The price of parenthood reveals a widening affordability divide.
Brussels, Belgium.
The cost of essential baby products during the first year of life varies dramatically across Europe, ranging from €2,813 in the United Kingdom to €6,294 in Spain. A study by financial services company Remitly, reported by Euronews on September 20, places the average across 38 European countries at €4,727. Yet the figures reveal a more complex reality: the countries with the highest prices are not necessarily those where families face the greatest financial burden.
The research examined prices recorded in July 2026 for 14 essential products across six categories, including diapers, baby formula, clothing, sleeping equipment and transportation items. Spain recorded the highest estimated expenditure, followed by the Netherlands at €6,140, Finland at €6,066, Sweden at €6,025 and Switzerland at €6,018. Germany and France registered lower totals of €4,701 and €4,393, respectively.
At the opposite end, the United Kingdom recorded the lowest estimated cost, followed by Czechia at €3,211, Romania at €3,385 and Latvia at €3,392. These differences demonstrate how the price of basic childcare products changes across national markets, although nominal costs alone cannot establish whether families can comfortably afford them.
Three categories account for most of the expenditure. Clothing represents approximately 30.3% of the total, followed by baby formula at 25.7% and diapers at 24.5%. Together, these products account for roughly 81% of the estimated first-year budget, highlighting the importance of recurring purchases alongside initial expenses such as cribs and strollers.
The financial picture changes substantially when costs are compared with income. Across the 36 countries included in the affordability analysis, essential baby products represent an average of 20.9% of annual wages. Moldova records the heaviest relative burden at 88.8%, followed by Albania at 66%. In contrast, the corresponding figures are 5.4% in Belgium and 6% in Luxembourg.
Portugal offers another illustration of this disparity. Although its estimated expenditure of €5,337 is below the levels recorded in Spain and several northern European countries, the amount represents 35.7% of average annual earnings. The comparison suggests that purchasing power, rather than product prices alone, is central to understanding the economic pressures facing new parents.
The study also has important limitations. Its estimates concern a defined selection of products rather than the complete cost of raising a child, and actual spending varies according to family circumstances and purchasing decisions. Housing, healthcare and childcare expenses are not included, while taxes, public benefits and the number of earners in a household can substantially alter affordability.
Childcare represents a particularly significant omission because nursery fees and related services can add considerable costs after a child is born. Public support differs across European countries, complicating comparisons based exclusively on retail prices.
The findings expose a fundamental distinction between the cost of essential goods and families’ capacity to purchase them. Understanding the economic realities of parenthood requires examining both household income and the wider systems of support available to parents.
Más allá de la noticia, el patrón. / Beyond the news, the pattern.