Mapped: The Cost of Raising a Child in Every U.S. State

How Much Does It Cost to Raise a Child Across the U.S.?

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

Much of that difference comes down to housing, transportation, and childcare expenses, 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 projected cost of raising a child across all 50 states and Washington, D.C.

The Most and Least Expensive States to Raise a Child

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

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

Perhaps the biggest surprise is Kansas, which ranks sixth at $303,250. Despite its reputation for affordability, the state has a higher projected child-rearing cost than New York, Massachusetts, and Washington.

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

Rank	State	Estimated 18-Year Cost
1	Hawaii	$412,661
2	Alaska	$365,047
3	Maryland	$326,360
4	California	$312,300
5	New Jersey	$312,295
6	Kansas	$303,250
7	Washington	$297,341
8	Arizona	$294,982
9	Nebraska	$294,926
10	Montana	$293,926
11	Connecticut	$293,728
12	Maine	$289,573
13	Colorado	$285,293
14	Florida	$280,280
15	New York	$278,051
16	Idaho	$278,023
17	Utah	$276,509
18	Massachusetts	$273,981
19	Virginia	$266,117
20	Indiana	$264,147
21	Minnesota	$262,330
22	Wyoming	$262,014
23	Missouri	$261,380
24	North Dakota	$259,123
25	Oregon	$257,569
26	West Virginia	$254,005
27	Wisconsin	$253,332
28	Pennsylvania	$249,441
29	North Carolina	$247,998
30	Rhode Island	$245,738
31	Nevada	$244,944
32	Illinois	$244,826
33	Louisiana	$242,450
34	Oklahoma	$241,405
35	Delaware	$235,920
36	Tennessee	$235,164
37	Michigan	$233,218
38	Kentucky	$232,131
39	Texas	$229,891
40	Vermont	$229,428
41	Arkansas	$226,354
42	Ohio	$224,228
43	South Dakota	$222,976
44	Georgia	$222,713
45	New Mexico	$218,588
46	Iowa	$215,443
47	Alabama	$212,121
48	Mississippi	$208,621
49	South Carolina	$204,213
50	District of Columbia	$202,115
51	New Hampshire	$201,963
--	U.S. Average	$303,418

At the other end of the ranking, 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 considerably within states. San Francisco, for example, has an estimated annual child-rearing cost of $43,171, the highest among 48 major 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. The 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 ranks as the second-most expensive state to raise a child, but childcare isn’t the main reason.

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

Interestingly, annual infant daycare costs approximately $12,100 in Alaska, well below the national figure of roughly $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 an estimated $29,325 annually during a child’s first five years, compared with roughly $12,000 per year during the remaining years through age 18.

Daycare is a major reason for the difference. Infant daycare costs approximately $17,000 annually across the U.S., while childcare expenses generally decline once children enter school.

Although the projected 18-year cost rose 1.9% to $303,418 nationwide, average annual expenses during the first five years fell 0.3% from the previous report, largely due to a slight decline in daycare costs.

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

How Do U.S. Childcare Costs Compare Globally?

Childcare costs consume a larger share of earnings in the U.S. than the OECD average.

According to the OECD, childcare for a two-earner family with two young children cost approximately 20% of average earnings in the U.S., compared with 14% across OECD countries, based on 2021 data.

Countries such as Germany, Sweden, and Norway generally have lower out-of-pocket childcare costs, reflecting differences in government subsidies and public funding.

Learn More on the Voronoi App

If you enjoyed this visualization, check out Mapped: What a Home Is Worth in Every U.S. State in 2026 on the Voronoi app.