Cost of Raising a Child in the Largest U.S. Metros

Understanding the costs associated with raising a child is essential, not only for personal financial planning but also for shaping public policies that support family well-being. On average, it costs $25,181 per year to raise a child in a large U.S. metro. But the costs for childcare, additional housing, food, medical necessities and other expenses vary widely, with the total price tag adding up much higher in some places.

To determine the costs of raising a child, SmartAsset examined cost of living data across 50 of the largest U.S. metro areas, ranking them from most to least expensive.

Key Findings

It costs nearly $38,000 per year to raise a child in the Boston area. The Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA is most expensive studywide at $37,758 per year. An estimated $22,806 goes to childcare each year, with the second-most expensive line item being additional housing needs coming in at $5,425.
Childcare costs are highest in Washington, DC. DC parents shell out an average of $24,886 per year in childcare costs. DC ranks third overall, behind Boston and San Francisco, for the total expenses involved with raising a child at $35,554
Raising a child costs less than $18,000 per year in New Orleans. The New Orleans-Metairie is least expensive to raise a child of the fifty largest metro areas. This is in part thanks to the lowest annual childcare costs at $7,857.
California metro areas are most expensive to house a child. For additional housing, the San Diego metro is most expensive at an $7,056 per year for a single child. Other California metros also rank among the top 10 most expensive additional housing costs for a child, including Los Angeles ($6,197), San Francisco ($5,924), San Jose ($5,352), Sacramento ($4,972) and Riverside ($4,813).

Top 10 Metro Areas Where Raising a Child Is Most Expensive

Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA

Total annual cost of raising a child: $37,758
Food: $2,221
Childcare: $22,806
Medical: $2,414
Housing: $5,425
Transportation: $3,022
Civic: $1,372
Other: $499

San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA

Total annual cost of raising a child: $35,642
Food: $2,353
Childcare: $19,554
Medical: $2,777
Housing: $5,924
Transportation: $3,119
Civic: $1,380
Other: $535

Washington, DC

Total annual cost of raising a child: $35,554
Food: $2,396
Childcare: $24,886
Medical: $2,165
Housing: $2,762
Transportation: $1,919
Civic: $985
Other: $441

San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA

Total annual cost of raising a child: $34,415
Food: $2,229
Childcare: $18,867
Medical: $2,603
Housing: $5,352
Transportation: $3,450
Civic: $1,380
Other: $535

Hartford-East Hartford-Middletown, CT

Total annual cost of raising a child: $32,135
Food: $2,090
Childcare: $19,152
Medical: $1,994
Housing: $4,065
Transportation: $2,964
Civic: $1,372
Other: $499

Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO

Total annual cost of raising a child: $31,663
Food: $2,062
Childcare: $18,250
Medical: $2,176
Housing: $4,415
Transportation: $2,845
Civic: $1,380
Other: $535

San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA

Total annual cost of raising a child: $30,829
Food: $1,997
Childcare: $14,542
Medical: $2,080
Housing: $7,056
Transportation: $3,239
Civic: $1,380
Other: $535

Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA

Total annual cost of raising a child: $30,781
Food: $2,205
Childcare: $17,935
Medical: $1,281
Housing: $4,558
Transportation: $2,887
Civic: $1,380
Other: $535

New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY

Total annual cost of raising a child: $30,463
Food: $2,188
Childcare: $17,475
Medical: $2,565
Housing: $3,983
Transportation: $2,380
Civic: $1,372
Other: $499

Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA

Total annual cost of raising a child: $30,231
Food: $1,975
Childcare: $15,090
Medical: $2,092
Housing: $6,197
Transportation: $2,960
Civic: $1,380
Other: $535

Top 10 Metro Areas Where Raising a Child Is Most Affordable

New Orleans-Metairie, LA

Total annual cost of raising a child: $17,887
Food: $1,978
Childcare: $7,857
Medical: $1,227
Housing: $2,571
Transportation: $2,829
Civic: $985
Other: $441

Memphis, TN

Total annual cost of raising a child: $18,677
Food: $1,893
Childcare: $8,320
Medical: $2,142
Housing: $1,857
Transportation: $3,039
Civic: $985
Other: $441

Louisville/Jefferson County, KY

Total annual cost of raising a child: $19,830
Food: $1,784
Childcare: $8,786
Medical: $1,884
Housing: $2,678
Transportation: $3,197
Civic: $1,055
Other: $445

St. Louis city, Missouri

Total annual cost of raising a child: $19,858
Food: $2,083
Childcare: $9,727
Medical: $1,337
Housing: $2,564
Transportation: $2,371
Civic: $1,315
Other: $462

Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL

Total annual cost of raising a child: $20,173
Food: $2,008
Childcare: $9,103
Medical: $2,081
Housing: $2,641
Transportation: $2,913
Civic: $985
Other: $441

Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN

Total annual cost of raising a child: $20,412
Food: $2,022
Childcare: $9,061
Medical: $2,391
Housing: $2,224
Transportation: $3,288
Civic: $985
Other: $441

Oklahoma City, OK

Total annual cost of raising a child: $20,460
Food: $1,869
Childcare: $9,793
Medical: $1,593
Housing: $2,476
Transportation: $3,304
Civic: $985
Other: $441

Kansas City, MO

Total annual cost of raising a child: $20,661
Food: $1,993
Childcare: $10,454
Medical: $1,361
Housing: $1,933
Transportation: $3,143
Civic: $1,315
Other: $462

Birmingham-Hoover, AL

Total annual cost of raising a child: $20,754
Food: $1,983
Childcare: $10,664
Medical: $1,918
Housing: $1,656
Transportation: $3,106
Civic: $985
Other: $441

San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX

Total annual cost of raising a child: $21,014
Food: $1,635
Childcare: $9,632
Medical: $2,084
Housing: $3,132
Transportation: $3,106
Civic: $985
Other: $441

Data and Methodology

SmartAsset used MIT Living Wage Calculator data to compare the living costs of a household with two working adults and one child to that of a childless household with two working adults in 50 of the largest metro areas. The data is as of February 2024. Costs include additions for food, housing, childcare, healthcare, transportation and other necessities.

Cost of Raising a Child in the Largest U.S. Metros – 2024 Study