KUALA LUMPUR: Kuala Lumpur is the second cheapest city in Asia for international schools, at a median of US$5,432 per year, behind Phnom Penh, according to International Schools Database's (ISD) latest research.

In Asia, China features heavily among the most expensive cities, and while other wealthy Asian countries such as South Korea and Singapore are not far behind.

"Affordable prices can still be found in the region, however, with Phnom Penh, Kuala Lumpur and Penang all among the cheapest cities on the list," ISD said.

Overall, the four most expensive countries for international education - the US, China, Switzerland and the UK - are all known for having some of the best international schools in the world. However, ISD said they are also known for high costs of living, particularly in the cities that feature in its top 10 rankings. These include New York, San Francisco, London, Zurich, Beijing and Shanghai.

London is the only UK city to feature in the research and is ranked within the top 10 for the first time. For the third year running, Africa remains the most affordable region for international schooling. However, the database said there have been some surprising changes within the region itself. Casablanca has dropped from 44th on the list down to the second cheapest city at number 72. All other African cities included in the ISD research have also shifted places, with the exception of Cape Town which remains the cheapest city, and Johannesburg at number 68.

The research, in already its third year, helped local and expat parents choose the perfect international school for their children. The database allows parents to find, research and compare international schools in cities across the world.