National spend to reach nearly $13 billion.

 

Australian parents will spend nearly $13 billion on back-to-school costs for 2024, according to a national survey by Finder.com.

 

Finder found parents will spend $12.9 billion on back-to-school costs for 2024, including tuition, school supplies and other costs.

 

The 2023 figure was $11.4 billion.

 

When all costs – including tuition fees, camps, excursions, sporting equipment and transport costs – are taken into account, parents will be shelling out on average $2547 per primary school child per year, and $4793 on secondary students.

 

Around $5.5 billion will be spent on primary school costs, and $7.4 billion for secondary school costs.

 

A fresh set of school supplies – complete with textbooks, stationery and a uniform – will set parents back $684 for primary school children ($571 in 2023) and $1132 for secondary students ($771 in 2023).

 

Across the country, school supplies are expected to cost families $3.5 billion for the year ahead, up from $2.6 billion in 2023.

 

School uniforms are the priciest back-to-school item, costing $245 for primary students and $469 for secondary students each year. Electronic devices come in second place at $244 and $300 respectively.

 

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