Understanding an international school teacher package is essential when evaluating offers abroad. While salary gets most of the attention, the true value lies in the benefits: housing, airfare, healthcare, tuition for staff children, transportation, childcare support, and lifestyle perks. These benefits shape not only your financial life but also your day-to-day wellbeing.
International schools vary tremendously, and no package is “one-size-fits-all.” The best offer for a single teacher might not be the best offer for a family of four, and vice versa. This guide breaks down what packages typically include, what questions to ask, red flags to notice, and how these benefits can shape your experience as an international educator.
I’m also sharing parts of my own journey to illustrate how powerful the right benefits can be, and why the wrong benefits for your stage of life can make a school a poor fit, even if the salary looks great.
Want more information about how to get a job at an international school? Check out these posts:
- How to Get a Job at an International School: First Steps for Teaching Abroad
- International School Recruitment: Where to Find Jobs and How to Get Hired
- Moving Abroad as a Teacher: How to Prepare for Your First International School Job
- International School Services vs Search Associates: Which International School Recruitment Agency is Right for You?
- What to Expect at Your First International School Job Fair
- International School Teacher Benefits Packages Explained: Housing, Airfare, Healthcare, and Tuition Benefits
- How Much Money Can You Really Save Teaching Overseas? A Practical Guide for Educators
- Teaching Abroad with Kids: A Practical Guide for International School Teachers and Expat Families
- Teaching Couples and Families Abroad: Navigating International School Careers Together
Why Packages Matter More Than the Salary Line
A strong benefits package can dramatically increase your savings potential, reduce your stress, and help you settle comfortably in a new country. Two contracts with the same salary can feel completely different depending on:
- whether housing is included,
- how much health insurance covers,
- if flights are provided,
- whether childcare or transportation exists,
- or if your children’s tuition is subsidized.
This is true for all educators, but especially important for single teachers and child-free couples, who may prioritize amenities, privacy, travel opportunities, or adult-focused communities over family-oriented perks.
Do you want help organizing benefits to compare schools? Check out the job comparison chart (or the freebie version) to figure out which school is right for you!
1. Housing: The Most Impactful Piece of an International School Teacher Package
Housing is often the benefit that influences lifestyle, and savings, most dramatically.
Common Housing Models
- ✅ Provided housing (compound, villa, apartment)
- ✅ Housing allowance or stipend
- ✅ No housing support (common in Europe or metropolitan schools)
Why Housing Preferences Differ for Families vs. Singles
For teachers with young children, a family-oriented compound can be a dream; safe, walkable, full of playmates, and extremely convenient.
But for single educators or child-free couples, that same environment might feel overwhelming. At some schools, teachers without children have felt “surrounded” by staff kids at all hours because the compound doubles as a playground. While educators love working with children, not everyone wants to live in the middle of that energy 24/7.
On the flip side, some schools have staff communities made up almost entirely of young singles, which can be isolating for families with children who are hoping for playground buddies, playdates, and parent community.
This is why research matters. Go beyond the school profile on your recruitment platform and ask:
- What percentage of staff are single? Married? Have kids?
- Do staff socialize together?
- Is housing grouped or mixed?
- What are weekends typically like?
The package may look “perfect” on paper, but the community must also fit your lifestyle.
My Housing Story (and Why It Changed My Finances)
Housing was one of the biggest reasons I initially pursued international teaching. Before going full-time in international education, I worked for a nonprofit in Tennessee where rent + student loans left almost nothing for savings. Teaching in South Korea changed everything because my contract included free housing, so every extra dollar went toward debt. In 1.5 years, I earned about $47,000 USD and paid off $25,000 of student loans.
This experience taught me that housing is leverage. It can accelerate your financial goals or swallow them whole.
2. Airfare: Flights, Relocation, and Repatriation
Airfare is another major component of an international school teacher package, and what a school offers often reflects its location, cost of living, and accessibility.
Most reputable schools include some combination of the following:
- ✅ Annual round-trip airfare (for you and dependents)
- ✅ Beginning- and end-of-contract flights
- ✅ Freight or shipping allowance
- ✅ Dependent coverage (children and spouse)
- ✅ Repatriation flight at the end of service
For single teachers, not having to pay out-of-pocket for long-haul travel home frees up money for vacations or savings. For families, airfare support removes a massive logistical and financial burden because we all know that flying multiple people internationally can quickly become very expensive.
How Airfare Packages Differ by Region
One important nuance is that airfare benefits vary based on where the school is located and how easy it is to travel in and out of the country.
✅ Schools in regions with easy regional travel (some European countries)
In countries where teachers can easily travel to nearby destinations, thanks to budget airlines, high-speed rail systems, or close regional borders, some schools are less likely to offer annual flights home.
Instead, these schools often provide:
- A flight at the start of your contract
- A flight at the end of your contract
The assumption is that returning to your home of record isn’t an undue financial hardship, or that staff will spend summer holidays exploring nearby countries rather than flying back home.
✅ Schools in less-visited locations (schools in African countries, Central Asian countries, or island nations like Timor-Leste)
For schools that are geographically isolated or just far from major hubs, annual flights are more common.
Why?
- Travel is expensive
- Travel can be complicated
- Access to surrounding countries may be limited
- Teachers may feel isolated without yearly home leave
In these cases, annual flights are important for staff wellbeing and long-term retention.
3. Healthcare: A Hidden Gem in International Packages
Quality healthcare can be one of the biggest advantages of teaching overseas.
My Healthcare Story (Including a $3,000 Birth!)
While teaching in Timor-Leste, my family returned to the U.S. to visit family over the summer. While there, I got sick and I visited a local urgent care and was caught off guard when the staff actually complimented my health insurance. My visit + prescription cost about $20, which was later reimbursed by insurance.
Subsequent schools also offered excellent coverage. I have paid nothing for doctor visits or prescriptions for years.
The only real out-of-pocket medical expense I ever paid abroad was when I gave birth in Saudi Arabia, and that was only due to a last-minute hospital change during labor. To speed things along (really, it was so I could get my epidural sooner) my husband went downstairs to pay the full bill before insurance was processed. Labor, delivery, and a VIP suite for the night totaled under $3,000, all of which was later reimbursable.
For all staff, a school with strong healthcare coverage gives freedom and peace of mind to live, travel, and explore without worrying about unexpected expenses.
Health Care Varies Widely by Country—That’s Important to Understand
Another key factor in evaluating the healthcare portion of an international school teacher package is the national healthcare system in the country where you’ll be working.
Some countries, particularly in Europe, parts of Asia, and certain Gulf states—have excellent, well-resourced national healthcare systems. In these locations, international staff can typically access high-quality medical care at very low or no cost.
If a school in one of these countries doesn’t offer extensive private insurance, it’s often because staff simply don’t need it; the national system is already strong, affordable, and easy to use. This isn’t a red flag, it’s a reflection of the country’s infrastructure.
In contrast, schools located in more remote regions or in countries where healthcare quality varies significantly from what teachers may be accustomed to in the U.S., Canada, U.K., or Australia tend to offer robust private insurance plans. These packages often include international coverage, medical evacuation, specialist access, and private hospital options to ensure teachers and their families receive reliable care.
Understanding the local healthcare landscape helps you interpret the benefits accurately: Sometimes a limited insurance package is a warning sign and other times, it’s a sign that the national system is already excellent.
4. Tuition Benefits for Teachers’ Kids Abroad
If you have children, or plan to in the future, tuition waivers or discounts can be worth tens of thousands of dollars per year.
But if you’re single or child-free, these benefits may feel irrelevant, so it’s better to look at what other perks the school invests in instead (housing quality, PD funding, flights, transportation, compound amenities, etc.).
My Own Story: On-Site Childcare Was Life-Changing
At the American School of Dhahran, we received free on-site childcare, and it transformed our life:
- We didn’t need to pay daycare fees
- We didn’t need to hire or manage a nanny
- Our toddler enrolled immediately upon arrival
- Our daughter was eligible to join at six weeks old
- If a child fell on the playground, we could check on them during a planning period and give a quick cuddle if needed
- We were all on the same schedule
Not every school offers this, and single educators may prefer schools that invest in adult amenities instead (gyms, social activities, nicer housing, travel stipends).
Understanding who the school’s benefits are designed for is key.
5. Transportation, Lifestyle Support & “Quality of Life” Perks
Transportation
When we arrived in Saudi Arabia, school-provided transportation meant we didn’t need a car for the first six months we lived there. This helped us pay off our student loans faster.
Some schools offer:
- Shuttles or buses
- Transportation stipends
- Ride-share support
- Taxis on account
For all expat educators, not needing to buy a car can be a huge financial advantage.
When we eventually bought a car it was because we were ready to explore a new country on our own terms.
Community Fit: A Crucial but Overlooked Factor
Here’s something few people talk about:
The staff community matters just as much as the package.
- A single teacher may feel isolated in a family-centered school.
- A family with young children may feel lonely in a staff mostly made up of singles.
- A child-free couple may not want to live surrounded by staff kids.
- A social single may thrive in a big-city school with nightlife, events, and other single colleagues.
- A family may prefer a quiet compound where kids spend weekends roaming between houses.
Do your research. Ask direct questions. Look for patterns, not just numbers.
6. Savings Potential: Why the Same Salary Doesn’t Equal the Same Lifestyle
The “best” package depends on your priorities:
- Singles may prioritize travel, quality housing, and social life.
- Child-free couples may focus on savings, housing, and PD support.
- Families may prioritize tuition, childcare, and safe communities.
And cost of living varies widely.
A high salary in a high-cost city can still mean low savings potential. Meanwhile, a modest salary in a low-cost region with housing included may allow you to still save a surprising amount.
Early in my career, my husband and I took jobs designed to maximize savings. After teaching in South Korea, we returned to the U.S. to earn our teaching certifications (and took on more student loans), but after working internationally again, first for two years in Timor-Leste, then within the first five months of working Saudi Arabia, we paid everything off and became debt free.
Final Thoughts: The “Right Package” Depends on Who You Are
International teaching offers different benefits at different life stages.
- The perfect school for my barefoot toddlers hopping across sidewalks on a compound is very different from the school I’ll want when they’re grown.
- A school full of young singles might be perfect for some, and overwhelming for others.
- A school that provides free childcare and family housing may be ideal for parents, but not for single educators looking for independence and balance.
There is no universal best package, only the best package for you were you are in your life and career.
And that changes over time.
Don’t forget! Do you want help organizing benefits to compare schools? Check out the job comparison chart (or the freebie version) to figure out which school is right for you!
The Inside Perspective: What Made the Biggest Difference for You?
Whether you’re single, married, child-free, or raising a family abroad, your experience matters.
Share in the comments:
- What benefit in your package changed your life or finances the most?
- What surprised you about housing, healthcare, airfare, or tuition?
- What should new international educators look for when comparing offers?
Your insight can help others make confident, informed choices.
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