By Jack Gramenz in Sydney

Parents are making sacrifices, turning to grandparents for help and using credit cards to keep up with increasing costs associated with educating their children.

The most recent inflation data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics suggests education costs had risen 6.4 per cent in 12 months – more than double the increase in broader consumer prices.

But other costs associated with education can further inflate the bill for parents – and in some cases, grandparents.

Sending a child to public school for the next 13 years is projected to cost $123,294 in cities and $81,141 in regional and remote areas, according to data from Futurity Investment Group, which issues investment bonds for education purposes.

Sydney is the most expensive city with an estimated cost of more than $150,000, a 59 per cent increase over the 2024 projection of about $94,000.

The figures came through a survey of more than 2300 parents and data from the Australian Curriculum Assessment and Reporting Authority.

The calculations include predicted spending on devices, uniforms, excursions and other expenses, on top of any fees or direct school contributions.

Sydney is also the most expensive area for private schooling, expected to cost about $411,000 on average, against a nationwide figure of about $350,000.

Independent Schools Australia chief executive Graham Catt said parents were increasingly opting for private schools and the majority of students came from low- or middle-income families.

The sector is pushing to protect its government funding, which Mr Catt said was about $10,000 less per student each year on average when compared with the amount provided to public schools.

“Independent school families are feeling the same cost-of-living pressures as everyone else in the community,” he told AAP.

Recent pay increases for teachers at government schools also meant private schools had to offer higher wages to stay competitive, adding to other significant expenditures including insurance and technology, Mr Catt said.

Futurity spokeswoman Sarah McAdie said the survey showed Australian parents valued education while also revealing some of the ways they paid for it.

More than 10 per cent reported relying on a grandparent to help and more than a quarter reported meeting some costs with credit cards, she said.

“Those ancillary categories have really driven up costs, especially in the government sector,” Ms McAdie said.

Projected costs of a Catholic education fell, estimated at $193,666, and about $1500 less than 2024.

“It was an interesting anomaly,” Ms McAdie said.

“Catholic parents are being savvy … spending less on electronic devices, less on uniforms, musical instruments, stationery, electives and transport,” she said.

Nearly two-thirds of Australian students went to public schools in 2023, while almost 20 per cent attended Catholic schools and about 16 per cent were enrolled in private schools.