A private survey on the main household expenses associated with the start of the school year revealed that school meals saw an increase of up to 84%. The consulting firm Focus Market prepared the Report for the new 2025 School Year, comparing the costs of eating at school with preparing lunch at home, as well as addressing the values of school transportation and the differences compared to rideshare transportation.
Regarding school meals, the monthly average amounts to $191,800, representing an 84% increase compared to the previous year. The most expensive menu corresponds to Grade 4 and above, with a daily cost of $9,590 if the monthly service is contracted. If taken only for a few days, the price may increase by 15%.
According to Damián Di Pace, director of Focus Market, "particularly the price of services additional to tuition and school fees, such as transportation and school meals, show new listings this month with increases of up to 84% year-on-year." The cost of a home-prepared meal per month has increased by 77%, reaching $58,102 this year (an average of $2,905 per meal), and considering that some institutions charge around $1,500 per day for meal service.
Regarding school transportation, the average monthly value is $98,000 to take children to school by school bus. Seasonally, February sees the highest increases in the education sector due to the start of classes. The cost of transportation through rideshare applications is approximately $120,000 per month, considering a distance of 25 to 30 blocks round trip from home to school.
In summary, the costs associated with the start of the school year have experienced significant increases in services such as school meals and transportation, prompting families to carefully consider their spending options and investment efficiency for students' transportation and nutrition.
