April 7, 2026 / 4:33 PM EDT / CBS News
Raising a child through age 18 now carries an estimated price tag of $303,418, LendingTree says, the first time their analysis has topped $300,000. That works out to about $16,857 per year and is roughly 2% higher than a year earlier.
The estimate models typical expenses for a couple earning the U.S. median family income (about $100,000) and accounts for tax offsets. It does not include college costs; with the average U.S. college expense near $38,000 per year, higher education could add roughly $152,000 to the total.
A CBS News poll in February found 77% of respondents believe it’s harder to raise a family today than for previous generations. Earlier LendingTree research also showed many parents are financially strained, with some going into debt to cover child care and other child-related costs.
“The cost of raising a child for 18 years has climbed to more than $300,000, and that steady rise puts tremendous strain on Americans’ budgets,” said Matt Schulz, LendingTree’s chief consumer finance analyst.
Costs vary widely by location. LendingTree reported Alaska, Kansas and Montana saw increases of more than 20% year over year, while Hawaii is the most expensive state, at an estimated $412,661 to raise a child in 2026.
Some child-related costs have moderated. Infant child care is projected to cost $17,264 in 2026, about $572 less than the prior year. LendingTree estimates the average annual cost to raise a child in the first five years is $29,325, a 0.3% decline.
By comparison, the median household income in 2024 was $83,730, and the cost of raising a child now approaches the U.S. median home sales price of $356,000 (Zillow, Jan. 31).
LendingTree’s analysis drew on 2024 data from the U.S. Census Bureau, Bureau of Labor Statistics and other government, nonprofit and academic sources.
Edited by Aimee Picchi
In: Child Care; Affordable Housing