The Sydney fee landscape
Sydney's school market is dominated by independent (non-government) schools. Australia's longest-established and most prestigious network includes The King's School, Knox Grammar, Sydney Grammar, SCEGGS Darlinghurst, Queenwood, Kambala, Pymble Ladies' College and others. Premium tier sits at AUD 38,000-48,000 per year. International schools (International Grammar School, German International School Sydney, Sydney Japanese School) add another layer at premium fees. NSW public schools are free for permanent residents and citizens; expat children on temporary visas pay AUD 6,500-7,000 per year for primary, AUD 7,500-8,500 for secondary.
2026 fee tiers (Sydney)
| Tier | Annual fee range (AUD) | Annual fee range (USD) | Typical schools |
|---|---|---|---|
| Premium independent | AUD 38,000 - 48,000 | USD 24,500 - 31,000 | The King's School, Knox Grammar, Sydney Grammar, SCEGGS, Cranbrook, Riverview |
| Upper-mid independent | AUD 28,000 - 38,000 | USD 18,000 - 24,500 | Kambala, Queenwood, Pymble Ladies', Scots College (lower years), Newington (lower years) |
| Mid Catholic / Christian | AUD 12,000 - 28,000 | USD 7,800 - 18,000 | Catholic systemic schools, lower-fee Christian schools, smaller independents |
| NSW public (temp visa) | AUD 6,500 - 8,500 | USD 4,200 - 5,500 | NSW state schools. fees apply only to children on temporary visas |
The hidden extras
Total cost-of-place adds 10-18% to headline fees at independents. Largest line items: building fund / capital levy (AUD 1,500-3,500 per year. typically tax-deductible in Australia), uniform (AUD 600-1,400), school bus where offered (AUD 2,000-3,500), trips (AUD 1,500-4,500 per year for higher year groups, particularly with Year 9-10 wilderness or service trips that are characteristic of Australian independents), exam entries (modest), books and materials (AUD 300-700). Public schools have lower extras (AUD 200-600 in voluntary contributions).
Year-on-year fee inflation
Sydney independent fees rose 5.6% on average across 2025-26, ahead of Australian CPI of 3.4%. Premium schools tracked 5.5-6.0%; Catholic systemic schools held to 4.0-5.0%. Public school fees for temporary visa holders rose 4-5% (NSW Department of Education sets these annually).
The visa class question
Australian school fees depend critically on visa class. Permanent residents and citizens get free public school. Temporary visa holders (482, 491, certain partner classes) pay public school fees of AUD 6,500-8,500. Some visa classes are exempt from public school fees. check current Department of Home Affairs and NSW Department of Education guidance. This means the practical school cost varies enormously by visa: a senior 482 hire's children might face AUD 6,500 per year for state school; a permanent residency hire's children get the same education free.
Sydney vs. Melbourne: a working comparison
Sydney premium independent fees are 5-10% higher than Melbourne premium independents. A Sydney Grammar place runs AUD 42,000-46,000; the Melbourne Grammar equivalent runs AUD 38,000-44,000. Public school costs for temporary visa holders are similar across NSW and Victoria.
IB and the HSC
NSW state schools deliver the HSC (Higher School Certificate). Most independents also deliver HSC. A small but growing number of independents offer IB Diploma alongside HSC (Sydney Grammar, MLC, Newington, certain others). For globally mobile families, IB tends to travel better than HSC. See our Australian curriculum guide.
Sibling discounts
Most Sydney independents offer 5-15% sibling discounts; some larger groups offer 20%+ on third+. NSW public schools have no sibling discount (already nominal). See our sibling discount table.
Currency exposure
AUD-denominated. USD-paid families have moderate currency risk; GBP and EUR-paid families relatively neutral over recent years. Annual prepayment usually offers 1-2% discount.