The average cost of raising a child to high school age now stands at almost £100,000, according to the latest Halifax research.
The regional variations are huge, with the average cost almost £170,000 in London and £100,000 in the South East, falling to £75,000 in the West Midlands.
Childcare is greatest monthly cost
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Childcare is the greatest cost of raising a child in all regions, standing at an average of £309 a month. The monthly childcare costs in London and the South East surpass £350; higher than anywhere else in the UK, with the parents in the North West paying the least at £273 a month.
At an average of cost of £105, holidays are the second biggest monthly outlay, followed by food (£98), and schooling costs (£69) such as uniforms, class materials and trips.
Lots of dosh for little Londoners
The higher cost of living in the South is widely accepted, but it is notable that parents living in London appear to be paying a disproportionately greater amount for a number of child related costs than parents in other regions.
Parents in London spend three and a half times as much a month on food for their children than those living in the North West, paying £239 compared to £68, while also spending more than five times as much as parents in the West Midlands on holidays (£46 in the West Midlands compared to £242 in London).
Richard Fearon, Head of Halifax Savings, says: “Regardless of where you live, the cost of raising a child is one of the most significant you will face. Understanding how each factor related to raising a child will impact you will allow you to budget and save for this spend and help to reduce the financial pressure that comes with a growing family.”
