Is private school cheaper in Sacramento or San Francisco?

Sacramento has lower average private school tuition at $16,000/year vs $34,200/year in San Francisco. That's $18,200/year less, or $236,600 over a K-12 career.

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

Average tuition in Sacramento is $18,200/year less than San Francisco. Over 13 years (K-12), that's $236,600 per child. Religious schools are the most affordable option in both cities: $9,800/year in Sacramento, $16,000/year in San Francisco.

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

The national average private school tuition is $12,350/year. Sacramento averages $16,000/year ($3,650 above average). San Francisco averages $34,200/year ($21,850 above average).

Private School Cost: Sacramento vs San Francisco

Sacramento averages $18,200/year less for private school (114% cheaper). Over K-12, that's $236,600 per child.

Bottom Line

Sacramento is the cheaper city for private school. Average tuition: $16,000/year vs $34,200/year in San Francisco. Religious schools run $9,800/year on the low end.

Sacramento

$16,000

avg tuition/year

$3,650 above national avg

Lower cost

San Francisco

$34,200

avg tuition/year

$21,850 above national avg

Tuition by School Type & Grade

Category	Sacramento	San Francisco	Difference
All Schools (Average)	$16,000/yr	$34,200/yr	-$18,200
Religious Schools	$9,800/yr	$16,000/yr	-$6,200
Independent/Prep	$28,500/yr	$52,000/yr	-$23,500
Elementary (K-5)	$13,000/yr	$28,000/yr	-$15,000
Middle School (6-8)	$16,000/yr	$34,200/yr	-$18,200
High School (9-12)	$19,800/yr	$42,000/yr	-$22,200

K-12 Total Cost (13 Years)

Sacramento

$208,000

San Francisco

$444,600

Choosing Sacramento saves $236,600 per child over a full K-12 career. Two kids? That's $473,200.

Sample Schools

Sacramento

Sacramento Country Day School

Independent · PK–12 · $29,800-$32,400/yr

Christian Brothers High School

Catholic · 9–12 · $18,800/yr

Jesuit High School (Sacramento)

Catholic · 9–12 · $19,400/yr

St. Francis High School (Sacramento)

Catholic · 9–12 · $17,200/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 Sacramento breakdown → Full San Francisco breakdown →

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.