Average Cost of Raising a Child in U.S. Reaches $303,418 Over 18 Years

U.S. over 18 years at $303,418. 9% increase from the previous year, driven by rises in rent and clothing costs. The total varies significantly by location. Hawaii has the highest projected cost at $412,661, followed by Alaska at $365,047 and Maryland at $326,360.

New Hampshire records the lowest at $201,963. Washington, D.C. and South Carolina follow as the next least expensive locations. Rent costs have increased from $1,128 in the 2025 LendingTree survey to $1,680 in 2026, a nearly 50% rise.

Clothing costs have risen by more than 25% over the past year. These changes contribute to the overall increase in child-rearing expenses.

some states, costs have grown faster than the national average.

The study found that Kansas and Alaska’s projected 18-year child-rearing costs jumped 23.5% between LendingTree’s 2025 and 2026 analyses, and Montana increased by 21.7%. Childcare is the largest expense for families with children under 5. In Hawaii, annual childcare costs average $40,342, while Maryland and Massachusetts average $36,419 and $34,247, respectively.

Fourteen states saw the cost of raising a small child increase by at least 10%. Sparsely populated states such as Nebraska, Montana, and Wisconsin all saw early childrearing cost jump by at least 23% due to the lack of options and high demand.

guidelines consider childcare affordable if it accounts for no more than 7% of household income.

With average annual childcare costs at $28,190, a household would need to earn $402,708 for affordability. The average income for a two-child household is $145,656. A February survey by the National Association for the Education of Young Children found that 65% of childcare centers and 51% of public-school-based programs increased tuition.

Nearly one-third of home-based providers also raised rates. High childcare costs can affect families' ability to save for emergencies, college, or retirement. S.