Exactly how much it costs to put kids through school in 2025.

Schooling is expensive — whether you opt for a public, private, or religious-based education institution — and new data proves it.

New research from Futurity Investment Group has calculated the average cost of putting a child through public school from Kindergarten to Year 12 in a major city.

The cost is more than $123,000 for a child starting their education at a government school in 2025. Yes. You read that right. $123,294 for public schooling.

As for regional and remote areas, the figure stands at $81,141.

Catholic and independent schools come with even heftier fees, costing a respective $193,666 and $350,158 in major cities. In regional areas, parents are looking at $153,144 for Catholic schools and $244,075 for independent.

This data not only takes into account standard tuition fees, but also a host of other major school expenses — approximations of school camps, transport, uniforms, electronic devices, sports equipment and more.

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Now, of course, these calculations take into account a full 13 years of education. But even divided per year, it leaves parents with thousands to pay for their child's government school education experience.

This is up a staggering $30,584 from 2024's estimate. The experts say this number is likely to keep steadily rising, despite wage growth remaining quite stagnant across the country.

Families are facing the reality that the best schools are becoming out of reach, with three in four parents reporting at least one barrier preventing them from sending their child to their preferred school. For most parents, that barrier is cost.

It comes as three in four Australians say they're extremely or very concerned with the rising cost of living.

The struggle is real for all in this economy — but it's fair to say a lot of parents have it particularly tough right now.

Exactly how much it costs to put kids through school in 2024.

The $123,000 figure is the national average.

But across the different cities and regional areas in various states and territories, it changes. And it varies even more depending on whether you have opted for public, private or a Catholic school education for your child(ren).

The NSW metro area was the most expensive location with an average cost of $150,323 for public schooling, while Brisbane was the cheapest at $101,064.

Let's break it down for you.

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Public school costs in Australia: 2025 breakdown.

Sydney - $150,323.

Regional and remote New South Wales average - $89,448.

Brisbane - $101,064.

Regional and remote Queensland average - $90,267

Adelaide - $114,678.

Regional and remote South Australia average - $75,600.

Melbourne - $114,126.

Regional and remote Victoria average - $77,641.

Perth - $122,106.

Regional and remote Western Australia average - $78,788.

Canberra - $106,280.

Northern Territory -$75,798.

Tasmania - $78,869.

Families are facing the reality that the best schools are becoming out of reach. Image: Getty.

Private school costs in Australia: 2025 breakdown.

Sydney - $411,108.

Regional and remote New South Wales average - $250,900.

Brisbane - $369,646.

Regional and remote Queensland average - $229,369.

Adelaide - $302,387.

Regional and remote South Australia average - $268,134.

Melbourne - $388,618.

Regional and remote Victoria average - $247,714.

Perth - $300,109.

Regional and remote Western Australia average - $277,862.

Canberra - $352,656.

Northern Territory - $245,300.

Tasmania - $251,561.

Catholic school costs in Australia: 2025 breakdown.

Sydney - $197,349.

Regional and remote New South Wales average - $148,960.

Brisbane - $202,485.

Regional and remote Queensland average - $157,805.

Adelaide - $185,548.

Regional and remote South Australia average - $147,044.

Melbourne - $198,291.

Regional and remote Victoria average - $151,423.

Perth - $192,613.

Regional and remote Western Australia average - $150,281.

Canberra - $215,633.

Northern Territory - $155,594.

Tasmania - $145,870.

Yes, private and Catholic schools do cost more, and in most cases, substantially more. But it's fair to say that a public school education certainly isn't cheap either.

In Australia, around 30 per cent of primary and 40 per cent of secondary school children attend a private or independent, school.

Research shows parents believe private schools will provide a better education for their children, and better set them up for success in life. But the evidence on whether this perception is correct is not conclusive. In terms of academic advantage, research and other studies have found there is little evidence to show independent schools offer any. It is likely children will do equally well in any school sector.

As for whether an independent education is worth the added price tag... we'll leave that up to individual parents to decide for themselves.

Feature Image: Getty.