Is private school cheaper in Miami or Surprise?

Surprise has lower average private school tuition at $9,500/year vs $18,600/year in Miami. That's $9,100/year less, or $118,300 over a K-12 career.

How much can I save on private school by choosing Surprise over Miami?

Average tuition in Surprise is $9,100/year less than Miami. Over 13 years (K-12), that's $118,300 per child. Religious schools are the most affordable option in both cities: $10,800/year in Miami, $7,100/year in Surprise.

How do Miami and Surprise private school costs compare to the national average?

The national average private school tuition is $12,350/year. Miami averages $18,600/year ($6,250 above average). Surprise averages $9,500/year ($2,850 below average).

Private School Cost: Miami vs Surprise

Surprise averages $9,100/year less for private school (96% cheaper). Over K-12, that's $118,300 per child.

Bottom Line

Surprise is the cheaper city for private school. Average tuition: $9,500/year vs $18,600/year in Miami. Religious schools run $7,100/year on the low end.

Miami

$18,600

avg tuition/year

$6,250 above national avg

Surprise

$9,500

avg tuition/year

$2,850 below national avg

Lower cost

Tuition by School Type & Grade

Category	Miami	Surprise	Difference
All Schools (Average)	$18,600/yr	$9,500/yr	+$9,100
Religious Schools	$10,800/yr	$7,100/yr	+$3,700
Independent/Prep	$34,000/yr	$18,100/yr	+$15,900
Elementary (K-5)	$15,500/yr	$8,100/yr	+$7,400
Middle School (6-8)	$18,600/yr	$9,500/yr	+$9,100
High School (9-12)	$23,200/yr	$11,400/yr	+$11,800

K-12 Total Cost (13 Years)

Miami

$241,800

Surprise

$123,500

Choosing Surprise saves $118,300 per child over a full K-12 career. Two kids? That's $236,600.

Sample Schools

Miami

Ransom Everglades School

Independent · 6–12 · $42,800-$45,200/yr

Palmer Trinity School

Independent · 6–12 · $38,600/yr

Christopher Columbus High School

Catholic · 9–12 · $16,200/yr

Belen Jesuit Preparatory School

Catholic · 6–12 · $15,900/yr

Surprise

Surprise Christian Academy

Christian · K–12 · $8,600-$10,800/yr

Holy Cross School (Surprise AZ)

Catholic · K–8 · $7,800-$9,600/yr

Full Miami breakdown → Full Surprise breakdown →

Florida private school costs Arizona private school costs

Related Comparisons

Miami vs Tampa → Miami vs Orlando → Jacksonville vs Miami →

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.