with Allowances
The Middle East’s biggest draw has always been its tax-free salary structure. Teachers at schools like Nord Anglia International School Dubai describe competitive starting salaries with cost-of-living supplements — all tax-free. For many Western teachers, this represents a significant step up in take-home pay compared to what they’d earn at home.
Benefits packages in the Middle East tend to be comprehensive and clearly structured — flights home, housing, health insurance, and sometimes even car allowances are bundled in as standard. The package-based model means less negotiation but more predictability.
Asia: Higher Ceilings, More Variation
Asia’s salary landscape is broader and more variable. Schools in Bangkok can offer strong salary scales with significant headroom for experienced teachers, though pay is typically in local currency, meaning exchange rate fluctuation is a real consideration.
Singapore sits in a league of its own. Teachers there benefit from low income tax rates and schools like Singapore American School offer generous housing allowances and relocation support. The cost of living is high, but compensation generally reflects that.
Benefits in Asia vary enormously by school and city. Retirement contributions, professional development allowances, and annual flights are common at well-established schools. Shanghai schools tend to offer housing and flights, though trailing spouses cannot work on a dependent visa, which is a recurring concern for couples.
Lifestyle and Culture: Two Very Different Worlds
Asia: Vibrant, Complex, and Endlessly Stimulating
Teachers in Asia consistently describe an energetic, immersive lifestyle. Seoul teachers highlight excellent transport infrastructure, with Korea Kent Foreign School teachers noting clean and comfortable airports, though Incheon requires nearly two hours from the city. Travel around the region is a major perk, with many educators using holidays to explore Japan, Vietnam, and beyond.
Bangkok teachers describe a city of contrasts — the workload at some schools is heavy, but the food, culture, and social scene make it one of the most popular postings in the world for a reason. Schools like KIS International School Bangkok regularly feature among the most reviewed on ISC.
Shanghai offers a cosmopolitan experience with a strong expat community, though navigating bureaucracy — pet imports, visa restrictions for spouses — can be frustrating. Small practicalities like these paint a vivid picture of daily expat life that you’ll only find in candid teacher reviews.
Middle East: Modern, Well-Resourced, and Fast-Growing
Dubai’s international schools are increasingly world-class in terms of facilities. Nord Anglia International School Dubai boasts purpose-built facilities including multiple science labs, pools, an auditorium, and dedicated arts and performance spaces. For teachers who value resources and infrastructure, the Middle East often delivers in ways that even well-funded Asian schools can’t always match.
The lifestyle in the Gulf is comfortable but structured differently to Asia. Social life tends to revolve around expat communities and organised activities. Teachers with families often appreciate the safety, cleanliness, and predictability of cities like Dubai and Abu Dhabi.
Workload and School Culture
Asia: Growing Pains and High Expectations
Several Bangkok teachers flagged increasing workload pressures, with teachers at some schools noting heavier teaching loads than at comparable international schools, with limited substitute cover. Others noted that while administrative direction was largely positive, the pace could be exhausting.
Class sizes in Bangkok typically run in the mid-to-upper teens. Seoul’s Korea Kent Foreign School showed a more settled culture — smaller classes in lower years, accreditation intact, and a stable hiring process through established recruiting channels.
Middle East: Stability and High Standards
Dubai schools in the ISC database tend to emphasise stability and accreditation. Nord Anglia International School Dubai noted low staff turnover, strong international accreditations, and consistent Outstanding ratings from regulators. Average class sizes are manageable and clearly communicated to prospective staff.
Not all Middle East schools match this picture — the region is as varied as any other when it comes to school quality, which is exactly why reading real teacher reviews before accepting a contract matters.
Wellbeing and Support
Teacher wellbeing is an increasingly prominent theme across both regions. Shanghai schools run dedicated staff wellbeing programmes with regular workshops. Singapore’s Chatsworth International School was praised for a detailed, unhurried orientation process where the school takes good care of teachers both new and experienced. Health insurance at top Singapore schools was described as excellent compared to other for-profit schools in the city.
In Dubai, healthcare access is generally strong, underpinned by UAE regulation of private international schools. Teachers in the Gulf often cite peace of mind around safety and medical infrastructure as a key reason for choosing the region.
So Which Region Is Right for You?
There’s no universal answer — and that’s exactly the point. The right region depends on what you’re optimising for.
Choose Asia if you want cultural immersion, regional travel opportunities, a higher potential salary ceiling, and don’t mind navigating more variability in school quality and bureaucracy. Start by browsing schools in Bangkok, Shanghai, Singapore, and Seoul.
Choose the Middle East if tax-free income, predictable benefits packages, modern facilities, and a more structured expat lifestyle appeal to you — especially if you’re moving with a family. Explore schools in Dubai and beyond.
The best decision starts with the best information. Browse thousands of real teacher reviews on International School Community — and hear it straight from the teachers who’ve been there.
All data and perspectives in this article are drawn directly from teacher reviews submitted to International School Community. Views expressed are those of individual teachers and do not represent the official position of any school.