Ad-free. Influence-free. Powered by consumers.
Skip to Main ContentThe payment for your account couldn't be processed or you've canceled your account with us.
Re-activateHow much does it cost to raise a child to age 17? Depending on household income, anywhere from $205,960 to $475,680 for a child born in 2009. These figures come from a US Department of Agriculture report released this month. Expenses include housing, food, transportation, clothing, health care, child care, education, and miscellaneous goods and services (i.e. toothbrushes, haircuts, videogames, comic books… the list goes on).
The USDA has been publishing these child-rearing cost estimates since 1960, when families spent an average of $25,229 (that's $182,857 in 2009 dollars) on a child from birth through age 17. In 2009, that number is $222,360. Housing is still the biggest expense. Food and clothing cost less, but health care has doubled. Childcare/education expenses leaped from 2 percent of total expenditures in 1960 to 17 percent in 2009.
The USDA's figures include only direct parental expenditures. Not included: college costs and other money spent on kids over age 17. Prenatal health care and life insurance on parents are not part of the calculations; neither are gifts from grandparents, friends and family, or government expenditures including public education, Medicaid and subsidized school meals. Also, the time costs of raising children as well as missed earnings and career opportunities don't figure into these totals—and these can be considerable.
Learn more in the full Money blog post.
Build & Buy Car Buying Service
Save thousands off MSRP with upfront dealer pricing information and a transparent car buying experience.
Get Ratings on the go and compare
while you shop
