Melbourne most expensive Australian city to educate your child
PARENTS, be warned — a new study has found Melbourne is the most expensive city across the nation to educate your child.
PARENTS, be warned — Melbourne is the most expensive city across the nation to educate your child.
A new study has found babies born in the Victorian capital this year will cost a staggering $77,371 to put through public schooling, 13 per cent above the national metropolitan average.
Sydney followed closely in second place with parents forecast to fork out $75,080, while Brisbane was the most affordable city, costing $60,135.
And for those mums and dads who want to send their kids to a Melbourne private school, it will mean a $536,515 hit to the hip pocket.
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Kindergarteners and preschoolers could also set back parents $2818 for public schools, and $8506 for private.
The annual ASG Planning for Education Index took into consideration ever-increasing school fees, books, uniforms, computers, school excursions, and sporting trips.
Education experts say it has never been a more important time for parents to financially plan for their children’s future.
ASG chief John Velegrinis said education costs can spiral out of control, having risen at two and half times the rate of inflation over the past decade.
“If you have three children, the cost of educating them in Melbourne’s private education system could top $1.6 million — that’s significantly more than the purchase price of the average family home,” Mr Velegrinis said.
“We advocate parents use a disciplined approach by putting a little bit away each week so they can afford to meet their children’s education goals and aspirations.”
Noble Park mother Jude Little has been saving for her two daughters’ education since they were born. Chilli, 6, will this year start Year 1 in a public school while Cadence, 3, is entering kinder.
Ms Little and her husband, David, prioritised their kids’ education, introducing a strict budget which means less eating out and holidays.
“Education is very important to us because my husband’s parents were both teachers and I work at a university,” Ms Little said.
“We want to give Chilli and Cadey the opportunities we didn’t have.
“Chilli loves dancing and singing and Cadey is really good at puzzles, so we’re looking for schools which will enhance their creativity.”
Ms Little has no intention of moving north to the sunshine state to seek a cheaper education for her girls: “The quality of education here in Victoria is quite high, so you get what you pay for.”
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