How much does back to school cost? Estimate your budget
Fees, meals, after-school care, supplies and enrolment: use the calculator to estimate the monthly cost and the one-off September spend of back to school 2026.
Back to school weighs on the budget in two different ways: a one-off spend in September — supplies, textbooks and sometimes enrolment — and a monthly cost that repeats through the school year, mainly the nursery fee, meals and after-school care.
Separating the two helps avoid surprises. Use the calculator below to adjust the figures to your situation and instantly see how much it represents per month, how much you spend in one go, and the school-year total. More than one child? Enter the number and the maths covers them all.
A nursery fee depends heavily on your income bracket and on whether the nursery is public, private or non-profit (IPSS). Always confirm the price with the nursery — the calculator is for planning, not a substitute for official prices.
Once you have the number, find the closest options on the map of nurseries near you and organise the deadlines in the back-to-school planner.
Back-to-school cost estimate
Adjust the figures to your situation to see the monthly load and the one-off September spend. Everything is saved on this device.
Estimate over 11 months, including the one-off spend.
Indicative figures to help you plan — they don't replace each nursery or school's official prices.
