How Much Does It Really Cost to Raise a Kid?

HOW MUCH DOES IT COST TO RAISE A KID? Sources: Article Base, USDA, CostHelper, Ask.com TOTAL EXPENSES PER CHILD, BY AGE, WITH CATERGORIZED SPENDING PERCENTAGES (2009) $11,700 $11,730 $11,650 $12,420 $13,090 $13,530 100% Miscellaneous Child care & education 80% Health care Clothing 60% Transportation 40% Food 20% Housing 0% 0-2 3-5 6-8 9-11 12-14 15-17 * U.S. average for the younger child in middle-income, two parent families with two children. FAMILY EXPENDITURES ON A CHILD, BY SINGLE AND TWO PARENT HOUSEHOLDS, *2009 EXPENDITURES ON A CHILD FROM BIRTH THROUGH AGE 17. TOTAL EXPENSES FAMILY EXPENDITURES ON A CHILD, BY REGION AND AGE OF CHILD 2009* AND BUDGET PERCENTAGES, 1960 VERSUS 2009* 1960 2009 $20,000 Miscellaneous 12% Miscellaneous 9% Housing 31% Child care & education Child care & education. 17% $17,500 Housing 31% Urban Northeast Health care 4% $15,000 Urban West Urban Midwest Clothing 11% $12,500 Urban South Health care 8% Rural $10,000 SINGLE PARENT HUSBAND/WIFE Clothing 6% $149,760 $160,410 Food 24% Food 16% $7,500 Transportation 16% Transportation 13% $5,000 9mos. -2yrs 3-5 6-8 9-11 12-14 15-17 Total = $182,857 (in 2009 Dollars) Total = $222,360 • U.S. average for a child in middle-income, two parent families • U.S. average for the younger child in two child families with before-tax below $56,670 • Regional average for the younger child in middle-income, two parent families with two children.