Estimate of Direct Child Costs in Austria

The direct "child costs" arising to private households could be seen as the additional income which would be necessary for families with (a growing number of) children to achieve in order to attain a similar level of welfare as is enjoyed by childless households. Using data from the 1999-2000 consumer survey in an econometric calculation, WIFO estimates such child costs to be about 520 € per child and month for single-parent households, and about 480 € for two-parent households. Actual costs vary depending on the child's age.