cost of raising a child in Australia 2026
figures compiled from ASFA, AIFS, AMP.NATSEM and ABS Household Expenditure data. updated April 2026.
$474K
middle-income family, public school, birth to 18 (ASFA 2023-24)
$26,000
average cost per child per year (ASFA middle-income)
$784K
upper-income with private schooling, birth to 18
the big story
- •ASFA puts 2023-24 cost at $474,000 for a middle-income family — higher-income families or those using private schooling spend up to $784,000 per child
- •Childcare is the early-years anchor — $22,000-$30,000/year per child in long day care before CCS kicks in
- •Schooling is the single biggest variable — the public-vs-private gap is ~$320,000 over 13 years
- •Housing is the hidden cost — moving from 1 to 3 bedrooms adds $150-$300/week in mortgage or rent
- •Government payments materially offset the total — CCS, FTB, PPL, free kinder and state benefits can save $30,000-$80,000+ per child across 18 years
cost by category
childcare (0-5 years)
annual
$22,000-$30,000 before CCS; $5,000-$15,000 after CCS
total over 18 years
$75,000-$120,000 before CCS (first 5 years)
Long day care is $110-$170 per day in capital cities. Child Care Subsidy covers 50-90% depending on income. free kinder programs in every state cover ~15 hours/week for 4-year-olds.
education (school years)
annual
public $3,000-$8,000/yr; Catholic $8,000-$18,000/yr; independent $20,000-$50,000/yr
total over 18 years
public ~$80,000 over 13 yrs; Catholic ~$180,000; private ~$400,000
Total schooling cost is the single biggest variable in the overall cost of raising a child. the gap between public and private is roughly $320,000 per child over 13 years.
food and groceries
annual
$5,000-$7,000 per child per year
total over 18 years
~$100,000 over 18 years
NSW government recommends $100/week per family member as a minimum food budget. Teenagers cost more — typical food spend doubles from age 12.
housing share
annual
$4,000-$10,000 per child per year (marginal cost)
total over 18 years
$70,000-$180,000 (from needing a larger home)
Going from 1 bedroom to 3 bedrooms adds roughly $150-$300/week in rent or mortgage across most capital cities.
transport
annual
$1,500-$5,000 per child per year
total over 18 years
~$50,000 over 18 years
Includes public transport, school buses, ferrying kids to activities. Additional vehicle costs if a family upsizes.
clothing, nappies, hygiene
annual
$3,000-$5,000 per year (higher 0-2 due to nappies)
total over 18 years
~$55,000 over 18 years
Nappies alone cost $2,000-$3,000 over the first 2-3 years. Teens cost more in clothing than primary-age.
activities and entertainment
annual
$1,500-$4,000 per year
total over 18 years
~$40,000 over 18 years
Sport fees, swim lessons, music lessons, school holiday programs, family outings. Highly variable by family.
health
annual
$500-$2,000 per year
total over 18 years
~$12,000-$20,000
Medicare covers most costs. Out-of-pocket for orthodontics, specialists, private health insurance premium share.
cost by age phase
0-4 years: ~$25,000-$45,000 per year
dominated by childcare. housing share, food, nappies, baby gear (pram, cot, car seat). typically the most expensive phase outside of teenage private school years.
5-12 years: ~$18,000-$35,000 per year
schooling starts (public or private), before/after school care, activities. childcare costs drop. food and housing stay roughly constant.
13-17 years: ~$22,000-$40,000 per year
secondary schooling (the peak school-fee years for private), bigger food bills, phone and data, driving lessons, first car (if family funds). many families also support with higher education from 17+.
government payments that reduce the cost
- •Paid Parental Leave (PPL): up to 24 weeks at $969.58/week in 2026 — approximately $23,000 for 24 weeks. 26 weeks from 1 July 2026.
- •Family Tax Benefit A: income-tested, up to ~$4,200/year per child under 13 for low-income families.
- •Family Tax Benefit B: up to ~$4,900/year for single-parent or single-income families.
- •Child Care Subsidy (CCS): 50-90% of long day care fees depending on income. Saves most families $15,000-$20,000/year across the under-5 years.
- •Newborn Supplement + Upfront Payment: around $1,700-$2,800 per child at birth.
- •Free kinder/preschool: every state offers 15 hours/week free for 4-year-olds; VIC and progressive rollouts also cover 3-year-olds. Worth $1,500-$2,500 per year.
calculate it for your family
cost of raising a child calculator
income-adjusted projection for your family to age 18.
family payments eligibility wizard
every Centrelink family payment you may qualify for — CCS, FTB A+B, PPL, Parenting Payment — in one check.
daycare out-of-pocket calculator
what you'll actually pay after CCS — by income and days/week.
free kinder and preschool by state
what your state funds in the year before school.
sources
Association of Superannuation Funds of Australia (ASFA) — retirement and cost-of-raising projections
Australian Institute of Family Studies — new estimates of the costs of raising children
ABS Household Expenditure Survey
AIHW Australia's Children report
AMP.NATSEM "Cost of Kids" reports (most recent full study 2018, figures commonly updated)
figures in this guide are ranges drawn from multiple published sources. actual cost for your family depends heavily on: income level, schooling choice, capital city vs regional, CCS eligibility, number of children and whether one parent reduces paid work. we update this guide annually. for a personalised estimate, use the cost of raising a child calculator.