# Cost of raising two children in Australia rises 134% in two decades, study says

https://mins.news/en/item/69489

- The Guardian, 2026-09-22 19:00 UTC
- Society
- Original: https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2026/sep/23/cost-of-raising-two-children-in-australia-has-risen-134-in-two-decades-study-says

> Raising two or more children in Australia now costs families at least A$36,500 a year, new research says, up 134% in two decades while household income rose 102%. Childcare accounts for 33% of the total, compared with 27% in 2003. Parenting advocate Georgie Dent is calling for 52 weeks of paid parental leave and a universal childcare system.