Budget market research to cost $500,000

Treasury is spending almost $500,000 on market research leading into next week's federal budget and assessing reaction to it.

Tender documents show two contracts have been let - valued at $201,850 and $245,000, to Sydney-based Pollinate and Melbourne-based Whereto Research Based Consulting respectively.

Labor frontbencher Andrew Leigh said the Turnbull government did not need to spend taxpayers money to find out what Australians want.

"Only Malcolm Turnbull would need a focus group to tell him what's fair and unfair," Dr Leigh told AAP on Thursday.

"They don't need to waste hundreds of thousands on market research when the message has been clear for a long time - voters want to see money spent on Medicare, hospitals, schools and pensions."

Comment has been sought from the Treasurer's office.