Private tutoring in 2026 costs roughly €15–€55 per hour depending on the subject. Languages sit at the lower end (about €15–€35 online), maths and the sciences cost more (€18–€45), and specialist exam-level subjects reach €55. The single biggest driver is how scarce qualified tutors are for that subject.
What does tutoring cost for each subject?
These are typical online per-hour ranges across Europe in 2026:
| Subject | Online rate (per hour) |
|---|---|
| Languages (English, French, Dutch, Spanish) | €15 – €35 |
| Mathematics | €18 – €40 |
| Sciences (physics, chemistry, biology) | €20 – €45 |
| Economics & accounting | €20 – €42 |
| Exam / upper-secondary level (any subject) | €28 – €55 |
In-person lessons typically add about 20% to these figures because of travel time and overhead.
Why are maths and science tutors more expensive?
Maths and science command higher rates for a simple supply-and-demand reason: fewer people can teach calculus, organic chemistry or physics confidently than can teach a conversational language. Demand also spikes around exams, when these subjects cause the most stress. A deeper look at the drivers is in why tutoring prices vary.
Which subjects are the cheapest to get tutoring in?
Conversational language practice is usually the most affordable, because the pool of capable tutors is large and lessons need fewer specialist materials. Primary-level support in any subject is also cheaper than secondary or exam-level work — see our cost by school level breakdown.
How subject choice affects your total budget
If your child needs help in two subjects, the per-hour difference compounds across a term. Booking online rather than in-person, and prioritising the subject where the gap is widest, are the two most effective ways to keep the total reasonable. Our tutoring costs guide brings all the price factors together, and the full dataset lives in our tutoring rates research.
FAQ
Which subject is the most expensive to tutor? Specialist upper-secondary and exam-prep subjects — particularly physics, chemistry and higher maths — reach €45–€55 per hour online.
Is language tutoring really cheaper? Yes. Conversational language tutoring typically starts around €15 per hour because qualified tutors are plentiful and lessons need few materials.
Does the subject change whether online is worth it? No — online lessons are about 20% cheaper across every subject, so the saving applies whether you book maths, science or languages. Find a tutor to compare real rates per subject.