What do a child’s first five years really cost in New Zealand?
We follow four Kiwi families from pregnancy until their child starts school. For most of them, the first five years cost about a third of their pre-baby take-home pay, even after any government support.
From pregnancy until their eldest starts school, the cost ranged from 9% to 35% of take-home pay. All figures are after government support.
Four families, four different costs
Priya and Josh, Auckland
Two professionals on $90,000 each, with two kids three years apart. Both go back to work full-time after each baby.
Five-year cost: $207,700, or 32% of take-home pay
Biggest cost: Daycare fees for two kids come to $110,600, and FamilyBoost gives back $17,100
With employer support: The most common parental leave policy (a 26-week top-up for Priya and 2 weeks of paid leave for Josh) brings their cost down to $175,000
Aroha and Kate, Christchurch
A nurse on $80,000 and an electrician on $60,000. They conceive with donor sperm, and Aroha returns to work three days a week.
Five-year cost: $168,900, or 32% of take-home pay
Biggest cost: Aroha’s lower pay from parental leave and part-time work, which comes to $105,900. Before that, they pay $15,200 just to get pregnant.
What helps: Government subsidies cover most of their daycare fees.
Jess and Liam, Waikato
Jess earns the minimum wage, and Liam is a self-employed builder on $60,000. After paid parental leave, Jess stays home and does Liam’s books, unpaid.
Five-year cost: $158,200, or 35% of take-home pay, the highest share of our four families
Biggest cost: Jess’s lost income of $184,600. They spend just $25,800 on everything else
Long-term impact: Jess ends up with $27,100 less in KiwiSaver at 65
Hannah, Auckland
A solo mum and office administrator on $70,000. With a baby on the way, she moves to a two-bedroom flat.
Five-year cost: $23,700, or 9% of take-home pay
Biggest cost: The extra $85 a week in rent totals $22,100 over five years
The extra cost: After rent, childcare and her child’s costs, she has about $525 a week left for everything else
The four families are illustrative, built from typical New Zealand incomes and situations, and the costs we see in our coaching every week. Every figure uses 2026/27 tax rates, entitlements and published prices, and every assumption and source is set out in full in the report.
What this means for you
For parents
Start with our free resources, and if you’d like help with your own numbers, check out our Financial Baby Prep Program
For employers
Find out where your parental leave policy and experience can make the biggest difference, so your people come back
For government
Get insights into family finances you won’t find in official statistics. We coach hundreds of parents and track employer policies nationwide.
More resources
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