For a while it was commonly found, and some schools do that fooling still, to advertise only the number of flight hours times cheapest training plane as price for a PPL - "Learn to fly for only 6,990" ... BUT this was never the full story.
This is what it looks here:
40h on a small trainer (C150, A210) -> 7,000
5h on a second type (C172, TB10) -> 1,200
(only flight hours from T/O to LDG paid after input after flight into registry system)
Theory costs -> 1,000
(course paid up front)
Administration -> 100
(due billed)
flight club -> 500
(we separate planes from education, externals pay +30% for charter)
---
subtotals -> 9,800
---
add
landing fees -> 750
(we are continental Europe and you have some LDGs at big airports)
radio operators license -> 250
(course required here)
medical -> 150
(paid to the doctor)
learning material and own headset -> 700
(we have a ready package, but even if you organize yourself you pay this, at least)
exam fee radio operators license -> 100
(billed by authorities before admission)
exam fees for PPL -> 250
(billed by authorities before admission)
---
totals -> 12,000
What I also tell students is to have the money for the next year and some 20+ flying hours ready - the license is a license to life-long-learnig and after passing, you have to start gather experience. My advice is always to have something like 16-17,000, better 20, to spare. What if you need 65 flight hours to exam and your money runs out? After passing be able to spend at least 250 a month for 24 month.
Advices for choosing a school:
- never never ever pay flight hours in advance
- dont trust flat packages
- look how flight hours are billed: real flight time, block time or checkout time (easy twice the flight time)
- get stories form folks having completed PPL at the school before signing