The new school year could pack fresh money pain for Australian families, with the average spend on uniforms, shoes, electronics, and other supplies climbing to $767 according to data from Compare the Market.
Concerningly, many of the Australians surveyed plan to cover the costs with credit cards (38%), buy now, pay later services (17%), or through personal loans (3%).
The findings were consistent with the comparison experts’ 2025 Household Budget Barometer report, which revealed credit cards were the most popular form of debt by far, growing 9% year-on-year.
| State | Average spend on back-to-school 2026 |
| National | $767 |
| QLD | $700 |
| NSW | $845 |
| VIC | $635 |
Source: Compare the Market
Compare the Market’s Chris Ford said January could be an expensive month, with many families still counting the cost of Christmas.
“Parents don’t get much of a break over summer because when the holiday spending is finally done the school supply list drops,” Mr Ford said.
“This year the average spend is more than $700 and that’s a lot for families who many already be struggling under the weight of energy bills, insurances and mortgages.
“And according to our survey, only a third of parents will pay for supplies out of pocket, with the rest all dipping into credit cards or adding to other debts to survive.”
If someone was to put the average $767 school supply bill on a credit card with an interest rate of 18%, it would take them almost five years to clear the debt making minimum repayments.
With the addition of interest, that debt would ultimately cost those parents $1,150.
Mr Ford encouraged parents to try to limit debt where possible and look for other ways to save, to help cover school costs.
“Look out for different incentives to ease the burden,” Mr Ford said. “In Queensland, for example there’s the back-to-school boost that’s an annual contribution of $100 for every primary school student.
“Most schools will sell good-quality second-hand uniforms, or you could try organising a free swap with friends who’ve out-grown their old gear.
“Remember the stationary list is a guide, not a rule book. Crunch the numbers, compare prices and scratch anything off the list that you already have in the bag. Your kids will give you an A+ for saving.”
When referencing this research, please attribute: https://www.comparethemarket.com.au/news/back-to-school-2026/
Compare the Market commissioned PureProfile to survey a nationally representative sample of 1,010 Australians in December 2025.
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For more information, please contact:
Henry Man | [email protected] | +61 474 368 908
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