Is private school cheaper in Boston or Philadelphia?

Philadelphia has lower average private school tuition at $20,200/year vs $36,800/year in Boston. That's $16,600/year less, or $215,800 over a K-12 career.

How much can I save on private school by choosing Philadelphia over Boston?

Average tuition in Philadelphia is $16,600/year less than Boston. Over 13 years (K-12), that's $215,800 per child. Religious schools are the most affordable option in both cities: $18,500/year in Boston, $11,400/year in Philadelphia.

How do Boston and Philadelphia private school costs compare to the national average?

The national average private school tuition is $12,350/year. Boston averages $36,800/year ($24,450 above average). Philadelphia averages $20,200/year ($7,850 above average).

Private School Cost: Boston vs Philadelphia

Philadelphia averages $16,600/year less for private school (82% cheaper). Over K-12, that's $215,800 per child.

Bottom Line

Philadelphia is the cheaper city for private school. Average tuition: $20,200/year vs $36,800/year in Boston. Religious schools run $11,400/year on the low end.

Boston

$36,800

avg tuition/year

$24,450 above national avg

Philadelphia

$20,200

avg tuition/year

$7,850 above national avg

Lower cost

Tuition by School Type & Grade

Category	Boston	Philadelphia	Difference
All Schools (Average)	$36,800/yr	$20,200/yr	+$16,600
Religious Schools	$18,500/yr	$11,400/yr	+$7,100
Independent/Prep	$56,000/yr	$36,000/yr	+$20,000
Elementary (K-5)	$30,000/yr	$16,500/yr	+$13,500
Middle School (6-8)	$36,800/yr	$20,200/yr	+$16,600
High School (9-12)	$46,000/yr	$25,000/yr	+$21,000

K-12 Total Cost (13 Years)

Boston

$478,400

Philadelphia

$262,600

Choosing Philadelphia saves $215,800 per child over a full K-12 career. Two kids? That's $431,600.

Sample Schools

Boston

Boston Latin School (Exam)

Exam School (Public) · 7–12

Roxbury Latin School

Independent (need-based) · 7–12

Belmont Hill School

Independent · 7–12 · $59,800/yr

Boston College High School

Catholic · 9–12 · $23,100/yr

Philadelphia

Episcopal Academy

Independent · PK–12 · $40,800-$43,200/yr

The Haverford School

Independent · PK–12 · $41,200/yr

Germantown Friends School

Independent (Quaker) · K–12 · $38,600/yr

La Salle College High School

Catholic · 9–12 · $19,200/yr

Full Boston breakdown → Full Philadelphia breakdown →

Massachusetts private school costs Pennsylvania private school costs

Related Comparisons

New York vs Boston → New York vs Philadelphia → Boston vs Phoenix →

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.