FAMILIES are bracing for another expensive start to the school year, with new research showing parents will spend a combined $14.4 billion on education costs in 2026.
Analysis by Finder reveals that school supplies alone will account for $3.8 billion, as families contend with rising prices for textbooks, stationery, uniforms and electronic devices.
The average cost of a new set of school supplies is estimated at $712 for a primary school student and $1166 for a secondary school student, but the real financial hit comes when all education-related expenses are added up.
Once tuition fees, technology, camps, excursions, sporting and musical equipment, and transport are factored in, the average annual cost jumps to $2847 per primary school child and $5310 per secondary school student.
Nationally, that represents an increase from $13.6 billion in 2025 to $14.4 billion in 2026.
Finder personal finance expert Sarah Megginson said many families are struggling to absorb yet another cost-of-living blow.
“Families are already juggling higher grocery spending, expensive mortgages or rent and other bills, and school costs will push some budgets to breaking point,” Ms Megginson said. “For some parents, covering uniforms, stationery and the required technology isn’t affordable right now, which puts some kids at risk of going without.”
The research shows tuition fees and voluntary school contributions are the single biggest expense, costing parents anywhere from $382 for a public primary school to $13,115 for an independent secondary school, contributing to a national total of $4.8 billion. Fees at some of Australia’s most exclusive private schools exceed $50,000 per year.
Ms Megginson urged parents feeling the pinch to ask schools about payment plans and hardship programs, which can spread costs over time rather than requiring large upfront payments.
She also encouraged families to look for practical ways to cut costs, including reusing items from previous years, buying second-hand uniforms through school shops or community groups, and choosing budget-friendly brands for easily lost items like lunch boxes and drink bottles.
“Kids don’t need brand-new items every year,” she said.
With education costs continuing to rise, families are being urged to plan early, seek support where available and make savings wherever possible to ease the back-to-school burden in 2026.
