Is private school cheaper in Daly City or Pasadena?

Pasadena has lower average private school tuition at $11,200/year vs $20,100/year in Daly City. That's $8,900/year less, or $115,700 over a K-12 career.

How much can I save on private school by choosing Pasadena over Daly City?

Average tuition in Pasadena is $8,900/year less than Daly City. Over 13 years (K-12), that's $115,700 per child. Religious schools are the most affordable option in both cities: $13,100/year in Daly City, $7,600/year in Pasadena.

How do Daly City and Pasadena private school costs compare to the national average?

The national average private school tuition is $12,350/year. Daly City averages $20,100/year ($7,750 above average). Pasadena averages $11,200/year ($1,150 below average).

Private School Cost: Daly City vs Pasadena

Pasadena averages $8,900/year less for private school (79% cheaper). Over K-12, that's $115,700 per child.

Bottom Line

Pasadena is the cheaper city for private school. Average tuition: $11,200/year vs $20,100/year in Daly City. Religious schools run $7,600/year on the low end.

Daly City

$20,100

avg tuition/year

$7,750 above national avg

Pasadena

$11,200

avg tuition/year

$1,150 below national avg

Lower cost

Tuition by School Type & Grade

Category	Daly City	Pasadena	Difference
All Schools (Average)	$20,100/yr	$11,200/yr	+$8,900
Religious Schools	$13,100/yr	$7,600/yr	+$5,500
Independent/Prep	$39,000/yr	$23,700/yr	+$15,300
Elementary (K-5)	$17,100/yr	$9,500/yr	+$7,600
Middle School (6-8)	$20,100/yr	$11,200/yr	+$8,900
High School (9-12)	$24,100/yr	$13,400/yr	+$10,700

K-12 Total Cost (13 Years)

Daly City

$261,300

Pasadena

$145,600

Choosing Pasadena saves $115,700 per child over a full K-12 career. Two kids? That's $231,400.

Sample Schools

Daly City

Archbishop Riordan High School

Catholic · 9–12 · $25,800/yr

Holy Angels School (Daly City)

Catholic · K–8 · $10,200-$12,400/yr

Pasadena

San Jacinto Christian Academy

Christian · K–12 · $8,400-$10,200/yr

Blessed Sacrament School (Pasadena)

Catholic · K–8 · $7,800-$9,400/yr

Full Daly City breakdown → Full Pasadena breakdown →

California private school costs Texas 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.