Here's How Much It Costs to Raise a Child

Having and raising kids has become a financial commitment comparable to buying a home. The average family will spend an estimated $310,605 to raise a child born in 2015 until they are 17 years old, assuming inflation is 4% over those years, according to the most up to date data from the Department of Agriculture.

Read on for more statistics on how expensive it is to raise kids.

How much it costs to raise a child

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) estimated in 2015 that a middle income family spends on average $233,610 to raise a child to age 17, not factoring for inflation.

Assuming inflation is 2.23% on average over the 17 years of support parents provided a child born in 2015, it would cost $284,594 to raise a child born in 2015, per USDA.

Assuming inflation is 4%, it would cost $310,60 to raise a child born in 2015 to 17 years of age.

Those inflation estimates are based on the most recent analysis from USDA and The Brookings Institution. The average annual rate of inflation between 2015 and 2024 is 2.86%.

How much it costs to raise a child by category: Housing, food, and more

Housing is the costliest part of raising a child, making up 28% of child-rearing expenditures for middle-income families, based on USDA data.

Food is the second-largest expenditure, accounting for 18% of middle-income families' child-raising budget. Childcare and education accounts for 16% and transportation accounts for 15%.

Housing and food take up a larger share of low-income families' budgets and a lower share of high-income families' budgets relative to middle-income families. High-income families devote a larger percentage of their child-raising budget to childcare and education -- 23% compared to 16% for middle-income families and 12% for low-income families.

The average cost of childcare

The median cost of childcare was between 8.0% to 19.3% of the median family income in 2018, according to the Department of Labor. Lower income families likely spend a larger portion of their income on childcare. That’s supported by data from Pew that shows 38% of low income parents have had trouble paying for childcare compared to 20% of parents overall.

The cost of childcare depends on the county population and age of the child. Center-based childcare for an infant in a county with a million or more residents cost $17,171. That cost drops to $8,310 in counties with under 100,000 residents. Costs also decline as children get older.

The cost of day care and preschool has been increasing rapidly in recent years. From January 2015 to April 2025, costs grew by 28%, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

The cost of raising a child by age

The annual cost of raising a child increases as the child gets older. Factors include higher food costs for teenagers and added transportation costs due to additional car insurance premiums or an additional vehicle purchase.

Here's how much it costs per year to raise a child, based on their age.

Assuming 4% inflation, it costs more than $15,000 a year to raise a child once they turn eight and over $20,000 a year when they turn 14. Parents are estimated to spend nearly $25,000 when their child is 17.

With a more moderate inflation rate of 2.23%, parents will spend just under $15,000 the year their child turns 8 and just over $20,000 when they turn 17.

The declining U.S. birth rate

The U.S. birth rate among women aged 15 to 44 has dropped sharply since 2008, reaching a record low of 54.5 births per 1,000 women in 2023. That’s down from a stable range of 60–70 between 1980 and 2017.

While the Great Recession may have triggered the initial birth rate decline, the continued drop hasn’t been clearly linked to any economic or policy factor. Researchers suggest shifting attitudes toward parenthood are at play.

Supporting that, Pew found 48% of non-parents in 2023 don’t expect to have children, up from 37% in 2018. Among those that are unlikely to have kids, 57% say they “just don’t want to.” Other commonly cited factors are cost concerns and global uncertainty.

The declining birth rate has raised long-term concerns about workforce size, economic growth, and the sustainability of elder support programs.

Average cost of childbirth, adoption, IVF, and surrogacy

Spending on raising a child can start well before the child is born. Parents who pursue adoption or surrogacy also incur significant costs before formally growing their family. Here's a run down of how much those expenses can be.

The average cost of childbirth

The average cost of childbirth is $18,865 and average out-of-pocket payment adds up to $2,854 for those on large group plans, according to the Peterson-Kaiser Family Foundation. Those numbers include health costs linked to pregnancy, delivery, and postpartum care.

Surgical procedures during a pregnancy, like a C-section, can add thousands more to a hospital bill, although the final out-of-pocket payment depends on insurance coverage.

The average cost of adoption

The cost of adoption has a wide range. Adoption from the child welfare system is "virtually free," according to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Additionally, families who adopt through the welfare system may be eligible for subsidies until the child turns 18.

Here’s how different adoption costs stack up:

• The cost of an independent adoption with the use of an attorney ranges from $25,000 to $45,000, according to HHS
• The cost of an adoption from a private agency outside foster care ranges from $30,000 to $60,000, per HHS.
• The cost of adopting a child from outside the United States can cost between $20,000 and $50,000, according to HHS.

The average cost of IVF

In-vitro fertilization, an option for infertile couples, can cost $10,000 to $15,000 per session, according to the Society for Assisted Reproductive Technology. Costs can change based on the patient's insurance, characteristics, and clinic.

IVF is not guaranteed to work after one session, so costs can quickly add up.

The average cost of surrogacy

Surrogacy generally costs over $100,000, although estimates range widely. Surrogacy comes with a number of costs, including compensation for the surrogate, legal fees, and agency fees if that is how the surrogate was sourced.

Prospective parents are also expected to cover premiums and deductibles for their surrogate's health insurance. Health costs can balloon if IVF and associated procedures are involved.

Family budgeting tips for raising kids

Having children is among the most joyous milestones for many couples, but it's also among the most expensive. Here are some ways to save money when growing a family.

• Plan ahead for big, known expenses: Budget and save for larger, repeat purchases that are on a predictable schedule, like summer camp, back-to-school shopping, birthdays, and holidays. These are often seasonal sales to take advantage of when it comes time to spend on these expenses, so set reminders to begin bargain hunting at certain times of the year.
• Get creative with vacations and birthdays: Not every special occasion has to involve expensive tickets, reservations, travel, and so on. Take advantage of cheaper recreation options, like camping. Look for free museum days and other discounted cultural experiences for kids. Lean into DIY for birthday decorations and make decorating for the holidays a fun crafting opportunity.
• Communicate with your partner: The financial commitment of starting a family is significant and will likely impact your family's personal finances, budget priorities, and goals. Being on the same page as your partner on how much you can spend, what you should be spending on, and what your family financial goals are is crucial to head off conflict and create a more resilient financial foundation.
• Invest in a 529 plan or custodial IRA: A 529 plan is a tax-advantaged investment account, like a 401(k), designed to help families save for education expenses. 529s are typically used to pay for higher education, like college. A custodial account can be used by parents or adults to gift or invest money for a minor. Unlike a 529, they don't have a specific use attached to them.