A hike in health insurance premiums on April 1 follows a string of price rises for everyday Aussies.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The average industry rise of 3.03 per cent is the biggest increase in five years with many consumers paying more depending on their insurer.
NIB has hiked its premium by 4.10 per cent, HBF customers will see a 3.95 per cent rise, Bupa is up 3.61 and Medibank Private by 3.31 per cent.
Here are some other products and services costing more in 2024.
Stamps
The cost of sending a letter is rising by 25 per cent on April 3.
A basic postage stamp will increase from $1.20 to $1.50 while the price of large letters up to 125 grams will move from $2.40 to $3, and $3.60 to $4.50 for large letters between 125 grams and 250 grams.
"On average, for households that regularly send letters, the increase to $1.50 will cost them about $4.50 extra per year," a statement from Australia Post said.
The change came after Australia Post reported a $200 million loss as demand for its letter service plummets.
Chocolate
The price of chocolate on Australian shop shelves is up 8.8 per cent on the previous year, according to Rabobank.
International supply shortages have caused the global price of cocoa, chocolate's key ingredient, to sky-rocket by more than 200 per cent.
RaboResearch associate analyst Pia Piggott said many chocolate products had either increased in price or suffered shrinkflation - where the price remains but the product's size is reduced.
"We expect inflation on chocolate products to remain high and we may see more shrinkflation or product innovations and reformulations as manufacturers seek to minimise cost increases for consumers," she said.
Beer and spirits
Australians have been forking out more for a beer since the nation's tax on alcohol rose in February.
The price of a schooner rose by 30 cents after the twice-yearly indexation of the tax, based on rising household inflation.
The tax on spirits also jumped from $100.05 per litre of alcohol to $101.85.
School fees
The cost of school fees in both the public and private systems are on the rise in Australia.
In 2024 private school fees rose by an average of 5.85 per cent, with the most expensive surpassing $50,000 for Year 12 at Geelong Grammar in Victoria.
And the cost of a 13-year public education in regional NSW for a student enrolled in 2024 was projected to be almost $5000 more than the 2023 estimate.
