Private school fees by city in Australia 2026: Sydney, Melbourne, Perth, Brisbane, Adelaide

Private school fees by city in Australia 2026 Sydney, Melbourne, Perth, Brisbane, Adelaide

The Education Desk · Editorial team, schools + fertility + family services · Updated 6 June 2026 · How we rank · Editorial standards

Top Year 12 private school fees in 2026 are highest in Sydney (Sydney Grammar $52,410), then Melbourne (Scotch College $47,877). Perth, Brisbane and Adelaide top out lower, around $34,000-$37,000 for their dearest schools. Catholic systemic schools cost far less, often under $12,000 a year. Tuition excludes uniforms, camps and levies.

Key takeaways

Sydney has the dearest schools: Sydney Grammar $52,410 and SCEGGS Darlinghurst $51,856 (Year 12, 2026).
Melbourne tops out a little lower: Scotch College $47,877, Melbourne Grammar $46,230.
Perth, Brisbane and Adelaide are cheaper at the top end, around $34,000-$37,000 for the dearest schools.
Catholic systemic schools are the most affordable route in every city, often under $12,000 a year.
Published Year 12 tuition excludes uniforms, camps, IT and levies, typically $3,000-$15,000 extra a year.
Fees track sector and ACARA ICSEA, not teaching quality, so compare like for like.

What you pay for a private school depends heavily on the city. The same tier of school, an elite Anglican or Grammar independent, costs noticeably more in Sydney than in Perth or Adelaide. Below are the verified 2026 Year 12 tuition figures for leading schools in each capital, drawn from each school's published fee schedule and cross-checked against the ACARA My School register. To see the full ranking for a city, open its best-of guide; to read a single school's fee, sector and ICSEA, open its profile.

Private school fees in Sydney (2026)

Sydney carries the highest top-end fees of any Australian city. Compare the full list on our best private schools in Sydney ranking, or browse by area such as Catholic schools in Parramatta and independent schools in Mosman.

School	Suburb	Year 12 fee (2026)	ICSEA
Sydney Grammar School	Darlinghurst	$52,410	1274
SCEGGS Darlinghurst	Darlinghurst	$51,856	1212
The King's School	North Parramatta	$49,980	1164
Cranbrook School	Bellevue Hill	$49,521	1181

Mid-tier Sydney independents run $30,000-$45,000 for Year 12; Catholic systemic schools start under $10,000.

Private school fees in Melbourne (2026)

Melbourne's elite schools sit just below Sydney's at the top end. See the full best private schools in Melbourne list, or look at clusters like independent schools in Toorak and Catholic schools in Kew.

School	Suburb	Year 12 fee (2026)	ICSEA
Scotch College	Hawthorn	$47,877	1193
Melbourne Grammar School	South Yarra	$46,230	1180
Camberwell Grammar School	Canterbury	$44,366	1185

Private school fees in Perth (2026)

Perth's top fees are roughly $15,000 a year below Sydney's. Compare the best private schools in Perth, or browse independent schools in Claremont and Catholic schools in Subiaco.

School	Suburb	Year 12 fee (2026)	ICSEA
Christ Church Grammar School	Claremont	$37,173	1191
Hale School	Wembley Downs	$32,530	1169

Private school fees in Brisbane (2026)

Brisbane's leading schools sit in the mid-$30,000s for Year 12. See the best private schools in Brisbane ranking, or look at Catholic schools in South Brisbane and independent schools in New Farm.

School	Suburb	Year 12 fee (2026)	ICSEA
Brisbane Grammar School	Spring Hill	$36,300	1212
Anglican Church Grammar School (Churchie)	East Brisbane	$33,720	1167

Private school fees in Adelaide (2026)

Adelaide is the most affordable of the five capitals at the top end. Compare the best private schools in Adelaide, or browse independent schools in North Adelaide and Catholic schools in Unley.

School	Suburb	Year 12 fee (2026)	ICSEA
St Peter's College	Hackney	$34,760	not published
Pembroke School	Kensington Park	$32,601	1182

Why fees differ between cities

Land and staffing costs. Sydney and Melbourne carry higher property and salary costs, which flow through to tuition. Perth, Brisbane and Adelaide schools operate at a lower cost base.
Depth of the premium market. Sydney has a larger cluster of ultra-premium schools competing on facilities and boarding, which pushes the top end past $50,000. Smaller capitals have fewer schools at that tier.
Sector mix. Every city has affordable Catholic systemic schools. The headline difference is at the elite non-systemic independent end, where the city gap is widest.
Boarding. Where offered, boarding adds roughly $25,000-$45,000 on top of tuition, and is more common in Sydney, Brisbane and regional schools serving rural families.

What the published fee leaves out

The Year 12 figures above are base tuition. Most schools bill extras separately, and they add up:

Resource and technology levies
Camps, excursions and outdoor education
Music tuition and instrument hire
Uniforms and sports kit
Building or capital levies (sometimes compulsory)

Budget an additional $3,000-$15,000 a year depending on the school and year level. Always request the school's full schedule of fees and charges before you commit.

How to compare schools in your city

Start with the city ranking. Open the best-of guide for your capital (Sydney, Melbourne, Perth, Brisbane or Adelaide) to see all schools in one place.
Shortlist by sector and budget. Decide between elite independent, mid-tier independent, or Catholic systemic before comparing individual fees.
Read each school's verified profile. Every school page shows the published 2026 Year 12 figure, sector, suburb and ICSEA.
Check ICSEA in context. It signals socio-educational advantage, not teaching quality, so weigh it alongside fees and outcomes.
Confirm the full schedule. Ask each school for levies, camps and uniform costs so you compare total cost, not just tuition.

Related coverage

Common questions

Private school fees by city: frequently asked questions

Which Australian city has the most expensive private school fees?

Sydney has the highest top-end Year 12 fees in 2026. Sydney Grammar School charges $52,410 and SCEGGS Darlinghurst $51,856, ahead of Melbourne's most expensive (Scotch College at $47,877). Perth, Brisbane and Adelaide top out lower, with their dearest schools sitting in the $34,000-$37,000 range for Year 12. City matters: the same tier of school is materially cheaper in Perth or Adelaide than in Sydney.

How much are private school fees in Sydney in 2026?

Elite Sydney independent schools charge $48,000-$52,000+ for Year 12 in 2026 (Sydney Grammar $52,410, The King's School $49,980, Cranbrook $49,521). Mid-tier independents run $30,000-$45,000. Catholic systemic and lower-fee congregational schools start under $10,000. Year 7-9 fees are typically 20-35% lower than Year 12. Boarding adds roughly $30,000-$36,000 on top of tuition.

Are private school fees cheaper in Perth and Adelaide than Sydney or Melbourne?

Yes. Perth's most expensive school (Christ Church Grammar, $37,173 Year 12) and Adelaide's (St Peter's College, $34,760) cost roughly $15,000-$18,000 less per year than Sydney's dearest. The gap reflects lower land and staffing costs and a smaller pool of ultra-premium schools. Across all five capitals, Catholic systemic schools remain the most affordable route, often under $12,000 a year.

Why do fees vary so much between schools in the same city?

Sector is the biggest driver. Elite non-systemic independent schools (Anglican, Presbyterian, Grammar) carry the highest fees because they fund extensive facilities, boarding, and co-curricular programs from tuition. Catholic systemic schools are parish and government funded, so charge a fraction. Within independents, fees rise with year level, boarding, and the school's socio-educational profile (reflected in its ACARA ICSEA score).

What does ICSEA tell me about a school's fees?

ICSEA (Index of Community Socio-Educational Advantage, published by ACARA) measures the socio-economic background of a school's community, with 1000 as the national average. High-fee independent schools typically sit at 1180-1230. ICSEA correlates with fee levels and academic outcomes, but it measures family advantage, not teaching quality. Use it alongside fees, not as a standalone quality score.

Do the fees include uniforms, camps and IT?

Usually not. Published Year 12 tuition figures are the base fee. Most schools bill resource levies, technology charges, camps, excursions, music tuition and uniforms separately, which commonly add $3,000-$15,000 a year. Always ask each school for its full schedule of fees and charges, and check whether building or capital levies apply.

How can I compare private school fees across a city?

Start with the best-of-city ranking for your capital, then open individual school pages to read the verified 2026 Year 12 figure, sector and ICSEA side by side. Shortlist by sector and budget first (elite independent, mid-tier independent, or Catholic systemic), then compare two schools head to head before booking open days.