Published 28 August 2026 | Community

TL;DR: Almeria has the highest expected use of credit for back-to-school costs in Andalucia, with 32% of families planning to borrow or use credit and average public-school expenses estimated at 605 euros.

School costs reach 605 euros

Almost one in three families in Almeria with school-age children expects to use a credit card or another form of borrowing to cover the cost of the new school year. The figure, 32%, is the highest recorded among the provinces of Andalucia in a survey by the Unión de Consumidores de Andalucía.

The findings point to an especially difficult September for many households, as the return to school follows the summer holidays and, in some towns and cities, comes soon after local fairs. The report describes this combination of expenses as a significant strain on family finances.

Almeria leads credit use

Almeria is followed by Cadiz, where 29% of families expect to rely on credit or borrowing, and Malaga, at 28%. Across Andalucia, the average is 27% of households with school-age children.

The survey suggests that families are not only dealing with the usual annual school expenses, but also with a general rise in costs. Back-to-school spending is expected to be 3.2% higher on average than in the previous academic year.

According to the study, the average cost will be at least 605 euros for a child attending a public school. That rises to 755 euros for a concertado school and can reach 1,468 euros in a private centre.

Clothing tops the bill

Clothes and school uniforms are expected to be the largest single expense. The survey estimates an average of 160 euros for public schools, 200 euros for concertado schools and 248 euros for private schools.

School meals are the next largest item, with projected costs of 135 euros in public education, 190 euros in concertado schools and 230 euros in private schools.

Families are also expected to spend an average of 125 euros on school materials in public schools. The figure rises to 190 euros in concertado schools and 230 euros in private centres.

Transport is estimated at 90 euros for public-school pupils, 120 euros for those in concertado schools and 130 euros in private education. Other expenses are put at around 95 euros, 110 euros and 120 euros respectively.

Private school differences

The study records a further difference in books and enrolment costs. Families in public and concertado schools are not expected to face an average charge for these items, while private-school pupils may require an additional 290 euros for books and 300 euros for enrolment.

The Unión de Consumidores stresses that these are average estimates rather than fixed amounts. Individual spending can be lower or considerably higher, depending on household purchasing decisions and consumption choices.

Digital costs add more

The annual cost does not necessarily end with uniforms, materials and meals. The report also highlights the growing role of online educational resources, estimating an additional average outlay of 680 euros for computer equipment and household internet connectivity.

That figure is presented as a separate annual cost, meaning that households using digital resources may face a substantially larger overall financial commitment than the basic back-to-school estimates suggest.

The pressure will also vary according to the number of children of school age in each home. A family with several children may have to cover the same categories of spending multiple times, adding to the impact of the September bill.

In response to the forecast, the Unión de Consumidores de Andalucía has issued a ten-point set of advice aimed at helping families manage the return-to-school expenses. The survey’s overall message is clear: for many households in Almeria, preparing for the 2026/27 school year will involve difficult financial decisions, with a sizeable proportion expecting to turn to credit to meet the cost.

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