The True Back-to-School Costs for Parents in 2025

Find out how much each state are expecting to spend on their children’s schooling this year

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Written by

Sarah Grealy

Edited by

Ellie Garran

Find out more about how we make money.

View our Privacy Policy.

A survey conducted in November 2024 by comparison site iSelect reveals the true back-to-school costs for many Aussie parents. More than 500 respondents shared insight on the school-related expenses they will face in 2025.

Most kids across Australia should be back to school soon, with Aussie parents expecting to pay an average of $15,000 in school-related expenses this year. The state breakdown on cost revealed Victoria to top the list, with an eye-watering annual expense of almost $18,700, followed by New South Wales, with parents expecting to fork over almost $16,000. Next on the list was South Australia, with an estimated spend of almost $13,500.  

These expenses are not just for school fees, but also for all the other expenses that occur throughout a school year – for example, school uniforms, textbooks, laptops, stationery, lunches, transport, and school excursions, among many other expenses. 

It seems private school fees might not be the biggest factor when it comes to school-related costs. The survey revealed the proportions of respondents who are paying for private education is only 31%. While 3% have children in public and private school, the majority (66%) send their children to public school.  

The survey also revealed insights into the state breakdown. Victoria had the highest average expenses, but also the highest percentage of respondents using the public school system. South Australia was the most evenly split, with the highest percentage of respondents (46%) sending their kids to private school, 49% using public schooling, and 4% using a mix of both.  

Percentage of families using public vs private schooling in 2025, per state

State Public only Private only Mix of both 
Overall Australia 66% 31% 3% 
Victoria 70% 29% 1% 
New South Wales 65% 31% 4% 
South Australia 49% 46% 4% 
Western Australia 54% 43% 3% 
Queensland 69% 28% 4% 

Make your routine work with your budget

With a new school year comes fresh loads of dirty school and sports uniforms. Mistime your washing schedule and you could have a higher electricity bill heading your way. Check your plan for any times of day when electricity is cheaper (or more expensive) for you. Opting to wash when your electricity rates are lower, like off-peak in the morning, could add up to a lot more than the loose change you find in the machine at the end of a wash cycle. And you can apply the same principle for other energy-hungry appliances, too!

Set some new sustainable habits

Get the whole family involved in some simple energy-saving resolutions for 2025. From turning the TV off at the wall to making sure the blinds are down early on hot days, there are lots of energy-saving tricks for big and little kids to do. As with chores, it can be a way to help kids learn responsibility, plus set them up with habits that’ll have them saving energy – and money – when they’re ready to leave home.

Don’t get stung by the loyalty tax

Whether it’s your energy bills, your home loan, or your health or home and contents insurance, setting and forgetting can mean you’re missing out on a better deal. Not to mention your needs may have changed since you last looked at what’s on the market. If you want to make every dollar work, set some time aside to see what other options are available. Almost three quarters of Aussies who switched their health insurance in the past 12 months saved money. Of those surveyed, those with family policies estimated that they saved $1,589 on average.1iSelect commissioned YouGov Galaxy Pty Ltd to conduct a national online survey between 15 and 21 July 2024. The sample is n=1,532 Australians aged 18 years and older who have private health insurance and are the main or joint decision maker for their cover.

Keep everyone covered

In the world of health insurance, a family means parents (or a single parent) and their dependent children. There’s no limit to how many kids you can have covered. Depending on your policy, you can then take a proactive approach to your family’s health, like regular dental appointments, to minimise the risk of more expensive medical needs down the track. 

Get savvy with discounts, deals and more on your insurance

Not all bargains are as obvious as an Aldi middle aisle. Sometimes, you’ll need to do a little bit of searching, but it can be well worth it. For instance, opting for a higher excess could mean a cheaper health insurance premium. Alternatively, you can keep an eye out for incentives and deals from insurers. These could cut some fat from your premium or trim your budget elsewhere, like getting a streaming subscription as part of the package. Remember, though, a good deal doesn’t necessarily mean the cheapest. Make sure any policy or plan is suited to your needs, so it gives you and your family value.

  • 1.
    iSelect commissioned YouGov Galaxy Pty Ltd to conduct a national online survey between 15 and 21 July 2024. The sample is n=1,532 Australians aged 18 years and older who have private health insurance and are the main or joint decision maker for their cover.