Back-to-school costs: Families to cough up $13.6 billion

Parents are gearing up for an expensive back-to-school budget bust, according to new research by Finder.

Finder crunched the numbers on school expenses in 2025 and found that school supplies alone are expected to cost families a staggering $3.7 billion for the year ahead.

A fresh set of school supplies – complete with textbooks, stationery, a uniform, and electronic devices – will set parents back an average of $694 for primary school children and $1,149 for secondary students.

When other costs – like tuition fees, uniforms, technology, camps, excursions, sporting and musical equipment and transport – are taken into account, this soars to a national spend of $13.6 billion, up from $12.9 billion in 2024.

That's $2,671 for each primary school child and $5,043 for secondary students per year on average.

Sarah Megginson, personal finance expert at Finder and mother-of-3, said the back-to-school expenses are steep.

"With the cost of almost everything else going up, many parents will find the necessary supplies – from uniforms to textbooks, technology and more – too much to handle.

"The list of things to pay for can feel overwhelming. Some will be left with the difficult choice of which items to prioritise and which to go without."

The data shows tuition fees and voluntary school contributions are the biggest expense, costing parents on average anywhere between $314 for a public primary school to $12,286 for an independent secondary school.

This adds up to a national spend of $4.2 billion.

However, certain Sydney private school fees have now exceeded $51,000 for year 12, according to a recent news report citing a letter to parents.

Megginson encouraged parents who were struggling financially to see what help was available.

"Speak with your school about potential payment plans or any financial hardship programs they might offer.

"This can make it easier to spread the costs out over a few months, rather than paying a large sum all at once."

Megginson shared some practical tips for reducing expenses.

"Re-use whatever you can from last year. Your kids don't always need brand new supplies – things like school bags, colored pencils, and scissors can often last well beyond one school year.

"When shopping for a uniform, check if your school has a second-hand store. These uniforms are usually still in great condition, and much more affordable.

"When it comes to easily misplaced items like lunch boxes and water bottles, budget-friendly brands are your best bet," Megginson said.

School tuition and supplies may be the most obvious expenses, but there are plenty of additional costs parents will face.

Hidden expenses include camps, costing primary students $327 on average per year and secondary students $465 per year, and transport to and from school, costing an average of $525 and $626 respectively.

Devices like laptops and tablets, while not used in all schools, come at a price too.

Parents can expect to pay $243 per year on devices in primary school, and $299 in secondary school, according to Finder analysis of data from the Futurity Investment Group.

Methodology

• Finder used pricing data from Kmart, and Officeworks to calculate the average annual cost of back-to-school items for primary and secondary school students.

• Analysis assumes some items (e.g. notebooks and pens) are purchased annually, while others are purchased less frequently (e.g. uniforms).

• Data on tuition, voluntary school contributions, the cost of uniforms, textbooks and other equipment was sourced from ACARA and the Futurity Investment Group.

• Demographic data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics were used to calculate aggregate spending figures.