Is private school cheaper in Cary or San Francisco?

Cary has lower average private school tuition at $11,500/year vs $34,200/year in San Francisco. That's $22,700/year less, or $295,100 over a K-12 career.

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

Average tuition in Cary is $22,700/year less than San Francisco. Over 13 years (K-12), that's $295,100 per child. Religious schools are the most affordable option in both cities: $8,100/year in Cary, $16,000/year in San Francisco.

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

The national average private school tuition is $12,350/year. Cary averages $11,500/year ($850 below average). San Francisco averages $34,200/year ($21,850 above average).

Private School Cost: Cary vs San Francisco

Cary averages $22,700/year less for private school (197% cheaper). Over K-12, that's $295,100 per child.

Bottom Line

Cary is the cheaper city for private school. Average tuition: $11,500/year vs $34,200/year in San Francisco. Religious schools run $8,100/year on the low end.

Cary

$11,500

avg tuition/year

$850 below national avg

Lower cost

San Francisco

$34,200

avg tuition/year

$21,850 above national avg

Tuition by School Type & Grade

Category	Cary	San Francisco	Difference
All Schools (Average)	$11,500/yr	$34,200/yr	-$22,700
Religious Schools	$8,100/yr	$16,000/yr	-$7,900
Independent/Prep	$24,100/yr	$52,000/yr	-$27,900
Elementary (K-5)	$9,800/yr	$28,000/yr	-$18,200
Middle School (6-8)	$11,500/yr	$34,200/yr	-$22,700
High School (9-12)	$13,800/yr	$42,000/yr	-$28,200

K-12 Total Cost (13 Years)

Cary

$149,500

San Francisco

$444,600

Choosing Cary saves $295,100 per child over a full K-12 career. Two kids? That's $590,200.

Sample Schools

Cary

Cary Academy

Independent · 6–12 · $25,800/yr

Thales Academy (Cary)

Independent · K–12 · $7,200-$9,400/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 Cary breakdown → Full San Francisco breakdown →

North Carolina private school costs California private school costs

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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.