Italy: Rising costs for childcare and youth sports

Raising a child in Italy is estimated to cost an average of 162,000 euros from birth to age 18, according to data from Moneyfarm. This represents a 4% increase from 2025, adding approximately 350 euros to the annual cost per child. Since 2022, the average cost has risen by 16%, outpacing the 12% increase in contractual wages during the same period.

Expenses vary by age group, with the highest costs occurring during adolescence (ages 15-18), estimated at 49,700 euros. Early childhood costs (ages 0-3) average 19,500 euros, primarily driven by childcare and essential supplies. Pre-birth expenses, including medical visits and newborn essentials, average 4,100 euros.

In addition to general living costs, youth sports are becoming increasingly expensive. An investigation into Italian youth football shows that enrolling a child in a football school costs an average of 500 euros per season for the first year. This figure is significantly higher than in other European countries, where costs range from approximately 100 euros in France to 290 euros in Spain, creating an economic barrier to sports participation.