Is private school cheaper in Charleston or Richmond?

Charleston has lower average private school tuition at $9,400/year vs $14,500/year in Richmond. That's $5,100/year less, or $66,300 over a K-12 career.

How much can I save on private school by choosing Charleston over Richmond?

Average tuition in Charleston is $5,100/year less than Richmond. Over 13 years (K-12), that's $66,300 per child. Religious schools are the most affordable option in both cities: $6,800/year in Charleston, $9,200/year in Richmond.

How do Charleston and Richmond private school costs compare to the national average?

The national average private school tuition is $12,350/year. Charleston averages $9,400/year ($2,950 below average). Richmond averages $14,500/year ($2,150 above average).

Private School Cost: Charleston vs Richmond

Charleston averages $5,100/year less for private school (54% cheaper). Over K-12, that's $66,300 per child.

Bottom Line

Charleston is the cheaper city for private school. Average tuition: $9,400/year vs $14,500/year in Richmond. Religious schools run $6,800/year on the low end.

Charleston

$9,400

avg tuition/year

$2,950 below national avg

Lower cost

Richmond

$14,500

avg tuition/year

$2,150 above national avg

Tuition by School Type & Grade

Category	Charleston	Richmond	Difference
All Schools (Average)	$9,400/yr	$14,500/yr	-$5,100
Religious Schools	$6,800/yr	$9,200/yr	-$2,400
Independent/Prep	$19,400/yr	$27,000/yr	-$7,600
Elementary (K-5)	$8,000/yr	$11,800/yr	-$3,800
Middle School (6-8)	$9,400/yr	$14,500/yr	-$5,100
High School (9-12)	$11,300/yr	$18,000/yr	-$6,700

K-12 Total Cost (13 Years)

Charleston

$122,200

Richmond

$188,500

Choosing Charleston saves $66,300 per child over a full K-12 career. Two kids? That's $132,600.

Sample Schools

Charleston

Porter-Gaud School

Independent · PK–12 · $25,800/yr

Bishop England High School

Catholic · 9–12 · $12,800/yr

Richmond

St. Catherine's School (Richmond)

Independent · PK–12 · $28,800-$31,400/yr

St. Christopher's School

Independent · K–12 · $29,200-$31,800/yr

Collegiate School (Richmond)

Independent · PK–12 · $30,400-$32,800/yr

Benedictine College Preparatory

Catholic · 9–12 · $16,200/yr

Full Charleston breakdown → Full Richmond breakdown →

South Carolina private school costs Virginia private school costs

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.