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How much does a child cost by age?

Author

Andrew Vasquez

Updated on February 25, 2026

How much does a child cost by age?

Dual-Parent Family - USDA Average Spending per Child (not the basic cost of raising)
Age of ChildHousingTotal
Before-tax income: Less than $59,410 (Average = $38,000)
0 to 22,9909,050
3 to 52,9909,100
6 to 82,9908,760

Also to know is, what is the average cost of raising a child in 2020?

The cost of raising a child until age 17 is $233,610 on average. Low-income married couples spend $174,690 on average to raise a child. Low-income single parents spend $172,200 to raise a child from birth until age 17. The average amount spent on raising a child in the Urban West is $245,460.

Secondly, how much does a child cost until 18? Key Takeaways

On average, middle-income parents will spend $284,570 by the time a child turns 18. The largest expense is housing, followed by food. The cost of childcare varies widely and depends on where you live. The good news is that each additional child costs less, thanks to economies of scale.

Keeping this in consideration, what is the average cost of a child per year?

According to a USDA report, the average middle-income family spends between $12,000 and $14,000 on child-related expenses each year. For newborns, the cost is higher, where some studies show numbers ranging from $20,000 to $50,000 for the child's first year of life, depending on location and the household income.

What age is a child most expensive?

Parents spent an average of $12,680 a year on infants, while 15- to 17-year-olds cost $13,900 a year. “Teenagers are the most expensive,” said Mark Lino, an economist at the Agriculture Department's Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion, and the report's lead author.

How much does a child cost monthly?

The bank found that each child cost (on average) $795 per month, although some surveyed said that the number was closer to more than $2,000 a month.

Why is raising a child so expensive?

That might be because raising kids is more expensive than it's ever been. The average cost of raising a child until age 18 today in America is more than $230,000, according to a Merrill Lynch report. Childcare costs, grocery and health expenses, and education-related costs are partly to blame.

How much money does a family of 3 need?

It defined being middle class as having an annual household income from about two-thirds to double the national median, which translates to roughly $48,000 to $145,000 for a family of three (in 2018 dollars).

How much money do you get for having a baby?

Starting in 2018, the child tax credit has doubled, so your newborn might get you a $2,000 credit. The income threshold has also been raised: Single filers can claim the credit with incomes up to $200,000, and married couples can get their credit with a household income as high as $400,000 on a joint return.

When should you start a family?

SCIENTISTS have worked out the perfect age to start a family if a couple wants to achieve its desired family size, and it may come as a surprise to many young people. To have the best chance of having just one child naturally, couples should start trying to conceive when the female is aged under 32.

How much money do you save by not having a kid?

Just how much can you expect to save if you don't have kids? The average middle-income married couple spent between $12,350 and $13,900 on each of their children in 2015, reports the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Extrapolate from that number and you're looking at spending $233,610 per child from birth through age 17.

How much does a child cost over a lifetime?

Million Dollar Babies: What It Really Costs to Raise a Child

Last week, the Department of Agriculture announced that the cost of raising a child is now estimated to be $234,900. The fact that this figure represents an all-time high probably set some new and expectant parents into a panic.

What do parents spend the most money on?

Instead of budgeting for entertainment or dining expenses, parents tend to find themselves investing in their children's futures and spending on toys and childcare costs. According to the study, nine out of 10 new parents surveyed found the amount of additional costs surrounding their newborns surprising.

How much money do you need to have a kid?

It can cost approximately $233,610 to raise a child from birth through age 17, so giving yourself as much of a head start as possible can really help.

How much it costs to have a kid?

According to a 2017 report from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the average cost of raising a child from birth through age 17 is $233,610.

How much does a 3 year old cost?

Dual-Parent Family - USDA Average Spending per Child (not the basic cost of raising)
Age of ChildHousingTotal
Before-tax income: Less than $59,410 (Average = $38,000)
0 to 22,9909,050
3 to 52,9909,100
6 to 82,9908,760

How much does a baby cost the first year?

How much does a baby cost per month? Let's break it down. According to the 2015 Expenditures on Children by Families report, a married, two-child, middle-income family (earning between $59,200 and $107,400 annually) could expect to spend approximately $12,680 in the first year of their younger child's life.