The cost to raise a child in the United States in 2025 is roughly between $300,000 and $320,000 from birth through age 17 for a middle-income family. Specifically, a middle-income married couple with two children can expect to spend about $318,949 per child born in 2025, which averages to around $18,761 per year
. Another analysis estimates the total cost over 18 years at approximately $297,674, with annual expenses around $29,419, reflecting a significant increase in recent years due to rising childcare, food, and health insurance costs
. Key expense categories include:
- Housing: The largest expense, making up about 29-32% of total costs, including mortgage/rent, utilities, and maintenance. In high-cost states like Hawaii and California, additional housing costs for a child can exceed $5,500 annually
- Childcare and education: This can be about 16% of total costs, with childcare alone often costing over $15,000 per year in expensive states like Massachusetts, Hawaii, and New York. Childcare costs have risen sharply, sometimes exceeding 30% of median family income in some areas
- Food, transportation, clothing, and health care: These also contribute significantly, with food costs rising nearly 30% recently and health insurance premiums increasing by 25%
Costs vary widely by location. For example, raising a child in Massachusetts can cost nearly $36,000 per year, while in Mississippi, it can be less than half that amount, leading to a potential $439,000 difference over 18 years
. In summary, raising a child in the U.S. today is a substantial financial commitment, with total costs generally around $300,000 over 18 years, heavily influenced by housing and childcare expenses and varying significantly by state and family circumstances
