As March approaches, parents' wallets get busy. School supplies, uniforms, meal fees, and tutoring — preparation costs vary significantly by school level, and planning ahead can eliminate unnecessary spending. This guide covers elementary, middle, high school, and university costs for 2026, along with available subsidies and tax-saving methods.
📑 Table of Contents
Estimated Costs by School Level
Initial semester costs vary dramatically by school level. Below are the major expected costs for the first semester of 2026.
| Item | Elementary | Middle | High | University |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition | Free | Free | Free (public) | 3.5~5M |
| Uniform | — | 300~500K | 300~500K | — |
| Supplies/Textbooks | 100~200K | 150~250K | 200~350K | 200~400K |
| Meals (semester) | Free | Free | Free (Seoul etc.) | 500~800K |
| Tutoring (monthly) | 300~600K | 500K~1M | 600K~1.5M | — |
| Initial Total (est.) | 400~800K | 950K~1.75M | 1.1~2.35M | 4.2~6.2M |
💡 University Tuition Note
In 2026, average annual tuition is about 7.5M won for private universities and 4.2M won for national universities. Specialized programs like medicine or pharmacy can exceed 10M won annually. Actual costs vary greatly depending on scholarships, so try the scholarship calculator.
Hidden Cost Checklist
These are items commonly overlooked when budgeting for the new school year.
01 Clothing & Supplies
- ✓ Uniforms (winter, summer, gym): 300~500K won for middle/high school
- ✓ Indoor shoes, sneakers, backpack: 100~200K won
- ✓ Art/music supplies (recorder, paint set, etc.): 30~80K won
02 Digital Devices
- ✓ Tablet/laptop for digital textbooks: 500K~1.5M won
- ✓ Smart pen, case, keyboard accessories: 50~150K won
- ✓ Online learning subscriptions (monthly): 10~50K won
03 Transportation & Living
- ✓ Commuting costs (bus/subway): 30~70K won/month
- ✓ University housing deposit/rent: Deposit 3~10M, Rent 300~600K/month
- ✓ Club activities and freshman orientation fees: 50~200K won
04 Tutoring & Private Education
- ✓ English/Math academies: 300~800K won/month (varies by region)
- ✓ Arts/sports (piano, art, taekwondo): 100~300K won/month
- ✓ Coding/AI education: 150~400K won/month (surging demand in 2026)
2026 Government Education Subsidies
Taking full advantage of government and local subsidies can significantly reduce your burden.
Elementary 461K, Middle 654K, High 727K won (annual). For households below 50% of median income.
Seoul 400K, Gyeonggi 300K won, etc. for new middle/high school students. Amounts and application methods vary by region.
Up to full tuition by income bracket. Type 1 (income-based), Type 2 (university-linked), and multi-child scholarships available.
ICL (Income-Contingent Loan): repay after employment. General: grace period during school, installments after graduation. 2026 interest rate: 1.7%.
Elementary after-school care is free. After-school programs cost 30~100K won/month (free vouchers may be available).
Education Tax Credit Guide
Education expenses are one of the most common tax credit items in year-end tax settlement. If you paid for your children's education, be sure to claim it.
| Category | Annual Limit | Credit Rate | Max Savings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kindergarten/Daycare | 3M won | 15% | 450K won |
| Elementary/Middle/High | 3M won | 15% | 450K won |
| University | 9M won | 15% | 1.35M won |
| Self (employee) | No limit | 15% | — |
💡 Eligible Education Expenses
Tuition, enrollment fees, childcare, school meals, textbooks, after-school classes, and field trip fees (up to 300K won/year) are eligible. However, private academy fees are only deductible for pre-school children (kindergarten substitutes) — not for elementary through high school students.
Monthly Education Budget Tips
💡 5 Education Budget Principles
Add up tuition, academy fees, textbooks, and transportation for the full year. Dividing by 12 gives you a clear monthly target.
Uniforms, textbooks, and tuition concentrate in the first semester (March) and second semester (September). Start saving 2-3 months ahead.
Keep private education below 30% of household income. Regularly re-evaluate underperforming academies.
EBS free lectures, local library programs, and public after-school programs can significantly reduce private education costs.
Create a dedicated education savings account with automatic monthly transfers. Using compound interest savings adds extra returns.
Conclusion
The earlier you plan for school year costs, the lighter the burden becomes. Don't miss government subsidy deadlines, and be thorough with education tax credits. Use CalKit's calculators to simulate scholarships, savings, and GPA planning in advance.