Private School Cost: Houston vs San Francisco
Houston averages $18,400/year less for private school (116% cheaper). Over K-12, that's $239,200 per child.
Bottom Line
Houston is the cheaper city for private school. Average tuition: $15,800/year vs $34,200/year in San Francisco. Religious schools run $9,200/year on the low end.
Houston
TX
$15,800
avg tuition/year
San Francisco
CA
$34,200
avg tuition/year
Tuition by School Type & Grade
| Category | Houston | San Francisco | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| All Schools (Average) | $15,800/yr | $34,200/yr | -$18,400 |
| Religious Schools | $9,200/yr | $16,000/yr | -$6,800 |
| Independent/Prep | $28,000/yr | $52,000/yr | -$24,000 |
| Elementary (K-5) | $13,000/yr | $28,000/yr | -$15,000 |
| Middle School (6-8) | $15,800/yr | $34,200/yr | -$18,400 |
| High School (9-12) | $19,500/yr | $42,000/yr | -$22,500 |
K-12 Total Cost (13 Years)
Houston
$205,400
San Francisco
$444,600
Choosing Houston saves $239,200 per child over a full K-12 career. Two kids? That's $478,400.
Sample Schools
Houston
St. John's School (Houston)
Independent · K–12 · $33,900-$36,200/yr
Kinkaid School
Independent · PK–12 · $34,500-$37,000/yr
Strake Jesuit College Preparatory
Catholic · 9–12 · $20,400/yr
Duchesne Academy of the Sacred Heart
Catholic · K–12 · $20,100/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
Related Comparisons
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.