Good news for UK parents

Money transfer firm Remitly priced 14 baby essentials in over 90 countries. Britain came out as one of the more affordable places to kit out a first year.

What went in the basket

Six categories: nappy changing, bottles, formula, sleep, transport and clothing. Researchers picked cheap products from local shops and pharmacies, then estimated 12 months of quantities.

The UK numbers

Formula came to about £569 for the year, clothing £645, sleep gear £194, and travel kit £110. Together that is the full first-year list as Remitly defined it.

Sixth in the world

Measured against average wages, the whole basket costs 7.5% of a UK salary. Belgium led at 5.4%, then Luxembourg at 5.9% and Denmark at 6.7%.

“the UK ranked as the sixth-most affordable country in the study”

The other end of the table

In Uzbekistan the same basket was calculated at 177% of the average wage. Nearly two years of earnings for one baby's first year of basics.

Formula is cheap here

At £569, UK formula ranked eighth cheapest. The US equivalent came to $2,740 and Armenia topped the study at $3,471.

But the formula maths is off

Remitly assumed six months of Stage 1 then six months of Stage 2. UK guidance says babies can stay on first infant formula until 12 months, so follow-on milk is not needed.

“£569 shouldn't be treated as a definitive formula budget for every family”

Prams and car seats win big

A basic infant car seat and pram together came to £110, putting the UK joint second in the world against earnings. Only Switzerland did better.

Read it with caution

Prices were collected in June 2026 and quantities follow US norms. Childcare, toys and energy bills are all excluded, so this is not the cost of raising a baby.