Summary
In the United States, the cost of raising a child varies a lot by state, with some places being much more expensive than others. New research from LendingTree shows Hawaii as the most expensive state for raising a child, while Mississippi is the least expensive state.
Key Facts
- Raising a child in Hawaii in 2024 costs about $40,342 annually.
- Mississippi is the cheapest state to raise a child, costing $17,148 per year.
- Overall, raising a child to age 18 costs over $300,000 on average in the U.S.
- Researchers used data from the U.S. Census Bureau and other official sources for the study.
- Maryland and Massachusetts are among the top expensive states, costing $36,419 and $34,247 annually.
- Alabama and South Dakota are cheap, costing $18,019 and $18,622 respectively.
- The differences in cost influence family decisions on location and child care plans.
- The study uses data on rent, food, day care, clothing, transportation, and insurance to calculate costs.
