Sydney Tops List for High Schooling Costs

Sydney leads as the most expensive city for education, with rising school fees and ancillary costs surpassing inflation. Parents face escalating challenges funding their children’s schooling, with the total cost for private education in Sydney averaging $411,108 over 13 years—17% above the national average. The financial strain is pushing families to find alternative funding sources, including contributions from grandparents.

The annual Cost of Education Index highlights a sharp 9% increase in Sydney's private school costs over the past year. Nationally, the average cost of education for private schools is $350,158, with Melbourne at $388,618 and Brisbane at $369,646 trailing Sydney's steep expenses. Notably, Sydney also ranks highest for government school costs, while Canberra edges out for Catholic education affordability beyond Sydney's high private school fees.

Further breaking down the costs, the index calculated that Sydney parents spend an average of $9,838 annually on private school fees, covering 55% of total expenses. Beyond tuition, families spend $2,512 on outside coaching, $1,467 on musical instruments, $1,099 on tech devices, and $875 on extracurricular activities like excursions. These ancillary items significantly add to the overall financial burden amidst a cost-of-living crisis.

The study also reveals a rising trend of grandparents stepping in to assist with school-related expenses. In 2025, 11% of families reported such contributions, compared to just 7% in 2024. As families continue to prioritize education, they are making sacrifices and adjusting budgets to manage growing costs associated with technology, uniforms, transportation, and extracurriculars.

With Sydney consistently emerging as the priciest education hub for various schooling systems, the broader implications include growing financial stress on families and shifting resources to cover indispensable education-related expenses.

Source: Australian Financial Review, Futurity Invest, The Education Online, Savings.com.au