A few weeks remain before the 2024-2025 school year starts, and families are already tallying the costs that come with returning to school. Textbooks and uniforms take a sizable bite of the per-student budget, with an average of 415.43 euros per student this year, up from 410.71 euros last year, according to Banqmi’s financial comparison data. This is the smallest uptick seen in recent years, aided by steadier prices for instructional materials after the LOMLOE reforms across all grade levels. Some schools, especially public ones, have worked to trim expenses by cutting back on non-core materials and adopting new teaching approaches that emphasize cost savings.
Regional differences in back-to-school spending remain noticeable. Families in the Valencian Community face an average of 474.06 euros, followed by Catalonia at 451.92 euros and Navarre at 451.51 euros. On the lower end, Extremadura sits at 385.52 euros, the Canary Islands at 392.68 euros, and Castilla-La Mancha at 392.84 euros. Other regions such as Asturias (395.72 euros), Galicia (396.95 euros), and Castilla y León (399.17 euros) stay under 400 euros on average.
Books and uniforms, the most significant line items
One major driver of overall cost is the price of books, which has continued to rise even as digital learning expands. For the 2024-2025 year, the average textbook cost climbs to 187.88 euros per student, up 1.18% from the previous year’s 185.69 euros. Costs vary by educational stage and by the type of school (public, semi-private, or private). Specifically, Infantil textbooks average 104.42 euros, Primary around 192.37 euros, and ESO textbooks rise to 266.84 euros per student.
When broken down by school type, public schools keep textbook costs below 100 euros on average (83.73 euros). In contrast, semi-private and private schools charge more, though the gap is narrowing, with averages of 103.94 euros and 125.58 euros respectively. In primary education, public centers cost about 159.85 euros for books, while semi-private and private centers charge 180.88 euros and 216.23 euros respectively.
Uniforms follow the same trend, with an average price of 227.55 euros per student for the 2024-2025 term, a 1.13% rise from the previous year’s 225.02 euros. Uniforms are mandatory in most private schools, widely required in many semi-private centers, and increasingly requested in public schools as well, though often only partially. This pattern reflects schools seeking extra resources to fund campus activities, sometimes through on-site uniform sales that limit competitive pricing. Consequently, the average price of uniforms sold within schools (247.63 euros) exceeds that of comparable items in clothing stores (207.48 euros) by more than 40 euros per student.
Regional and school-level dynamics contribute to this gap, with the school-based uniform market continuing to influence overall prices as institutions expand in-house activities to boost revenue.
How families can finance these costs
To help families manage the burden of back-to-school spending, financial professionals advise exploring savings and investment options that address education costs and other high-expense periods such as holidays and year-end expenses. Adequate planning is recommended to minimize the risk of debt and to prepare for short-, medium-, and long-term goals without compromising household finances.
The key guidance emphasizes avoiding debt that could threaten family finances. Many households may benefit from quantifying seasonal expenses and incorporating them into a broader financial plan. If needed, seeking guidance from a financial professional can tailor a plan to risk tolerance and family needs, ensuring goals are met without resorting to borrowing.