It takes a village to raise a child, says an ancient African proverb. Currently, it is estimated that raising a child in Greece costs about 13,000 euros per year, writes the Greek press.

In practice, a child in an average Greek family will cost that family 233,000 euros by the time it turns 18. And this explains, at least in part, why Greeks are having fewer children than ever before. In 2022, 76,095 children were born in the country, which is 10.8% less than the previous year, but also the fewest since 1932.

An analysis of data from the Greek Statistical Office (ELSTAT) shows that the monthly expenses of the average couple in 2022 were around 1,340 euros, while the average family with one child spent 2,385 euros per month.

Adjusted for inflation in 2023, having a child is estimated to add an average of €12,941 per year to the family budget. Thus, the average Greek family will spend approximately €233,000 in today’s money by the time their child reaches adulthood. This is a fairly conservative estimate of costs, as ELSTAT data measure the costs of households with children under 16 years of age, excluding the costs of secondary school education that are traditionally borne by families. However, at a European level, a study by the German neobank N26 claims that €240,000 is needed to cover the costs of a child between the ages of 5 and 18.

Looking at the data over time, we see that the cost of raising a child in Greece has not changed significantly compared to 15 years ago.

However, given the significant decline in income during this period, it is clear that the burden on family budgets is much greater now.

“The biggest expense for parents is definitely education,” says Markella Dimu, editor of parenting magazine Talcmag. “Regardless of private or public education, the cost of school and extracurricular activities is very high”

Where does parents’ money go?

In the first year of a child’s life, expenses can exceed 3,000-4,000 euros, as young parents have to pay for toys, frequent visits to the pediatrician, clothes, diapers and milk.

In addition, according to the Greek Competition Commission, the price of baby milk in Greece is three times higher than in other European countries. The recent decision to increase the maternity benefit from €2,000 to €2,400 per first child is therefore to be welcomed, but it still does not cover all costs.

As mothers return to work, family costs increase significantly, especially if there are no grandparents to care for the children. A full-time nanny is paid around €750-850 per month, and if family needs require a part-time nanny, it’s around €400-550 per month, or €6-7 per hour.

Even for children who attend municipal nurseries and kindergartens, the cost of food depends on the family’s income and usually ranges from 60 to 160 euros per month. Fees for private kindergartens are on average 4,000 euros per year.

There are currently 159 private primary schools, 98 private middle schools and 93 private high schools in Greece, and according to the latest available data, almost 60,000 students attend these schools. Their annual tuition fees start at around €4,000 and can go up to €14,000 per year at the most expensive private schools, excluding other costs such as books, bus fees, uniforms, canteen meals, etc.

Marina has three children – 7, 8 and 10 years old – and knows well that she is an exception. Today, few people are “courageous” to have three children, as Eurostat figures show that there are fewer than 170,000 such households in all of Greece. Although her children go to public school, Marina says she pays €150 a month for piano lessons and €75 for karate. “It’s not just about the financial costs, parents are carrying a lot of burdens these days,” she says, describing the daily life of a couple who don’t have the help of a grandfather.

However, in most Greek families, the help of grandmothers is considered necessary, as it is normal for grandmothers to be “hired” as soon as the mother returns to work.

But the contribution of the previous generation to raising children does not end there. “In recent years, there is also the problem of the cost of children’s meals, but most families are more concerned about the cost of education, since the children’s meals are usually bought by grandparents.

“In Greece, grandparents feel very guilty and don’t dare to travel when the family needs them.

Artemis has a 12-year-old son and pays around €270 a month for private lessons, English lessons and sports activities, while she spends around €500 a month on groceries.