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● Family planning · Lifetime budget

Cost of Raising a Child Calculator

Estimate the full cost of raising a child from birth to age 18 — housing, food, childcare, education, healthcare, and more — adjusted for inflation.

The USDA estimates the average cost of raising a child born in 2015 to age 17 at $233,610 (excluding college). Adjusted for 3% annual inflation from 2026, a child born today is estimated to cost $310,000–$400,000 by age 18, depending on income level and location. This calculator shows the breakdown by category.

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Cost of Raising a Child
Customize spending by category · Adjusted for inflation
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Annual cost estimates (today's dollars)

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Cost summary

Annual cost (today)
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Monthly cost (today)
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Total cost 0–18 (today's dollars)
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Total cost 0–18 (inflation-adjusted)
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How it's calculated

USDA framework, inflation-adjusted

Raising a child is estimated by adding up the typical annual cost across the main spending categories — housing, food, childcare and education, transportation, healthcare, clothing and other expenses. That yearly figure is what a family with your profile would spend in today's money to support one child.

The calculator then projects that cost across every year from birth to age 18. Because prices rise over time, each year's spending is adjusted upward by an annual inflation rate, so the later years cost more in nominal terms than the first. Summing all 18 (or more) years gives the total cost of raising the child, and dividing by the number of years gives the average annual cost.

Use the result for long-term planning: it shows the order of magnitude you should budget for, helps you compare scenarios (one child versus two, modest versus higher lifestyle), and gives you a baseline for how much to save each month. Treat it as a realistic estimate, not an exact bill.

Annual cost (today) = sum of all categories Inflation-adjusted total = Σ(year 1 to 18) [annual_cost × (1+inflation)^t] Categories (USDA framework): Housing (29%) · Food (18%) · Childcare/Education (16%) Transportation (15%) · Healthcare (9%) · Clothing (6%) Miscellaneous (7%)
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    Annual cost (all categories)
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  2. 2
    Total over 18 years (no inflation)
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  3. 3
    Total adjusted for inflation
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Annual cost
The total a family spends in one year to support one child across all categories, expressed in today's money.
Inflation adjustment
The yearly increase applied to costs so future spending reflects rising prices (nominal value).
Total cost
The sum of every year's inflation-adjusted cost from birth to age 18.
Average annual cost
The total cost divided by the number of years — a useful single number for yearly budgeting.
Disclaimer: This is a planning estimate based on average US spending patterns (USDA 2017 report, adjusted for 2026 prices). Costs vary widely by location, lifestyle, number of children, and individual choices. College/university costs are not included. Source: USDA Economic Research Report No. 262.

Frequently asked questions

How much does it cost to raise a child in the US?
The USDA estimated $233,610 for a child born in 2015, from birth to age 17 (not including college). Adjusted for inflation to 2026, that's approximately $310,000–$350,000. Costs are 30–40% higher in urban areas versus rural areas.
What is the biggest expense in raising a child?
Housing is the largest category (≈29%), followed by childcare/education (≈16%), food (≈18%), and transportation (≈15%). In expensive cities, childcare alone can exceed $25,000/year for infants.
Does having more children reduce per-child cost?
Yes. The USDA estimates the second child costs about 25% less per year than the first, as housing, transportation, and some equipment costs are shared. Each additional child reduces marginal cost further.
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Cost breakdown by category

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