Cost of Raising a Child Calculator

USDA 2026 estimates — birth to age 18

What is this? This calculator uses USDA's annual "Cost of Raising a Child" report to estimate how much it costs to raise children from birth to age 18 — including housing, food, healthcare, education, and extracurriculars. It also calculates how much you need to save monthly for college.

Who it's for: Expectant parents, new parents, and families planning their budget. Also useful for life insurance needs calculations.

Your Family

Number of Children

Age of Youngest Child

Cost of Living

Annual Household Income ($)

College Funding Target ($)

Total Cost (Age 0-18)

Per Child

—

All Children

—

Annual Average

—

per child, adjusted

By Age 18 (each)

—

Remaining Years

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% of Income

—

Monthly Cost

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Annual Cost Breakdown (Per Child)

🏠 Housing—

🍽️ Food—

🚗 Transportation—

👕 Clothing—

⚕️ Healthcare—

📚 Education/Childcare—

🎯 Extracurriculars—

🎮 Miscellaneous—

Monthly 529 Savings Needed Per Child

—

to reach your $100K college goal by age 18

Life Insurance Needs

Financial advisors typically recommend 10-15× your annual income in life insurance coverage to protect your family's ability to meet future expenses.

Minimum (10×)

—

Recommended (15×)

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Recommended Tools

Life Insurance

Policygenius

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Kids Savings / 529

Betterment

Automated investing with no minimums. Set up a 529 or general savings goal for your child.

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Family Essentials

Costco

Bulk essentials, household goods, and more at warehouse prices. Great for growing families.

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FTC Disclosure: Some links above are affiliate links. We may earn a commission at no extra cost to you if you click through and make a purchase. This does not affect our editorial independence. We only recommend products we believe provide value to our readers.

Estimates based on USDA's "Expenditures on Children by Families" report. Actual costs vary by location, lifestyle, and individual circumstances. College costs assume 4-year public university, adjusted for 5% annual inflation.

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