Private School Cost: Charleston vs Charlotte
Charleston averages $4,100/year less for private school (44% cheaper). Over K-12, that's $53,300 per child.
Bottom Line
Charleston is the cheaper city for private school. Average tuition: $9,400/year vs $13,500/year in Charlotte. Religious schools run $6,800/year on the low end.
Charleston
SC
$9,400
avg tuition/year
Charlotte
NC
$13,500
avg tuition/year
Tuition by School Type & Grade
| Category | Charleston | Charlotte | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| All Schools (Average) | $9,400/yr | $13,500/yr | -$4,100 |
| Religious Schools | $6,800/yr | $8,400/yr | -$1,600 |
| Independent/Prep | $19,400/yr | $25,000/yr | -$5,600 |
| Elementary (K-5) | $8,000/yr | $11,000/yr | -$3,000 |
| Middle School (6-8) | $9,400/yr | $13,500/yr | -$4,100 |
| High School (9-12) | $11,300/yr | $16,700/yr | -$5,400 |
K-12 Total Cost (13 Years)
Charleston
$122,200
Charlotte
$175,500
Choosing Charleston saves $53,300 per child over a full K-12 career. Two kids? That's $106,600.
Sample Schools
Charleston
Porter-Gaud School
Independent · PK–12 · $25,800/yr
Bishop England High School
Catholic · 9–12 · $12,800/yr
Charlotte
Charlotte Latin School
Independent · K–12 · $26,800-$29,200/yr
Providence Day School
Independent · PK–12 · $24,800/yr
Myers Park Traditional School
Magnet (Free) · K–12
Charlotte Catholic High School
Catholic · 9–12 · $16,200/yr
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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.