How much does a maths tutor cost in Hong Kong? 2026 rates for primary, secondary and DSE
Typical private maths tutoring rates in Hong Kong in 2026: about $100 to $360+ an hour for primary, and about $150 to $650 for senior secondary and DSE. Monthly budgets, hidden costs and ways to save.
Short answer: in 2026, typical private tutoring rates in Hong Kong are about $100–360+ an hour for primary, $140–550 for junior secondary and $150–650 for senior secondary and DSE. The price depends mostly on whether the tutor is a university student, a full-time tutor or a serving teacher.
Rates by tutor type and level
| Type of tutor | Primary (HK$ per hour) | Junior secondary (HK$ per hour) | Senior secondary / DSE (HK$ per hour) |
|---|---|---|---|
| University student or trainee tutor | $100–170 | $140–220 | $150–260 |
| Senior undergraduate or graduate | $130–200 | $160–260 | $190–330 |
| Full-time tutor | $200–300 | $280–400 | $350–500 |
| Serving school teacher | $360+ | $400–550 | $450–650 |
Another tutoring platform grades tutors by their own DSE results. For S4 to S6: university students with a DSE maths grade below 4 charge about $180–220 an hour, grade 4 or 5 about $200–260, and 5* or 5** about $250–300. Full-time tutors charge about $250–400, and serving teachers from $480 (that platform's published 2026 fee guide).
Why do prices vary so much?
- The tutor's experience: serving teachers know the exam well and charge the most; university students charge the least.
- The level: the higher the level, the more the tutor has to prepare.
- Where you live: home tutors count travel time. In more remote places such as the northern New Territories and the outlying islands, tutors may add a travel surcharge (a Hong Kong tutoring platform's published 2026 fee guide).
How much should you budget each month?
| Example | Sum | About per month |
|---|---|---|
| Primary, university student tutor | $200 × 1.5 hours × 4 lessons | $1,200 |
| DSE, full-time tutor | $400 × 1.5 hours × 4 lessons | $2,400 |
| DSE, serving teacher | $500 × 2 hours × 4 lessons | $4,000 |
Two lessons a week doubles the cost. Tutoring is a long-term expense, so work out the total for a whole year first.
Watch out for hidden costs
- Travel: some home tutors charge extra for travel.
- Materials: their own notes and mock papers may cost extra.
- Agency fees: some tutoring agencies charge parents a matching fee of 10% to 20%, or add it to the hourly rate.
- Cancellations: a late cancellation may cost the full or half fee.
How to save on tutoring
- Set the goal before choosing a tutor: for keeping up with homework, a university student tutor is often enough. Consider a serving teacher only when aiming for top DSE grades.
- Small groups or two-to-one: sharing lessons with a classmate at the same level can cut the cost per student by 30% or more.
- Online one-to-one: usually about 20% to 30% cheaper than home tutoring, and no travel time.
- Find the weak spots first with free resources: then spend tutoring time on the weakest topics.
A free option: practise at home with Sprout
Sprout, the online maths teacher at Sprout Classroom, is free to use with no sign-up. Each lesson takes a few minutes, and a wrong answer shows the reason straight away. It cannot replace a real teacher, but it suits short daily practice, so tutoring time goes where explanation is really needed. Learn mode is open for P1 to P6 and S4, and lessons are in Chinese for now.
To choose a tutor, read How to choose a maths tutor. District guides are in the maths tutoring guide.