Is private school cheaper in Austin or San Francisco?

Austin has lower average private school tuition at $15,500/year vs $34,200/year in San Francisco. That's $18,700/year less, or $243,100 over a K-12 career.

How much can I save on private school by choosing Austin over San Francisco?

Average tuition in Austin is $18,700/year less than San Francisco. Over 13 years (K-12), that's $243,100 per child. Religious schools are the most affordable option in both cities: $9,400/year in Austin, $16,000/year in San Francisco.

How do Austin and San Francisco private school costs compare to the national average?

The national average private school tuition is $12,350/year. Austin averages $15,500/year ($3,150 above average). San Francisco averages $34,200/year ($21,850 above average).

Private School Cost: Austin vs San Francisco

Austin averages $18,700/year less for private school (121% cheaper). Over K-12, that's $243,100 per child.

Bottom Line

Austin is the cheaper city for private school. Average tuition: $15,500/year vs $34,200/year in San Francisco. Religious schools run $9,400/year on the low end.

Austin

$15,500

avg tuition/year

$3,150 above national avg

Lower cost

San Francisco

$34,200

avg tuition/year

$21,850 above national avg

Tuition by School Type & Grade

Category	Austin	San Francisco	Difference
All Schools (Average)	$15,500/yr	$34,200/yr	-$18,700
Religious Schools	$9,400/yr	$16,000/yr	-$6,600
Independent/Prep	$28,200/yr	$52,000/yr	-$23,800
Elementary (K-5)	$12,800/yr	$28,000/yr	-$15,200
Middle School (6-8)	$15,500/yr	$34,200/yr	-$18,700
High School (9-12)	$19,200/yr	$42,000/yr	-$22,800

K-12 Total Cost (13 Years)

Austin

$201,500

San Francisco

$444,600

Choosing Austin saves $243,100 per child over a full K-12 career. Two kids? That's $486,200.

Sample Schools

Austin

St. Andrew's Episcopal School (Austin)

Independent · PK–12 · $32,800-$35,400/yr

Austin Preparatory School

Catholic · 6–12 · $14,200/yr

St. Michael's Catholic Academy

Catholic · 9–12 · $15,800/yr

Hyde Park Baptist School

Christian · PK–12 · $13,400-$15,200/yr

San Francisco

San Francisco University High School

Independent · 9–12 · $56,830/yr

The Urban School of San Francisco

Independent · 9–12 · $56,200/yr

Katherine Delmar Burke School

Independent · K–8 · $48,900/yr

St. Ignatius College Preparatory

Catholic · 9–12 · $24,600/yr

Full Austin breakdown → Full San Francisco breakdown →

Texas private school costs California private school costs

Related Comparisons

Los Angeles vs San Francisco → San Francisco vs San Jose → Houston vs Austin → Dallas vs Austin →

About This Comparison

This comparison uses NCES Private School Universe Survey data, adjusted for metro-level cost-of-living differences. "Average tuition" blends religious schools (Catholic, Christian) and independent day/prep schools. Religious schools typically cost 60-70% less than independent schools in the same city.

Grade-level estimates (elementary, middle, high) are derived from the city average using national grade-level multipliers. High school tuition typically runs 15-25% above the city average; elementary runs 10-20% below.