Average cost to raise a child in the US

Raising a child in the United States costs an average of $237,482 from birth through age 17, according to the Brookings Institution's updated estimates based on original USDA data adjusted for inflation. That figure does not include college tuition, pregnancy, or birth expenses. Depending on where you live, your household income, and your childcare needs, the actual total can range from $150,000 to over $500,000 per child.

Understanding where the money goes helps parents plan, budget, and take advantage of programs that can reduce the financial burden. Below is a full breakdown of every major expense category, regional differences, and practical ways to manage costs.

Expense Category	Share of Total Cost	Estimated Cost (Birth to 17)
Housing	30%	$71,000 – $115,000
Childcare and education	18% – 20%	$43,000 – $120,000+
Food	15%	$35,000 – $55,000
Transportation	15%	$35,000 – $55,000
Healthcare	10%	$24,000 – $45,000
Clothing	5%	$12,000 – $18,000
Miscellaneous (personal care, entertainment, technology)	5%	$12,000 – $18,000

Cost breakdown by category

The USDA's "Expenditures on Children by Families" report established the standard framework for estimating child-rearing costs. While the report was last officially published in 2017, economists and financial researchers have updated the figures to reflect current inflation. Here is what each category looks like in today's dollars.

Housing

Housing is the single largest expense, accounting for roughly 30% of the total cost. Having a child often means upgrading to a bigger apartment, purchasing a larger home, or moving to a neighborhood with better schools. Even families who stay put face higher utility bills, additional furnishings, and increased maintenance.

In high-cost metro areas like New York City, San Francisco, and Boston, the housing portion alone can exceed $150,000 over 18 years. In more affordable regions of the Midwest and South, it may stay closer to $60,000 to $75,000.

Childcare and education

Childcare is the expense that hits families hardest in the early years. The national average cost of full-time center-based infant care is approximately $14,000 to $17,000 per year. In states like Massachusetts, California, and Washington, D.C., that figure can climb to $20,000 to $25,000 annually.

Childcare Type	Average Annual Cost
Center-based infant care	$14,000 – $25,000
Center-based toddler/preschool care	$10,000 – $18,000
In-home daycare	$8,000 – $15,000
Nanny (full-time)	$30,000 – $55,000
After-school care (school-age)	$3,000 – $8,000

Education costs extend well beyond daycare. Private K-12 tuition averages $12,000 to $16,000 per year nationally, with elite private schools charging $30,000 to $55,000. Even public school families pay for supplies, field trips, extracurriculars, and technology fees that can total $1,000 to $3,000 per year.

Food

Feeding a child from birth through age 17 costs an estimated $35,000 to $55,000, making up about 15% of the total. Infant formula alone can run $1,200 to $2,500 per year. As children grow into teenagers, grocery bills increase significantly; the USDA estimates that a teenage boy can cost more than $400 per month to feed on a moderate plan.

Dining out accelerates these costs considerably. Families who eat restaurant meals several times per week will spend far more than those who cook at home regularly.

Transportation

Transportation accounts for another 15% of the total, covering car payments, insurance, fuel, maintenance, and public transit. Many families purchase a larger vehicle when they have children, which increases both the purchase price and ongoing costs like insurance and gas.

The average cost to own and operate a vehicle in the US is approximately $12,000 per year. Adding a second car or upgrading to an SUV or minivan pushes the child-attributable transportation cost to roughly $35,000 to $55,000 over 18 years.

Healthcare

Healthcare makes up about 10% of child-rearing expenses. This includes insurance premiums, copays, prescriptions, dental care, vision care, and unexpected medical needs. Adding a child to an employer-sponsored health plan typically costs an additional $3,000 to $6,000 per year in premiums alone.

Healthcare Expense	Average Annual Cost
Adding child to employer health plan	$3,000 – $6,000
Out-of-pocket medical costs (copays, prescriptions)	$500 – $1,500
Dental care	$300 – $800
Orthodontics (braces, if needed)	$3,000 – $7,000 (total)
Vision care	$100 – $400

Clothing

Children outgrow clothing quickly, especially during their first few years and again during puberty. The clothing category accounts for about 5% of total costs, or roughly $12,000 to $18,000 over 18 years. Buying secondhand, accepting hand-me-downs, and shopping sales can reduce this figure significantly.

Miscellaneous expenses

The remaining 5% covers personal care products, haircuts, entertainment, toys, sports equipment, cell phones, computers, and other technology. These costs tend to increase as children get older and develop more expensive interests and social lives.

Cost by age group

The cost of raising a child is not evenly distributed across all 18 years. Certain age ranges are significantly more expensive than others, primarily due to childcare needs and the increasing appetites and activity levels of older children.

Age Group	Estimated Annual Cost	Key Cost Drivers
Newborn (0 – 1)	$15,000 – $25,000	Childcare, formula/diapers, medical visits, gear
Toddler (1 – 3)	$13,000 – $22,000	Childcare, food transition, clothing turnover
Preschool (3 – 5)	$12,000 – $20,000	Preschool tuition, activities, healthcare
Elementary (6 – 12)	$10,000 – $16,000	After-school care, sports, school expenses
Teenager (13 – 17)	$12,000 – $18,000	Food, transportation, technology, activities

The newborn and toddler years are often the most expensive due to full-time childcare costs. Expenses dip slightly during the elementary years when children enter public school, then rise again as teenagers need more food, technology, and social spending.

Cost by household income

How much you spend on raising a child correlates strongly with household income. Higher-earning families tend to spend more on housing, education, and extracurricular activities, while lower-income families may qualify for public assistance programs that offset some costs.

Household Income Level	Estimated Total Cost (Birth to 17)
Low income (under $60,000)	$150,000 – $200,000
Middle income ($60,000 – $120,000)	$230,000 – $290,000
High income (over $120,000)	$310,000 – $500,000+

Lower-income families spend less in absolute dollars but dedicate a higher percentage of their income to child-rearing. Meanwhile, wealthier families often spend more on private education, enrichment programs, travel, and premium healthcare options.

Cost by state and region

Geography plays a major role in child-rearing costs. The cost of living, state tax rates, housing prices, and childcare availability all vary dramatically across the country. A child raised in Mississippi may cost less than half what a child raised in Massachusetts costs.

State/Region	Estimated Total Cost (Birth to 17)
Massachusetts	$375,000 – $450,000
California	$350,000 – $425,000
New York	$340,000 – $420,000
Washington, D.C.	$370,000 – $460,000
Texas	$210,000 – $270,000
Florida	$220,000 – $280,000
Ohio	$190,000 – $240,000
Mississippi	$150,000 – $200,000

The urban Northeast and West Coast are consistently the most expensive regions, driven primarily by housing costs and childcare rates. The rural South and parts of the Midwest offer more affordable options, though incomes in those areas also tend to be lower.

Most expensive states to raise a child

States like Massachusetts, Hawaii, California, Connecticut, and New York rank at the top due to high housing costs, expensive childcare, and elevated costs of living. In these states, childcare alone can consume 20% to 30% of a median household's income.

Most affordable states to raise a child

Mississippi, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Alabama, and Kentucky are among the most affordable places to raise a child. Lower housing costs, cheaper groceries, and more affordable childcare contribute to totals that can be 40% to 50% lower than the national average.

Pregnancy and birth costs

Before you even begin raising a child, pregnancy and delivery come with substantial costs. These figures are separate from the USDA's child-rearing estimates.

Expense	Average Cost With Insurance	Average Cost Without Insurance
Vaginal delivery	$2,500 – $5,000	$10,000 – $15,000
Cesarean section (C-section)	$3,500 – $8,000	$15,000 – $25,000
Prenatal care (9 months)	$1,000 – $3,000	$5,000 – $8,000
Complications or NICU stay	$5,000 – $20,000+	$50,000 – $200,000+

Health insurance significantly reduces out-of-pocket birth costs. Under the Affordable Care Act, all marketplace plans must cover maternity care. However, families still face deductibles, copays, and coinsurance that can add up quickly.

Lost income during parental leave is another hidden cost. While the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) guarantees up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave for eligible employees, only a handful of states mandate paid family leave. The average loss of income during unpaid leave ranges from $5,000 to $15,000, depending on the parent's salary.

College costs (beyond age 17)

The standard child-rearing estimates stop at age 17, but many parents continue supporting their children through college. Higher education costs have risen dramatically over the past two decades, making early planning essential.

College Type	Average Annual Tuition and Fees (2024–2025)	4-Year Total (Tuition Only)
Public university (in-state)	$11,000 – $13,000	$44,000 – $52,000
Public university (out-of-state)	$23,000 – $30,000	$92,000 – $120,000
Private university	$40,000 – $62,000	$160,000 – $248,000
Community college	$3,500 – $5,000	$7,000 – $10,000 (2 years)

When room, board, books, and personal expenses are added, the total cost of a four-year degree at a public university reaches $100,000 to $130,000. At a private institution, the total can exceed $300,000.

Parents who plan to help with college costs should consider opening a 529 savings plan as early as possible. These tax-advantaged accounts allow investments to grow tax-free when used for qualified education expenses.

Hidden and overlooked costs

Several significant expenses often go unaccounted for in standard estimates. These hidden costs can add tens of thousands of dollars to the total price of raising a child.

Hidden Cost	Estimated Impact
Lost income (stay-at-home parent)	$100,000 – $500,000+ (over several years)
Opportunity cost of career advancement	Varies widely
Summer camps and activities	$1,000 – $5,000 per summer
Birthday parties and gifts	$300 – $1,000 per year
Sports and extracurriculars	$500 – $10,000+ per year
Increased home insurance and life insurance	$500 – $2,000 per year
Pet costs (many families add pets)	$1,000 – $3,000 per year

Opportunity cost of lost wages

One of the largest financial impacts of parenthood is lost income. When a parent reduces their work hours or leaves the workforce entirely, the effect extends far beyond the immediate lost salary. Reduced retirement savings, missed promotions, and gaps in career development compound over time.

Research from the National Bureau of Economic Research suggests that the "child penalty" on women's earnings can amount to 30% to 40% of lifetime income, while men's earnings are largely unaffected.

Extracurricular activities

Youth sports, music lessons, tutoring, and other enrichment activities can be surprisingly expensive. Competitive travel sports, in particular, can cost $5,000 to $15,000 per year when factoring in equipment, league fees, uniforms, travel, and tournament costs.

Cost of raising multiple children

The per-child cost decreases with each additional child thanks to hand-me-downs, shared bedrooms, bulk purchasing, and economies of scale with childcare. However, the total family expenditure still increases substantially.

Number of Children	Estimated Per-Child Cost (Birth to 17)	Estimated Total Family Cost
1 child	$237,000	$237,000
2 children	$200,000 – $215,000	$400,000 – $430,000
3 children	$175,000 – $195,000	$525,000 – $585,000

The USDA estimates that expenses per child decrease by about 22% to 27% in families with three or more children compared to families with two. Shared housing, clothing, and bulk food purchases contribute to the savings.

Government benefits and tax credits

Federal and state programs can meaningfully reduce the cost of raising a child. Tax credits, public health insurance, and food assistance programs exist specifically to support families with children.

Program or Credit	Benefit Amount
Child Tax Credit	Up to $2,000 per child per year
Child and Dependent Care Credit	Up to $1,050 (1 child) or $2,100 (2+ children)
Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC)	Up to $7,830 (3+ children, 2024)
SNAP (food assistance)	$200 – $800+ per month (varies by family size)
WIC (Women, Infants, and Children)	$50 – $75 per month in food benefits
CHIP/Medicaid (children's health insurance)	Free or low-cost health coverage
School Breakfast and Lunch Programs	Free or reduced-price meals

Tips to reduce child-rearing costs

While raising a child will always require significant financial investment, there are practical strategies to lower the overall cost without sacrificing your child's well-being.

• Start a childcare co-op: Share childcare duties with trusted friends or family members to reduce or eliminate daycare expenses during the early years.
• Buy secondhand: Children's clothing, toys, books, and gear can be purchased used at a fraction of the retail price. Consignment shops, online marketplaces, and community swap groups are excellent resources.
• Meal plan and cook at home: Planning meals and preparing food at home can cut food costs by 30% to 50% compared to relying on dining out or takeout.
• Take advantage of free activities: Libraries, parks, community centers, and public museums often offer free or low-cost programming for children.
• Open a 529 plan early: Starting a college savings account when your child is born gives you 18 years of compound growth and tax-free withdrawals for education expenses.
• Use Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs): Dependent care FSAs allow you to set aside up to $5,000 per year pre-tax for childcare expenses, reducing your tax burden.
• Claim every eligible tax credit: Many families miss out on credits they qualify for. Review the Child Tax Credit, EITC, and Child and Dependent Care Credit each year.
• Consider public school options: Magnet schools, charter schools, and strong public school districts can provide excellent education without private school tuition.
• Explore homeschooling: For some families, homeschooling can be a cost-effective alternative to private education while offering a personalized learning experience.

How costs have changed over time

The cost of raising a child has risen dramatically over the past several decades. The USDA estimated the total cost at $145,500 (in 1960 dollars adjusted to 2015 dollars) for a child born in 1960. For a child born in 2015, that figure was $233,610. Adjusted for ongoing inflation through 2024, the figure now exceeds $237,000.

Year Child Was Born	Estimated Total Cost (Adjusted to Current Dollars)
1960	~$200,000
1990	~$215,000
2000	~$225,000
2015	~$234,000
2024	~$237,000 – $260,000

The fastest-growing categories are childcare and healthcare. Childcare costs have increased by over 200% since the 1990s, and healthcare costs have outpaced general inflation consistently over the past three decades.

Frequently asked questions

How much does it cost to raise a child per year?

The annual cost averages $12,000 to $17,000 per year for a middle-income family, though it can be significantly higher during the first few years when childcare expenses are at their peak. In high-cost states, annual expenses can exceed $25,000.

What is the most expensive part of raising a child?

Housing is the largest single category at 30% of the total. However, childcare and education combined can rival or exceed housing costs, especially for families in expensive urban areas who pay for full-time care during the first five years.

Is it cheaper to raise a child in a rural area?

Generally, yes. Families in rural areas spend approximately 20% to 25% less on child-rearing compared to those in urban areas, primarily due to lower housing costs and more affordable childcare options.

Does the cost include college?

No. The standard estimates of $237,000 cover birth through age 17 only. College can add another $44,000 to $250,000+ depending on the type of institution.

How can single parents manage these costs?

Single-parent households face the same expenses but typically on one income. Government assistance programs like SNAP, CHIP, the Earned Income Tax Credit, and subsidized childcare can help bridge the gap. Many states also offer additional support for single-parent families.

Do costs decrease with each additional child?

Yes. Per-child costs drop by roughly 22% to 27% for families with three or more children. Shared rooms, hand-me-down clothing, and multi-child discounts at daycares and activity programs all contribute to savings.