We knew kids were expensive, but we did’t know they were that expensive! You know that moment when your kid outgrows brand-new sneakers after wearing them six times, or when a quick Target run somehow turns into $187 worth of snacks and stuff they just had to have? Yes, kids are expensive — really expensive. Just when you think you’ve got a handle on it, the numbers jump again. A 2026 analysis takes a fresh look at what it costs to raise a child in America (excluding college), and even seasoned parents might do a double-take. Costs have climbed fast — in some cases, shockingly fast. So before you read on, take a guess: What does it cost to raise a child from birth to 18 today? Lock in your number, then keep reading to see how close you come to reality. To estimate the real cost of raising a child, LendingTree focused on the amount of additional money parents spend because they have a child. The cost of raising a child through age 18 has increased again, exceeding a whopping $300,000 for the first time since LendingTree began tracking in 2023. More specifically, you can expect to spend around $303,418 to raise a child in America. On average, this works out to about $16,857 a year over 18 years, reflecting a 1.9% increase from the previous year. While this report didn’t include college, it’s worth mentioning here, since this cost is on the horizon. Data from U.S. News & World Report shows that for the 2025–2026 school year, private colleges charged an average of $44,961 in tuition and fees. So which kiddie cost skyrocketed the most? Rent was the most significant kid-related cost in 2026, with the average rent being $1,680, up 48.9% from 2025. Food also made a big jump, increasing from $3,254 in 2023 to $4,208 in 2026. What are the most expensive states to raise a child? Families in six states are projected to spend more than $300,000 raising a child over 18 years. Here is the full list of the average cost of raising a child in 2026 by state, going from highest to lowest:
