September arrives bringing a fresh financial strain for families. The back-to-school season now faces an average cost of 410.71 euros per student, making this year the most expensive on record according to Banqmi, a financial comparison organization. Although the rise is modest at 1.39 percent compared with last year (about five euros more per student on average), it follows a surge the previous year when costs jumped by nearly 20 euros—from 386.76 euros in 2021 to 406.07 euros in 2022, a 4.73 percent increase.
As with every back-to-school period, regional differences shape the overall price. For the 2023-2024 academic term, families in different autonomous communities felt the varying burden. The Valencian Community leads where costs are highest, with an average of 465.55 euros per student, followed by Catalonia at 447.86 euros and Navarre at 447.36 euros. In contrast, Extremadura sits lower at 383.38 euros and Castilla-La Mancha at 387.34 euros, with the Canary Islands at 389.83 euros. Last year, Castilla y León ranked higher, but it dropped to thirteenth place overall with an average of 392.14 euros.
Castilla y León stands out as one of the regions where the overall back-to-school cost rose the most this year, climbing 2.45 percent, just behind Catalonia which rose 2.62 percent. The smallest increases occurred in Galicia at 0.40 percent, while the Community of Madrid rose 0.64 percent, placing it seventh in the regional ranking.
Bilingual communities have the most expensive textbooks
When calculating a student’s average budget, two main factors matter: textbook prices and uniform costs. The Valencian Community, the Basque Country, Catalonia, and Navarre show the highest textbook prices. In the Basque Country and the Valencian Community, averages hover around 232.33 euros and 205.08 euros respectively, with a broader national average near 200 euros. Catalonia sits close at 197.29 euros, and Navarra averages 196.55 euros for school books. A Banqmi expert explains that bilingual autonomous communities, where languages like Catalan or Basque are official, tend to have higher book prices. Galicia is an exception with an average book cost of 179.74 euros, marking a comparatively lower figure.
The regions at the lower end of the spectrum include Castilla-La Mancha at 172.68 euros, the Community of Madrid at 174.48 euros, and Extremadura at 174.61 euros. Castilla-La Mancha has also seen the most significant increase in textbook prices this year, up 4.35 percent, followed by Catalonia at 5.34 percent. The same community records the largest growth in subsidized schoolbooks at 2.46 percent; in the private sector, the increase stands at 2.47 percent, second only to Murcia at 2.48 percent.
Uniforms are very expensive when bought in schools
Another major factor shaping the back-to-school bill is uniforms. Many private schools require them, and a growing number of public schools are adopting uniform policies as well. The average cost per student for uniforms this academic year is 225.02 euros, a 1.39 percent increase from last year when the average was 221.96 euros.
Navarra shows the highest uniform costs at an average of 250.81 euros, followed by Catalonia at 250.58 euros. Madrid registers an average of 241.17 euros per student in uniforms. Some regions dip below 240 euros, with Extremadura at 208.77 euros. Cantabria and Castilla y León posted the largest increases in jersey costs, each rising 2.90 percent; Galicia and the Community of Madrid show declines, with reductions of 0.15 and 0.02 percent respectively.
The price pressure on jerseys stems from a shrinking store network and existing school agreements that push more purchases through school channels, which carry higher prices. The gap between the average price of jerseys sold in clothing stores (206.71 euros) and those sold in schools (243.34 euros) reaches 36.63 euros, underscoring the shift toward higher school-based pricing.
How can families meet this rise without borrowing too much?
A solid plan is essential to avoid excessive debt as the back-to-school costs mount. Financial planners emphasize a realistic budget aligned with resources and saving capacity. For the 2023-2024 academic year, it is prudent to start saving early. If additional financing becomes necessary, such as a consumer loan to cover school supplies, the first step is to tally all costs to understand the actual burden and then seek the most suitable options.
Planning stays crucial in the months ahead since back to school often lands just before the holidays. Experts advise digitizing all early-year expenses and establishing a disciplined saving routine. With careful planning and guidance from a financial advisor, families can reach short-term goals for occasional needs, mid-term goals like ongoing education costs, and long-term aims such as retirement, ensuring a healthier financial cushion across the year.
Cited guidance from a Banqmi financial analyst and regional banking leadership underscores the value of proactive budgeting, clear assessment of costs, and smart allocation of resources to navigate the cost challenges of the school season.