Is private school cheaper in New York City or San Francisco?

San Francisco has lower average private school tuition at $34,200/year vs $38,500/year in New York City. That's $4,300/year less, or $55,900 over a K-12 career.

How much can I save on private school by choosing San Francisco over New York City?

Average tuition in San Francisco is $4,300/year less than New York City. Over 13 years (K-12), that's $55,900 per child. Religious schools are the most affordable option in both cities: $17,500/year in New York City, $16,000/year in San Francisco.

How do New York City and San Francisco private school costs compare to the national average?

The national average private school tuition is $12,350/year. New York City averages $38,500/year ($26,150 above average). San Francisco averages $34,200/year ($21,850 above average).

Private School Cost: New York City vs San Francisco

San Francisco averages $4,300/year less for private school (13% cheaper). Over K-12, that's $55,900 per child.

Bottom Line

San Francisco is the cheaper city for private school. Average tuition: $34,200/year vs $38,500/year in New York City. Religious schools run $16,000/year on the low end.

New York City

$38,500

avg tuition/year

$26,150 above national avg

San Francisco

$34,200

avg tuition/year

$21,850 above national avg

Lower cost

Tuition by School Type & Grade

Category	New York City	San Francisco	Difference
All Schools (Average)	$38,500/yr	$34,200/yr	+$4,300
Religious Schools	$17,500/yr	$16,000/yr	+$1,500
Independent/Prep	$58,000/yr	$52,000/yr	+$6,000
Elementary (K-5)	$32,000/yr	$28,000/yr	+$4,000
Middle School (6-8)	$38,500/yr	$34,200/yr	+$4,300
High School (9-12)	$48,000/yr	$42,000/yr	+$6,000

K-12 Total Cost (13 Years)

New York City

$500,500

San Francisco

$444,600

Choosing San Francisco saves $55,900 per child over a full K-12 career. Two kids? That's $111,800.

Sample Schools

New York City

Dalton School

Independent · K–12 · $60,310/yr

Trinity School NYC

Independent · K–12 · $59,900/yr

Horace Mann School

Independent · K–12 · $59,200/yr

Regis High School

Catholic (tuition-free) · 9–12

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 New York City breakdown → Full San Francisco breakdown →

New York private school costs California private school costs

Related Comparisons

Los Angeles vs San Francisco → San Francisco vs San Jose → New York vs Boston → New York vs Philadelphia →

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.