// FAMILY BUDGETING
Children's Cost
Calculator
See the real cost of raising children in Australia — from pregnancy through school, across every stage of life. Includes insurance, custom categories, and multi-year projections.
Number of children
State / Territory
Display costs as
$13,950/yr
AgePrimary School
Childcare / OOSH
Using ABS estimate for age 8$1,200/yr
School type
Sports (number of activities)
Co-curricular / Extras
School fees$1,550
Childcare/OOSH$1,200
Food + clothing + health$7,200
Sport (1 activity)$2,500
Extras$1,500
// PREGNANCY_AND_BIRTH_COSTS
One-off costs for pregnancy, birth, and newborn setup. Toggle on to include in your total.
// INSURANCE_COSTS
Annual insurance costs for parents and children. These are approximate uplift costs — not full premium quotes.
// CUSTOM_COST_CATEGORIES
Add any costs not listed above. Enter the amount and choose your preferred input frequency.
Annual cost for 1 child
Weekly
$268
per week
Monthly
$1,163
per month
Quarterly
$3,488
per quarter
Annually
$13,950
per year
// COST_BREAKDOWN_BY_CATEGORY
Annual breakdown across all children — shown as annual amounts
| Category | Child 1 | Annual total | Per month | Per quarter |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| School fees + uniforms | $1,550 | $1,550 | $129 | $388 |
| Childcare / OOSH | $1,200 | $1,200 | $100 | $300 |
| Food & nutrition | $5,000 | $5,000 | $417 | $1,250 |
| Clothing & footwear | $1,400 | $1,400 | $117 | $350 |
| Healthcare & dentist | $800 | $800 | $67 | $200 |
| Sport & recreation | $2,500 | $2,500 | $208 | $625 |
| School camps & excursions | $1,200 | $1,200 | $100 | $300 |
| Devices & technology | $300 | $300 | $25 | $75 |
| TOTAL | $13,950 | $13,950 | $1,163 | $3,488 |
// SCHOOL_COST_REFERENCE (QLD)
Annual fees benchmark (tuition + uniforms + books + excursions). Excludes optional extras and co-curricular.
| School type | Primary (all-in est.) | Secondary (all-in est.) |
|---|---|---|
| Public | $1,550 | $2,450 |
| Catholic | $4,400 | $7,900 |
| Independent | $10,100 | $18,400 |
Public school costs include levies, excursion contributions, and uniform estimates. Catholic figures are based on average parish school fees plus uniforms/books. Independent figures represent mid-range non-Catholic private schools; elite schools may be 30–50% higher. All figures can be overridden per child above.
Estimates only. Costs vary significantly by family, school, location, and lifestyle. Childcare figures assume government-subsidised CCS at a typical rate; actual costs depend on income and care type. Food, clothing, and healthcare are estimated from ABS Household Expenditure Survey data adjusted for 2025. Insurance figures are approximate uplift costs only — not full premium quotes. Pregnancy costs are indicative and exclude Medicare rebates. This is a planning tool, not an exact budget. Not financial advice.