PrivateSchoolCost

Private School Cost: Chicago vs Palm Bay

Palm Bay averages $9,000/year less for private school (96% cheaper). Over K-12, that's $117,000 per child.

Bottom Line

Palm Bay is the cheaper city for private school. Average tuition: $9,400/year vs $18,400/year in Chicago. Religious schools run $6,500/year on the low end.

Chicago

IL

$18,400

avg tuition/year

$6,050 above national avg

Palm Bay

FL

$9,400

avg tuition/year

$2,950 below national avg
Lower cost

Tuition by School Type & Grade

Category Chicago Palm Bay Difference
All Schools (Average) $18,400/yr $9,400/yr +$9,000
Religious Schools $10,200/yr $6,500/yr +$3,700
Independent/Prep $32,000/yr $19,400/yr +$12,600
Elementary (K-5) $15,000/yr $8,000/yr +$7,000
Middle School (6-8) $18,400/yr $9,400/yr +$9,000
High School (9-12) $22,800/yr $11,300/yr +$11,500

K-12 Total Cost (13 Years)

Chicago

$239,200

Palm Bay

$122,200

Choosing Palm Bay saves $117,000 per child over a full K-12 career. Two kids? That's $234,000.

Sample Schools

Chicago

Latin School of Chicago

Independent · JK–12 · $38,040/yr

University of Chicago Laboratory Schools

Independent · N–12 · $35,700-$38,200/yr

Francis W. Parker School

Independent · JK–12 · $36,800/yr

St. Ignatius College Prep (Chicago)

Catholic · 9–12 · $19,400/yr

Palm Bay

Our Lady of Grace Academy (Palm Bay)

Christian · K–12 · $8,400-$10,400/yr

Brevard Academy

Independent · K–12 · $9,200-$11,400/yr

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.