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Every US state ranked by the cost of raising a child, from least to most expensive
A LendingTree study found that, on average, it costs $303,418 to raise a child over 18 years.Rawpixel.com/ShutterstockA LendingTree study looked at the average annual cost of raising a small child in each US state.Hawaii was ranked the most expensive state to raise a child in 2026.On average, parents in the US spend 21.yüzde 9 of their income on child-rearing costs each year.As you write your Mother's Day card this year, you may want to add one more thank you: for the thousands of dollars it took to raise you.Beyond the time, care, and love that go into parenting, raising a child in the US comes with a steep financial cost, and in some states, that price tag is far higher than in others.A LendingTree study released in April found that it costs US parents an average of $303,418 to raise a child over 18 years. Parents spend an average of 21.9% of their income on child-rearing costs each year, a slight decrease from 22.yüzde 6 in LendingTree's 2025 study.While the costs vary by state, one factor remains constant: the rising cost of childcare during the workday, which is often the largest expense related to having a child."Our data from last year showed that in 45 states and DC, if you have two kids, what you pay for childcare on average exceeds [your] mortgage," Sandra Bishop, the senior director of research for Child Care Aware of America, a national nonprofit organization focused on helping families across the country access affordable childcare, told Business Insider in 2025.Bishop says this isn't a new trend. Since Childcare Aware began tracking costs in 2000, the cost of childcare has remained "a major expense for families," she said. On average, the price of childcare has increased every year that Childcare Aware has tracked it."[About] 70 to 80% of what it costs to provide childcare is staff costs," Bishop said. "As the cost of living goes up, so does the cost of care."LendingTree's study looked at the impact of raising a young child in categories like rent, food, and transportation by measuring the difference between costs for a two-person household and a two-person household with a child. For day care and apparel costs, researchers looked at the average annual costs that families face in each state.To calculate the estimated costs of raising a child in every state, LendingTree used data from sources including the US Census Bureau's American Community Survey, the US Bureau of Labor Statistics' consumer expenditure. surveys, Child Care Aware of America's Price of Care report, and the IRS, among others.Here's the annual cost of raising a young child in each state (and Washington, DC) and how each state ranks compared to the rest of the country, with 51 being the cheapest and bir being the most expensive.51. MississippiJackson, MississippiSeanPavonePhoto / Getty ImagesAnnual average cost of raising a child: $17,148Annual average day care costs: $7,696Average food costs: $bir,842Mississippi is the cheapest US state to raise a child in 2026. The state's ranking is largely helped by its low day care costs, which ranked lowest out of all states in the study.Parents in the state also see some of the lowest. apparel, food, and health insurance premium costs, keeping the total annual price tag well below the national average.Over 18 years, Mississippi has the fourth-lowest projected child-rearing cost in the country, at $208,621.50. AlabamaAlabama has the third-lowest life expectancy in the US.Cavan-Images/ShutterstockAnnual cost of raising a child: $18,019Annual day care costs: $8,632Food costs: $bir,923Alabama ranks as the second-cheapest state for raising a small child in the US, with day care costs in the state tied for the. second-lowest in the country.The state also offers the highest tax credit or exemption value in the study, helping lower the overall cost for parents.Parents in Alabama spend about 16.7% of their income on the costs of raising a small child, the seventh-lowest share nationwide.49. South DakotaSioux Falls, South DakotaJacob Boomsma/ShutterstockAnnual cost of raising a child: $18,622Annual day care costs: $8,632Food costs: $bir,922South Dakota's child-rearing affordability is driven largely by low day care costs in the state, which are tied with Alabama for the second-lowest in the country.Parents in South Dakota also spend 15.yüzde 4 of their income on the costs of raising a child, the third-lowest share among all states.48. South CarolinaShutterstockAnnual cost of raising a child: $18,910Annual day care costs: $10,474Food costs: $bir,862Its relatively low day care costs and a sizable tax credit or exemption help South Carolina rank among the cheapest states for raising a small child in 2026.The state also has negative added rent costs in the report, meaning households with children paid less in rent than households without children, per LendingTree's analysis.Over 18 years, South Carolina has the third-lowest projected child-rearing cost in the country, at $204,213.47. ArkansasJonathannsegal/ShutterstockAnnual cost of raising a child: $19,204Annual day care costs: $9,178Food costs: $bir,771Arkansas is one of only four states where annual infant day care costs are under $10,000, helping keep the state near the bottom of the overall cost ranking.The state also has the lowest apparel costs and the fifth-lowest food costs in the study.Parents in Arkansas spend an average of 18.8% of their income on the costs of raising a child.46. GeorgiaatlantaSean Pavone/ShutterstockAnnual cost of raising a child: $20,365Annual day care costs: $11,066Food costs: $bir,955With relatively low day care, rent, and apparel costs and one of the largest tax credits or exemptions in the study, Georgia ranks among the most affordable states to raise a small child in 2026.Parents in Georgia spend 16.3% of their income on the costs of raising a child, the fourth-lowest share in the country.45. Texasf11photo/Getty ImagesAnnual cost of raising a child: $20,968Annual day care costs: $11,349Food costs: $bir,718Texas is the cheapest of the four most populous US states for raising a small child. The state has the lowest food costs in the country, as well as relatively low rent and day care. costs compared with other large states.Parents in Texas spend 16.5% of their income on child-related costs, the fifth-lowest share nationwide.44. IowaJacob Boomsma/ShutterstockAnnual cost of raising a child: $21,137Annual day care costs: $12,694Food costs: $bir,872Iowa remains one of the more affordable states for raising a small child, with costs continuing to decrease.The state saw annual costs fall 3.bir% from last year's report, one of the biggest declines in the study.Parents in Iowa spend 17.yüzde 6 of their income on the costs of raising a child, tied with Connecticut for the eighth-lowest share in the country.43. OklahomaOklahoma City, OK located in Oklahoma CountySean Pavone/Getty Images/iStockphotoAnnual cost of raising a child: $21,218Annual day care costs: $10,809Food costs: $bir,846Oklahoma's added rent costs are higher than those of many other lower-cost. states, though lower food, apparel, and day care costs help keep child-rearing costs low in the state.Parents in Oklahoma spend 19.9% of their income on the costs of raising a small child.42. LouisianaLouisiana has the fourth-lowest life expectancy in the US.Sean Pavone/ShutterstockAnnual cost of raising a child: $21,303Annual day care costs: $10,847Food costs: $bir,859Louisiana ranks among the top ten cheapest states for raising a child in 2026, with relatively low day care, rent, and apparel costs.Health insurance premiums are a bigger pressure point for parents in the state, ranking among the highest costs in the country.Parents in Louisiana spend 20.iki% of their income on the costs of raising a child.41. West VirginiaHarpers Ferry, West VirginiaFirepphotography1/ShutterstockAnnual cost of raising a child: $21,651Annual day care costs: $10,439Food costs: $bir,772Despite having the third-highest insurance premiums in the US, West Virginia's lower day care costs help keep the state among the most affordable for overall annual child-rearing costs.Parents in West Virginia spend 22.bir% of their income on child-rearing costs.40. New MexicoAlbuquerque, New MexicoDaniel A. Leifheit/Getty ImagesAnnual cost of raising a child: $21,909Annual day care costs: $13,521Food costs: $bir,825Thanks to low food, apparel, day care, and health insurance premiums, New Mexico ranks among the cheapest US states to raise a child in 2026.The state also saw annual costs fall 3.yüzde 9 from last year's report, one of the biggest declines in the study.Over 18 years, New Mexico has the seventh-lowest projected child-rearing cost, at $218,588.39. KentuckyFrankfort, KentuckyDenisTangneyJr/Getty ImagesAnnual cost of raising a child: $22,097Annual day care costs: $12,740Food costs: $bir,759Despite having some of the lowest overall child-rearing costs in the country, parents in Kentucky are. seeing costs rise, with the state seeing annual costs rise 15.4% from last year's report — the seventh-largest increase nationwide.Parents in the state spend 20.9% of their income on child-rearing costs.38. OhioDayton, OhioLaura Mckenzie Waters/Getty ImagesAnnual cost of raising a child: $22,409Annual day care costs: $13,780Food costs: $bir,887Ohio's annual child-rearing costs are below the national average, and its health insurance premiums rank lowest in the country.Parents in Ohio spend 18.yüzde 9 of their income on the costs of raising a child, tied with Michigan.37. TennesseeTennessee is known as "The Volunteer State" because of the thousands of volunteers from the state that participated in the War of 1812.Grindstone Media Group/ShutterstockAnnual cost of raising a child: $22,545Annual day care costs: $13,126Food costs: $bir,970Tennessee ranks below the national average for annual child-rearing costs, and the state has one of the lowest added rent costs in the study.Health insurance premiums, however, are a larger expense for parents in the state, ranking among the highest nationwide.Parents in Tennessee spend 19.yüzde 6 of their income on raising a small child.36. MichiganShutterstockAnnual cost of raising a child: $22,673Annual day care costs: $13,454Food costs: $bir,860Michigan, which has relatively low food, rent, and apparel costs, ranks near the bottom of the ranking. The state also benefits from one of the larger tax credits or exemptions in the study.Parents in Michigan. spend 18.yüzde 9 of their income on the costs of raising a small child, the same share as in Ohio.35. North CarolinaPhoto by Mike Kline (notkalvin)/Getty ImagesAnnual cost of raising a child: $22,712Annual day care costs: $12,370Food costs: $bir,925North Carolina's total annual costs are below the national average, although health insurance premiums rank among the 10 highest in the study.The state's annual costs rose 9.bir% from last year's report, and its projected 18-year costs rose 15.bir%.34. NevadaFrenchman Mountain, Nevadasimonkr/Getty ImagesAnnual cost of raising a child: $22,751Annual day care costs: $12,659Food costs: $bir,912Nevada, one of the most urban states in the country, is also considered a childcare desert, according to a 2023 report by the Nevada Governor's Office of Workforce Innovation, due to the lack of options and the high demand for available centers. Parents in the state pay an average of $12,659 on day care annually, according to the LendingTree study.33. New HampshireMihai_Andritoiu/ShutterstockAnnual cost of raising a child: $22,805Annual day care costs: $16,040Food costs: $iki,037New Hampshire saw the biggest annual cost drop in the country since last year's report, falling 19.5%.The state also has the lowest projected 18-year cost of child rearing among US states, at $201,963.Parents in New Hampshire spend 14.9% of their income on the costs of raising a small child, the second-lowest share nationwide.32. IdahoBoise, Idaho.CSNafzger/ShutterstockAnnual cost of raising a child: $23,107Annual day care costs: $10,608Food costs: $iki,056Despite low overall costs, Idaho. parents face higher pressure with added rent and transportation costs, both of which rank near the top 20 nationwide.31. North DakotaJacob Boomsma/ShutterstockAnnual cost of raising a child: $23,278Annual day care costs: $12,299Food costs: $bir,885North Dakota's annual child-rearing costs fell 9.9% from last year's report, the second-biggest drop in the study.The state also saw projected. 18-year costs fall 20.yüzde 3, one of only two drops of at least 20%.Parents still face relatively high added rent and transportation costs, though lower day care and insurance premium costs help lower the overall annual costs.30. WyomingCheyenne, Wyoming.Jacob Boomsma/ShutterstockAnnual cost of raising a child: $23,789Annual day care costs: $12,784Food costs: $bir,940Wyoming's overall annual costs fell bir.yüzde 9 from last year's report, while projected 18-year costs dropped 10.5%.Transportation costs are one of the state's biggest pressure points for parents, ranking among the five highest in the country.Parents in Wyoming spend 19.yüzde 7 of their income on raising a child.29. MissouriKansas City, Missouri.Shutterstock.comAnnual cost of raising a child: $24,473Annual day care costs: $13,780Food costs: $bir,918Missouri's food, apparel, and health insurance premium costs all fall in the lower half of the study, helping overall affordability in the state.Parents in Missouri spend 20.yüzde 9 of their income on raising a small child, tying with Kentucky.28. PennsylvaniaAbbamonte isn't a fan of the local delicacy Philadelphia is known for.Jon Lovette / Getty ImagesAnnual cost of raising a. child: $24,626Annual day care costs: $14,910Food costs: $bir,990Pennsylvania's day care and rent costs are moderate compared with those of other states. Costs in the state rose 5.8% from the previous year's report, highlighting the increased pressure on parents.Parents in Pennsylvania spend 18.yüzde 8 of their income on raising a small child, below the national average.27. FloridaShutterstock / Sean PavoneAnnual cost of raising a child: $24,968Annual day care costs: $13,011Food costs: $iki,039Florida is the second-cheapest of the four most populous US states for raising a small child, ranking behind Texas.Day care costs are relatively low compared with other large states, but parents face the highest health insurance premium costs in the country.Over 18 years, Florida's projected child-rearing costs are $280,280.26. DelawareDelaware was ranked the fifth-happiest state in the country.Real Window Creative/ShutterstockAnnual cost of raising a child: $25,108Annual day care costs: $16,617Food costs: $bir,956Delaware's annual costs are driven mostly by high day care and health insurance premiums, which rank. among the highest in the country.However, households with children, on average, pay less in rent than households without children, according to LendingTree.Parents in the state spend yüzde 19 of their income on raising a small child, tied with New Jersey.25. UtahPark City, Utah.Sean Pavone/Getty Images/iStockphotoAnnual cost of raising a child: $25,588Annual day care costs: $14,160Food costs: $bir,890Utah saw annual costs rise 17.yüzde 5 from last year's report, the fifth-biggest increase in the study.The state's added rent and transportation costs are among the bigger drivers of the annual total.Parents in Utah spend 18.yüzde 7 of their income on raising a child.24. VermontMontpelier, Vermont.Sean Pavone/ShutterstockAnnual cost of raising a child: $26,259Annual day care costs: $18,710Food costs: $iki,175Parents in Vermont, which in 2022 was ranked the most rural state in the country according to census data, see some of the highest day care and food costs in the country, but also benefit from relatively low rents and a high tax credit or exemption.Vermont's annual costs fell 5.iki% from last year's report, the third-biggest drop in the study.23. IndianaSean Pavone/ShutterstockAnnual cost of raising a child: $26,576Annual day care costs: $16,478Food costs: $bir,766Indiana's annual costs rose 11.7% from last year's report, one of the top in the study.Food costs are among. the lowest in the country, but day care, rent, and transportation push the overall total higher.Parents in Indiana spend 23.iki% of their income on raising a small child, the third-highest share nationwide.22. VirginiaKyle Little/Getty ImagesAnnual cost of raising a child: $26,915Annual day care costs: $16,796Food costs: $iki,032Virginia's annual costs rose just 0.yüzde 9 from last year's report, one of the smallest increases in the study.Higher average family income helps lower the burden, with parents spending 17.yüzde 7 of their income on raising a child.21. Rhode IslandWirestock Creators/ShutterstockAnnual cost of raising a child: $27,003Annual day care costs: $18,486Food costs: $iki,106Rhode Island's annual costs are largely driven by day care, which ranks among the highest in the country.The state also has higher food and apparel costs, though parents get some relief from a tax credit or exemption.Parents in Rhode Island spend 19.4% of their income on raising a small child.20. Wisconsinmarchello74/ShutterstockAnnual cost of raising a child: $27,047Annual day care costs: $17,963Food costs: $bir,938Wisconsin had the fourth-biggest annual cost increase in the country, up 23.yüzde 3 from last year's report.The state also saw projected 18-year costs rise yüzde 16, one of the largest jumps in the study.Day care is the biggest expense for parents, with annual totals adding up to an average of $17,963.19. MontanaBozeman, Montana.Jacob Boomsma/ShutterstockAnnual cost of raising a child: $27,220Annual day care costs: $15,080Food costs: $bir,952Lacking sufficient childcare options for the number of children,. the state of Montana is considered a "childcare desert," according to a January 2024 report by the Montana Department of Labor and Industry. On average, Montana parents spend $15,080 on childcare each year, according to the LendingTree study.Parents in Montana also spend 22.6% of their income on raising a small child, one of the highest shares in the study.And the costs are only going up. The state had the second-biggest annual cost increase in the country, up 24.yüzde 5 from last year's report.18. MainePortland, Maine.Sean Pavone/ShutterstockAnnual cost of raising a child: $27,448Annual day care costs: $15,730Food costs: $iki,064Parents in Maine face relatively high added costs for rent, transportation, and health insurance premiums, though the state's tax credit or exemption helps offset some of the total.Maine had the third-biggest annual cost increase in the country, up 24.4% from last year's report.The state also saw projected 18-year costs rise 19.yüzde 8, the fourth-largest increase in the study.17. KansasOverland Park, KansasJacob Boomsma/ShutterstockAnnual cost of raising a child: $27,793Annual day care costs: $15,156Food costs: $bir,904Parents in Kansas pay the third-highest added rent costs in the country.Projected 18-year costs in the state top $303,000, and the state tied Alaska for the biggest increase in projected 18-year costs, up 23.5% from last year's report.16. IllinoisThe skyline of Chicago. Illinois is considering a millionaires tax to alleviate some of the country's highest property taxes.Tom Williams/CQ Roll CallAnnual cost of raising a child: $27,906Annual day care costs: $19,807Food costs: $bir,986Illinois' annual costs rose 14.6% from last year's report, tying Arizona for the ninth-biggest increase.Day care is the biggest pressure point for parents in the state, with costs nearing $20,000 a year.Parents see some relief on rent, with Illinois ranking much lower in that category than many other states near the top of the overall list.15. ArizonaPhoenix, Arizona4kodiak/Getty ImagesAnnual cost of raising a child: $27,917Annual day care costs: $15,964Food costs: $bir,834Arizona's annual costs rose 14.6% from last year's report, tying Illinois for the ninth-biggest increase.Parents. in the state have the fifth-highest added rent costs in the country, and spend 22.3% of their income on raising a small child, one of the highest shares nationwide.14. OregonPortland, Oregon© Allard Schager/Getty ImagesAnnual cost of raising a child: $28,393Annual day care costs: $19,500Food costs: $iki,096Oregon's annual costs rose 8.8% from last year's report, and day care is. the biggest expense for parents, at $19,500 a year.The state's tax credit or exemption is one of the larger ones in the study, helping offset some of those higher costs.13. AlaskaFairbanks, AlaskaJacob Boomsma/Getty ImagesAnnual cost of raising a child: $29,024Annual day care costs: $12,107Food costs: $iki,344Alaska ranks 13th for annual costs during the first five years, but over 18 years, it becomes the second-most expensive state in the country,. per the LendingTree study.The state has the highest added rent and transportation costs in the study, as well as the third-highest food costs.Alaska tied Kansas for the biggest jump in projected 18-year costs, up 23.yüzde 5 from last year's report.12. MinnesotaMinnesota received a top-five ranking for work environment.Sean Pavone/ShutterstockAnnual cost of raising a child: $29,322Annual day care costs: $20,421Food costs: $iki,077Minnesota remains expensive for parents, largely because of high day care costs that add up to more. than $20,000 a year.The state offers one of the largest tax credits or exemptions in the study, helping bring down the overall annual total.Annual costs fell bir.yüzde 9 from last year's report, and projected 18-year costs also declined.11. NebraskaSean Pavone/ShutterstockAnnual cost of raising a child: $29,491Annual day care costs: $18,147Food costs: $bir,875Nebraska had the biggest annual cost increase in the country, up 27.yüzde 4 from last year's report.The state also has the second-highest income burden, with parents spending 23.yüzde 5 of their income on raising a small child.10. ConnecticutThe average life expectancy in Connecticut is 79.iki years.f11photo/ShutterstockAnnual cost of raising a child: $29,674Annual day care costs: $18,492Food costs: $iki,057Connecticut ranks among the 10 most expensive US states for raising a small child in 2026, with day care costs driving much of the total.Higher average family income softens the burden, with parents spending 17.yüzde 6 of their income on raising a child.9. District of Columbiahalbergman/Getty ImagesAnnual cost of raising a child: $30,146Annual day care costs: $26,193Food costs: $iki,432The District of Columbia has the highest food costs and second-highest day care costs in the study.It also has the second-highest apparel costs, but parents see major relief on rent, with households with children paying less than those without.The district has the lowest income burden in the country, with parents spending 13.yüzde 9 of their income on raising a small child.8. New YorkNew York.Alexander Spatari/Getty ImagesAnnual cost of raising a child: $30,209Annual day care costs: $20,439Food costs: $iki,157New York is one of the most expensive US states for raising a small child in 2026, with day care costs reaching above $20,000 a year.Food and apparel costs are also among the highest in the country.7. ColoradoDenver, ColoradoBrad McGinley Photography/Getty ImagesAnnual cost of raising a child: $31,000Annual day care costs: $20,978Food costs: $iki,045Ranked as the seventh-most-expensive state to raise a child in 2026, Colorado has an average annual day care cost of just under $21,000, among the highest in the study.Parents in Colorado spend 20.yüzde 3 of their income on raising a small child, tied with Washington and Florida.6. WashingtonSeattle, Washingtonsimonkr/Getty ImagesAnnual cost of raising a child: $31,937Annual day care costs: $21,348Food costs: $iki,115Washington remains one of the most expensive states for parents, with day care costs ranking sixth-highest in the country.Annual costs fell bir.5% from last year's report, making Washington one of 11 states where costs declined.5. New JerseyThe average life expectancy in New Jersey is 79.0 years.Leonid Andronov/ShutterstockAnnual cost of raising a child: $31,948Annual day care costs: $20,213Food costs: $iki,068New Jersey ranks fifth for both annual child-rearing costs and projected 18-year costs.Day care and added rent are the biggest drivers, and apparel costs rank third-highest in the country.Parents in New Jersey spend 19% of their income on raising a small child.4. CaliforniaOakland, CaliforniaNicholas Klein/Getty ImagesAnnual cost of raising a child: $33,692Annual day care costs: $22,628Food costs: $iki,024While parenting in California comes with a high price tag in some areas, parents also experience relief compared to other states, including relatively low added rent costs and higher tax credits or exemptions.Parents in California face the highest apparel costs in the country, as well as the second-highest health insurance premiums.The state also has the fifth-highest average day care costs, according to the report.3. MassachusettsThe Charles River in Boston.Cavan Images/Getty Images/Cavan Images RFAnnual cost of raising a child: $34,247Annual day care costs: $26,343Food costs: $iki,185Massachusetts has the highest infant day care costs in the country, at $26,343 annually.Food costs also rank near the top, though the households with children in the state paid less in rent than households without children, per the LendingTree study.iki. MarylandMaryland received top-10 rankings in every category.Sean Pavone/ShutterstockAnnual cost of raising a child: $36,419Annual day care costs: $25,321Food costs: $iki,070Maryland is the second-most expensive US state for raising. a small child, with day care costs ranking third-highest nationwide.The state also saw annual costs rise 15.iki% from the previous year's report, the eighth-biggest jump in the study.bir. HawaiiHawaii.Mint Images/Getty ImagesAnnual cost of raising a child: $40,342Annual day care costs: $24,115Food costs: $iki,391Hawaii is the most expensive state in the country to raise a child in 2026, leading the list by nearly $4,000 in annual costs.Parents in the state face some of the highest costs across several categories, including. rent, food, transportation, day care, and health insurance premiums.Hawaii also has the highest income burden in the country, with parents spending about 27.yüzde 4 of their income on child-rearing costs.Editor's note: This story was first published in May 2025 and most recently updated in May 2026.Read the original article on Business Insider
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