Mapped: Lifetime Property Taxes in Every US State

How much does it cost to raise a child in the United States?

Raising a child to age 18 costs about $303,418 nationally, but the total can vary by more than $210,000 depending on where the family lives.

Much of this difference is due to housing, transportation and child care costs, which can significantly affect the cost of raising a child from one state to another.

This visualization uses a 2026 study from LendingTree to compare the expected cost of raising a child in all 50 states and Washington, DC.

The Most and Cheapest States to Raise a Child

Hawaii is by far the most expensive state, with an estimated 18-year cost of $412,661. That’s nearly $48,000 more than second-place Alaska ($365,047) and more than $86,000 more than third-place Maryland ($326,360).

California and New Jersey round out the top five, both at around $312,000.

Perhaps the biggest surprise is Kansas, which ranks sixth with $303,250. Despite its reputation for affordability, the state has higher projected child education costs than New York, Massachusetts and Washington.

The table below shows the estimated cost of raising a child to age 18 in each state and Washington, DC.

On the other end of the scale, New Hampshire has the lowest projected cost at $201,963, followed by Washington, D.C. ($202,115) and South Carolina ($204,213).

Costs also vary widely within states. San Francisco, for example, has an estimated annual cost of raising a child of $43,171, the highest among the 48 large metropolitan areas in our ranking of the most expensive U.S. cities to raise a child.

LendingTree’s estimates include additional expenses associated with having a child, such as food, rent, daycare, clothing, transportation and health insurance premiums. Calculations account for state tax exemptions and credits, but exclude the federal child tax credit and college expenses.

Why is raising a child so expensive in Alaska?

Alaska is the second most expensive state to raise a child, but child care is not the main reason.

According to LendingTree, Alaska has the highest additional rent and transportation expenses associated with raising a child. These costs help bring the projected 18-year total to $365,047.

Interestingly, annual infant daycare costs about $12,100 in Alaska, well below the national figure of about $17,000.

The first five years are the most expensive

The first five years of raising a child can cost more than twice as much per year as the years that follow.

According to LendingTree, families spend about $29,325 per year during a child’s first five years, compared to about $12,000 per year during the remaining years until age 18.

Daycare is a major reason for this difference. Infant care costs about $17,000 per year in the United States, while child care expenses typically decline once children enter school.

Although the projected cost over 18 years increased 1.9% to $303,418 nationally, average annual spending over the first five years decreased 0.3% from the previous report, largely due to a slight decline in child care costs.

The study’s estimates are based on a married, dual-earner household with one child earning the national median family income. They primarily use 2024 cost data and projected spending is not adjusted for future inflation.

How do child care costs in the United States compare globally?

Child care costs represent a larger share of income in the United States than the OECD average.

According to the OECD, child care for a two-earner family with two young children costs about 20% of the average wage in the United States, compared to 14% in OECD countries, based on 2021 data.

Countries like Germany, Sweden and Norway generally have lower childcare costs, reflecting differences in government subsidies and public funding.

Learn more about the Voronoi app

If you enjoyed this visualization, check out Mapped: What is a house worth in each US state in 2026 on the Voronoi app.