Is private school cheaper in Fort Lauderdale or San Francisco?

Fort Lauderdale has lower average private school tuition at $11,700/year vs $34,200/year in San Francisco. That's $22,500/year less, or $292,500 over a K-12 career.

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

Average tuition in Fort Lauderdale is $22,500/year less than San Francisco. Over 13 years (K-12), that's $292,500 per child. Religious schools are the most affordable option in both cities: $8,100/year in Fort Lauderdale, $16,000/year in San Francisco.

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

The national average private school tuition is $12,350/year. Fort Lauderdale averages $11,700/year ($650 below average). San Francisco averages $34,200/year ($21,850 above average).

Private School Cost: Fort Lauderdale vs San Francisco

Fort Lauderdale averages $22,500/year less for private school (192% cheaper). Over K-12, that's $292,500 per child.

Bottom Line

Fort Lauderdale is the cheaper city for private school. Average tuition: $11,700/year vs $34,200/year in San Francisco. Religious schools run $8,100/year on the low end.

Fort Lauderdale

$11,700

avg tuition/year

$650 below national avg

Lower cost

San Francisco

$34,200

avg tuition/year

$21,850 above national avg

Tuition by School Type & Grade

Category	Fort Lauderdale	San Francisco	Difference
All Schools (Average)	$11,700/yr	$34,200/yr	-$22,500
Religious Schools	$8,100/yr	$16,000/yr	-$7,900
Independent/Prep	$24,100/yr	$52,000/yr	-$27,900
Elementary (K-5)	$9,900/yr	$28,000/yr	-$18,100
Middle School (6-8)	$11,700/yr	$34,200/yr	-$22,500
High School (9-12)	$14,000/yr	$42,000/yr	-$28,000

K-12 Total Cost (13 Years)

Fort Lauderdale

$152,100

San Francisco

$444,600

Choosing Fort Lauderdale saves $292,500 per child over a full K-12 career. Two kids? That's $585,000.

Sample Schools

Fort Lauderdale

Pine Crest School

Independent · PK–12 · $34,800/yr

Cardinal Gibbons High School (Ft. Laud.)

Catholic · 9–12 · $14,800/yr

Westminster Academy

Christian · PK–12 · $18,400/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 Fort Lauderdale breakdown → Full San Francisco breakdown →

Florida private school costs California private school costs

Related Comparisons

Los Angeles vs San Francisco → San Francisco vs San Jose → San Francisco vs Houston → San Francisco vs Phoenix →

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.