Unlike inflation, the cost of sending children back to school shows no sign of abating, at least in most of Europe’s largest economies.
School expenses are largely driven by textbooks, which in some cases account for around 70% of all costs, as well as school trips and meals.
Germany: School trips cost almost as much as monthly net salary
The financial burden is particularly heavy for German families.
The estimated cost of sending a child to school is around €3,600 a year, according to price comparison platform Idealo – 4% higher than last year and above the latest inflation rate of 2%.
School meals in Germany cost around €4 per child, though this varies significantly by region. In Berlin, meals are generally free, while in Munich they can cost up to €5.5 each, according to the research.
However, the most expensive part is school trips, averaging €2,000 per year for the parents.
To prevent exaggerations, some German federal states have set limits on how much can be spent on that by teachers.
UK: School meals push costs 30% higher in just two years
In Britain too, school costs are outpacing inflation, reaching over €2,600 a year for middle school pupils.
That is a staggering 30% increase over the past two years, according to research by Loughborough University.
Again, food accounts for a significant portion of the expenses. Researchers describe it as “the largest cost pressure, with packed lunches and snacks alone costing families up to £846 (€981) annually for a secondary pupil.”
At the same time, “while uniform costs have slightly declined – particularly for primary pupils – they remain a significant burden, especially for families with multiple children”, says the report.
Italy: Consumer associations call out textbook rip-offs
Italian families are expected to spend nearly €600 a year for middle school students and more than €1,200, says consumer association Codacons.
The cost of school items like backpacks, diaries and pencil cases rose between 3% and 5% compared to 2024.
Textbooks remain the most expensive item. The report denounces how parents often need to buy new books instead of second-hand ones, even for minor changes between the old and the the edition.
Another consumer association, ADOC, sets the cost of textbooks over eight years, from the start of middle school till the end of high school, to a whopping €2,524 per pupil.
France: Virtuous recycling system eases pressure on families
France is the only major European economy to see a small drop in costs, down by €12 on average to just €211, according to Familles de France.
There are several reasons that are driving lower costs.
First, French families spend almost nothing on textbooks.
Manuals are mostly lent to students, who pass them on to each other every year. In some regions, the system is directly managed by parents’ associations.
On top of that, there is a substantial yearly school allowance of around €450 for each pupil aged 6 to 18.
Spain: Over 70% of school expenses go for textbooks
In Spain, expenses are set to rise by around 2%, surpassing 500 euros according to Idealo – including about 360 euros for books alone.
This represents an 18% increase over the past three years.
In neighbouring Portugal, at least a third of families are projected to spend up to €150, says research by Escolha do Consumidor, although it is unclear whether this includes textbooks.
Moving to central Europe, Euronews journalist Bence Rácz K. reports that school costs in Hungary have increased by around 6%, translating to a burden of €100 to €150 per family.
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