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Average Cost to Raise a Child in US Reaches $303,418 Over 18 Years
A LendingTree analysis shows the average cost of raising a child in the US has risen nearly 30% over the past three years to $303,418 after tax exemptions and credits. Annual expenses average $16,857, with infant day care as the largest component at $17,264 per year. Costs vary significantly by state, with Hawaii at $412,661 and New Hampshire at $201,963.
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The average cost to raise a child in the US from birth to age 18 now totals $303,418 after accounting for tax exemptions and credits. The analysis, conducted by LendingTree, bases its calculations on expenses including housing, food, child care, apparel, transportation, and insurance.
Parents spend an average of $16,857 annually on child-rearing. The first five years are the most expensive, totaling $29,325, primarily due to infant and toddler day care costs. However, the cost for the initial five years decreased slightly this year because of a dip in day care expenses.
Infant day care remains the top expense, averaging $17,264 per year nationwide. In some states, these costs are higher, reaching $22,628 in California and $20,439 in New York. Federal guidelines consider child care affordable if it does not exceed 7% of household income.
differ widely by location.
Hawaii has the highest total at $412,661 over 18 years, followed by Alaska at $365,047 and Maryland at $326,360. California ranks fourth at $312,300, and New Jersey fifth at $312,295. More affordable states include New Hampshire at $201,963, Washington, DC at $202,115, and South Carolina at $204,213.
Washington, DC offers free preschool for 3- and 4-year-olds, which contributes to its lower overall cost. The analysis assumes a married, dual-income couple with one child earning a median family income of $99,999.
This exceeds the affordability threshold for child care in many cases. In rural areas, limited supply of quality child care centers allows providers to set higher prices. In urban centers like New York City, costs are elevated due to high labor and real estate expenses.
The average cost of child care for infants and toddlers there was $26,000 in 2024. A family would need to earn $334,000 annually to cover care for a 2-year-old without exceeding the 7% guideline.
