Is private school cheaper in Cambridge or Los Angeles?

Los Angeles has lower average private school tuition at $26,800/year vs $32,000/year in Cambridge. That's $5,200/year less, or $67,600 over a K-12 career.

How much can I save on private school by choosing Los Angeles over Cambridge?

Average tuition in Los Angeles is $5,200/year less than Cambridge. Over 13 years (K-12), that's $67,600 per child. Religious schools are the most affordable option in both cities: $17,300/year in Cambridge, $13,500/year in Los Angeles.

How do Cambridge and Los Angeles private school costs compare to the national average?

The national average private school tuition is $12,350/year. Cambridge averages $32,000/year ($19,650 above average). Los Angeles averages $26,800/year ($14,450 above average).

Private School Cost: Cambridge vs Los Angeles

Los Angeles averages $5,200/year less for private school (19% cheaper). Over K-12, that's $67,600 per child.

Bottom Line

Los Angeles is the cheaper city for private school. Average tuition: $26,800/year vs $32,000/year in Cambridge. Religious schools run $13,500/year on the low end.

Cambridge

$32,000

avg tuition/year

$19,650 above national avg

Los Angeles

$26,800

avg tuition/year

$14,450 above national avg

Lower cost

Tuition by School Type & Grade

Category	Cambridge	Los Angeles	Difference
All Schools (Average)	$32,000/yr	$26,800/yr	+$5,200
Religious Schools	$17,300/yr	$13,500/yr	+$3,800
Independent/Prep	$65,000/yr	$42,000/yr	+$23,000
Elementary (K-5)	$27,200/yr	$22,000/yr	+$5,200
Middle School (6-8)	$32,000/yr	$26,800/yr	+$5,200
High School (9-12)	$38,400/yr	$32,000/yr	+$6,400

K-12 Total Cost (13 Years)

Cambridge

$416,000

Los Angeles

$348,400

Choosing Los Angeles saves $67,600 per child over a full K-12 career. Two kids? That's $135,200.

Sample Schools

Cambridge

Cambridge School of Weston

Independent · 9–12 · $59,400/yr

Buckingham Browne & Nichols School

Independent · PK–12 · $58,800/yr

Los Angeles

Harvard-Westlake School

Independent · 7–12 · $47,890/yr

Crossroads School for Arts & Sciences

Independent · K–12 · $44,370/yr

Marlborough School

Independent · 7–12 · $44,800/yr

St. Monica Catholic School

Catholic · K–8 · $9,200-$11,400/yr

Full Cambridge breakdown → Full Los Angeles breakdown →

Massachusetts private school costs California private school costs

Related Comparisons

Los Angeles vs San Francisco → Los Angeles vs San Diego → Los Angeles vs San Jose → Irvine vs Los Angeles →

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.