Cost of raising a child grows to more than $233K
STAR-ADVERTISER / DEC. 2011
Star of the Sea Early Learning Center students hosted their annual Christmas pageant held at the Star of the Sea Church. Preschool boys sang during their Christmas performance. The Department of Agriculture says the estimated cost of raising a child from birth through age 17 is $233,610, or as much as almost $14,000 annually.
WASHINGTON >> Expecting a baby? Congratulations! Better put plenty of money in your savings account.
The Department of Agriculture says the estimated cost of raising a child from birth through age 17 is $233,610, or as much as almost $14,000 annually. That’s the average for a middle-income couple with two children. It’s a bit more expensive in urban parts of the country, and less so in rural areas.
The estimate released Monday is based on 2015 numbers, so a baby born this year is likely to cost even more. It’s a 3 percent increase from the prior year, a hike higher than inflation.
Since 1960, USDA has compiled the annual report to inform — and probably terrify — budget-preparing parents. State governments and courts also use the information to write child support and foster care guidelines. The main costs include housing, food, transportation, health care, education, clothing and other miscellaneous expenses.
Things to know about how much it costs to raise a child:
HOUSING IS EXPENSIVE
Up to a third of the total cost is housing, accounting for 26 to 33 percent of the total expense of raising a child. USDA comes up with those numbers by calculating the average cost of an additional bedroom — an approach the department says is probably conservative, because it doesn’t account for those families who pay more to live in communities that have better schools or other amenities for children.
URBAN VS. RURAL DIFFERENCES
The cost of raising a child varies in different regions of the country. Overall, middle-income, married-couple families in the urban Northeast spent the most ($253,770), followed by those in the urban West ($235,140) and urban South ($221,730). Those in the urban Midwest spent less ($217,020), along with those in rural areas ($193,020).
USDA estimates the annual housing cost per child in urban areas is $3,900, while it’s $2,400 in rural areas.
There were also differences depending on income. Lower-income families are expected to spend around $174,690 per child from birth through 17; higher-income families will spend a whopping $372,210.
The average middle-income family earns between $59,200 and $107,400 before taxes.
CHILD CARE COSTS HAVE RISEN
After housing, child care, education and food are the highest costs for families. For a middle-income couple with two children, food costs make up about 18 percent of the cost of raising a child. Child care and education costs make up 16 percent.
Education costs have sharply risen since 1960, when USDA estimated that those expenses were around 2 percent of child-rearing expenses. The report says this growth is likely due to the increased number of women in the workforce, prompting the need for more child care.
The numbers don’t even include the annual cost of college, which the government estimates is $45,370 for a private college and $20,090 for a public college.
OLDER KIDS ARE MORE EXPENSIVE
New parents may flinch at the costs of diapers and baby gear, but it’s going to get worse. While a child costs around $12,680 when he or she is between 0 and 2, a teenager between 15 and 17 costs around $13,900 annually.
USDA says food, transportation, clothing and health care expenses all grow as a child ages. Transportation costs are highest for the oldest children, perhaps because they start driving, and child care and education costs are highest for six and under.
MORE KIDS, LOWER COSTS
There is some good news for big families. Families with three or more children spend an average of 24 percent less per child. USDA says that’s because children often share bedrooms in bigger families, clothing and toys are handed down and food can be purchased in larger and more economical packages. Also, private schools and child care providers may offer sibling discounts.
In contrast, one-child households spend an average of 27 percent more on the single child.
15 responses to “Cost of raising a child grows to more than $233K”
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B.S. As soon as they pop out immediately give them Mexican names like “Jesus Pedro Sanchez” or “Maria Jauanita Gonzalez” and immediately fill out the government assistance forms and apply for Section 8 housing, Obamacare and food stamps. You MUST omit filling in the SSN section to qualify! Guaranteed to get 100% free everything including college at tax payers expense. Works for 40+ million illegals from Mexico you might as well join them! It the “D” socialist way to play! You want it then you go get it!
You are speaking from experience right? Your parents set you up just like this right?
Just telling the public about the ways to play the socialist game you and your devout “D” party tell illegals to play. I really do wish my parents would have known about the scam. Why you so angry and bitter? Don’t like the game, then stop voting “D” you bigot.
Seems like you’re the one who’s angry, bitter and a bigot. From your two posts….just sayin…
I’m afraid you got it. Angry and bitter are spot on and that worries me because I’ve seen dragon write some pretty perceptive things in the past.
You certainly do have a point, however, there needs to be some toning down a bit as there are numerous Americans AND immigrants that have an ethical and moral stance that would keep them away from the freebies.
Sometimes pride replaces need and there are many people who feel this way.
badcard36, keep collecting that welfare check you illegal! You’re bitter that I speak the truth and tell it like it is.
Just for those of you that are not aware, localguy is the one with the grudge, he’s a government union employee. It’s his job to issue out free money to illegals as part of his actual job duties while also sucking on the public teat!
My comment came of as I’m the one that’s bitter but I’m not. I’m just spreading the facts to anyone that wants to suck the welfare program dry since my tax dollars are already going to waste and not to real US citizens that try to make ends meet. The Dems refuse to deport 40+ million illegals and revoke fake citizenship of anchor babies born to illegals and my tax dollars are going to support them, well, you know what, take a hike if you don’t like it and it’s time to let all the citizens in on the secret to milking “D” socialist freebies.
dragoninwater is unfortunately correct on these points. But it’s not only immigrants, but legal citizens that are a drain on the rest of us taxpayers. Fact: half of the Black girls in intercity New York alone have had babies in their teenage years and continue to do so. Guess who pays for their upbringing. I’m sure Chicago, Philadelphia, Boston, LA are right there in these stats.
This is what my Dad used to complain about all the time.
Only $233K? My kid cost a lot more than that. (When he was 7 we made a deal. I told him that I would support his endeavors without question. In return, he owes me a BMW K 1300 S motorcycle and a cottage on the west coast of Ireland. He agreed. I’m still waiting.
Don’t worry, the cost will continue to rise as years go by said Captain Obvious.
These numbers are inflated. Are the various government prpgrams and assistance factored in as well as the various tax advantages?
If you live in the aina, it is probably deflated.
GONEGOLFIN, agree. Housing and childcare in Hawaii skews the budget. If young people knew what the cost of a trophy baby costs, they wouldn’t have them until they could afford them.