In Finland we have a situation where education is free of tuition, even at university level. However, to get to university you need to take entrance exams. Now you need to do really well in these entrance exams to get a place. Therefore, the business of tutoring lessons are becoming a only resort for most people, because the entrance exams are so difficult, that you just won't manage alone, unless you get lucky. So you're in a situation that you must pay for a tutor class (they are full of people, not private tutoring) and then you have a chance at getting in. Most people still won't. And these classes cost a lot for amount of time they carry on. Probably something along the lines of $40-$100 an hour. So it most often comes down to the parents to support you. And if they can't then you might not be going to a free university.
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Private tutoring does contribute to educational inequality. There is no way to fix the fact that people coming from wealthier backgrounds have many advantages over others. But private tutors often offer their services to small groups, as well. So if there are three people splitting the $40-$100 an hour, it suddenly becomes affordable to many more students.