The Cost of a Child in Scotland in 2023

In the UK overall, it costs at least £166,000 to bring up a child at an acceptable standard of living. 

In Scotland, family incomes are boosted by a combination of universal and means-tested Scottish government policies, while costs are often lower due to cheaper than average childcare. 

The combined value of these factors can reduce the net cost to low-income families of bringing up a child by over a third. 

For typical out-of-work families in the UK as a whole, social security provides less than half the income they need to meet a socially acceptable standard of living in 2023. In Scotland, the additional support and lower costs mean that this shortfall is reduced to around 40 per cent. 

While working families benefit from lower-cost childcare in Scotland as compared to England, they are often unable to meet the minimum socially acceptable standard of living even if working full time on the ‘national living wage.’ 

In remote areas of Scotland, the higher cost of essentials such as food and fuel means that even with the additional financial support available via the Scottish government, there is an increased risk of being unable to reach a socially acceptable standard of living. 

While the additional financial support provided to households with children in Scotland is having a positive impact on family incomes compared with the UK as a whole, many are still struggling to meet a socially acceptable standard of living.