Science says: raising boys costs less money than raising girls

Children are incredibly fun, of course. But they are expensive. Studies like those from Nibud (National Institute for Budget Information) estimate that the costs of a child until the age of 18 can vary from about €50,000 to €100,000. And girls would even be slightly ‘more expensive’ than boys..

Although the differences are small and vary by child, there is something to be said for it. Girls generally have more interest in clothing, fashion, and makeup, which means you spend more money on that.

There are more differences: some studies indicate that girls may use certain healthcare services more often or place more emphasis on education-related expenses, such as tutoring or study materials. There is a perception that girls are more often involved in cost-intensive activities such as dance lessons, horseback riding, and arts and crafts classes. Boys may choose more sports activities, which can also be expensive, but are often assumed to be less special and therefore cheaper. Most boys choose to play football or tennis, which is cheaper than horseback riding, just to name one.

COSTS OF RAISING BOYS
If we assume that the average cost for a child is about €75,000 (an average between €50,000 and €100,000) and if we assume that girls are about 5 to 10% more expensive than boys, then raising a girl could vary between €78,750 and €82,500, while raising a boy would remain around €75,000.

But note:

Individual variation: every family is different, and individual choices can significantly affect costs.
Socio-economic status: higher-income families may spend more on their children compared to lower-income families.
Cultural factors: cultural norms and values can also play a role in spending patterns.

Image: @negin_misalehi