How much does one child cost

The Cost of Raising a Child

Posted by Mark Lino, Economist at the Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion in Food and Nutrition

Feb 18, 2020

Families Projected to Spend an Average of $233,610 Raising a Child Born in 2015.

USDA recently issued Expenditures on Children by Families, 2015. This report is also known as “The Cost of Raising a Child.” USDA has been tracking the cost of raising a child since 1960 and this analysis examines expenses by age of child, household income, budgetary component, and region of the country.

Based on the most recent data from the Consumer Expenditures Survey, in 2015, a family will spend approximately $12,980 annually per child in a middle-income ($59,200-$107,400), two-child, married-couple family. Middle-income, married-couple parents of a child born in 2015 may expect to spend $233,610 ($284,570 if projected inflation costs are factored in*) for food, shelter, and other necessities to raise a child through age 17. This does not include the cost of a college education.

Where does the money go? For a middle-income family, housing accounts for the largest share at 29% of total child-rearing costs. Food is second at 18%, and child care/education (for those with the expense) is third at 16%. Expenses vary depending on the age of the child.

As families often need more room to accommodate children, housing is the largest expense.

We did the analysis by household income level, age of the child, and region of residence. Not surprising, the higher a family’s income the more was spent on a child, particularly for child care/education and miscellaneous expenses.

Expenses also increase as a child ages. Overall annual expenses averaged about $300 less for children from birth to 2 years old, and averaged $900 more for teenagers between 15-17 years of age. Teenagers have higher food costs as well as higher transportation costs as these are the years they start to drive so insurance is included or a maybe a second car is purchased for them.

Regional variation was also observed. Families in the urban Northeast spent the most on a child, followed by families in the urban West, urban South, and urban Midwest. Families in rural areas throughout the country spent the least on a child—child-rearing expenses were 27% lower in rural areas than the urban Northeast, primarily due to lower housing and child care/education expenses.

Child-rearing expenses are subject to economies of scale. That is, with each additional child, expenses on each declines. For married-couple families with one child, expenses averaged 27% more per child than expenses in a two-child family. For families with three or more children, per child expenses averaged 24% less on each child than on a child in a two-child family. This is sometimes referred to as the “cheaper by the dozen” effect. Each additional child costs less because children can share a bedroom; a family can buy food in larger, more economical quantities; clothing and toys can be handed down; and older children can often babysit younger ones.

Food costs have decreased over the years thanks to increased efficiency in American agriculture.

This report is one of many ways that USDA works to support American families through our programs and work. It outlines typical spending by families from across the country, and is used in a number of ways to help support and education American families. Courts and state governments use this data to inform their decisions about child support guidelines and foster care payments. Financial planners use the information to provide advice to their clients, and families can access our Cost of Raising a Child calculator, which we update with every report on our website, to look at spending patterns for families similar to theirs. This Calculator is one of many tools available on MyMoney. gov, a government research and data clearinghouse related to financial education.

This year we released the report at a time when families are thinking about their plans for the New Year. We’ve been focusing on nutrition-related New Year’s resolutions – or what we are referring to as Real Solutions - on our MyPlate website, ChooseMyPlate.gov. This report and the updated calculator can help families as they focus on financial health resolutions. This report will provide families with a greater awareness of the expenses they are likely to face while raising children.

In addition to the report and the calculator, we also have a dedicated section on ChooseMyPlate.gov that provides tips and tools to aid families and individuals in making healthy choices while staying on a budget. For strategies beyond food, our friends at MyMoney.gov offer a wealth of information to help Americans plan for their financial future.

For more information on the Annual Report on Expenditures on Children by Families, also known as the cost of raising a child, go to: www. fns.usda.gov/resource/expenditures-children-families-reports-all-years.

*Projected inflationary costs are estimated to average 2.2 percent per year. This estimate is calculated by averaging the rate of inflation over the past 20 years.

Editor’s Note (March 8, 2017): The comparison of rural vs. urban northeast child care and education value has been updated.

Visit the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s MyMoney.gov for more resources to ensure financial well-being this New Year’s season!

Category/Topic: Food and Nutrition

Tags: children choosemyplate. gov CNPP Cost of Raising a Child economics Expenditures on Children by Families Food and Nutrition mymoney.gov MyPlate Research

How Much Does It Cost to Raise a Child in the U.S.?

Raising a child can be an emotionally rewarding experience. But it can also be very costly. Statistics from the Brookings Institution, an economic think tank, show that the average middle-income family with two children will spend $310,605 to raise a child born in 2015 up to age 17. That’s a significant jump from the figure published by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), which estimated the overall cost to be $233,610 in 2017 (using 2015 dollars).

Brookings, which cited higher inflation for the rise, assumed an inflation rate of 4% from 2021 to 2032 when it calculated the new cost of raising a child.

If starting a family is in your plans, or if you already have kids, understanding the costs can make shaping your financial plan easier. We highlight some of the key costs associated with raising children, including housing (the top cost), food, childcare, and others.

Key Takeaways

Middle-income parents will spend an average of $310,605 by the time a child born in 2015 turns 17 years old in 2032.
The largest expense associated with raising a child is housing, followed by food.
The cost of childcare varies widely and depends on where you live.
The good news is that each additional child costs less, thanks to economies of scale.
The cost of raising a child doesn’t include costs associated with education.

Housing: 32% of Income

The largest expense associated with the cost of raising children is housing. This can easily make up a sizable chunk of a parent’s budget, especially when you factor in mortgage or rent payments, taxes, insurance, repairs, utilities, maintenance, and basic household goods.

According to Consumer Expenditures Data for 2020, the typical household spends a mean amount of $21,409.19 on housing per year. Meanwhile, U.S. Census Bureau data shows that the median household income in the United States was $67,521 in 2020. Going by these numbers, you could assume that families with children spend roughly 32% of their income on housing.

These numbers offer a broad idea of how much families pay for housing. However, it’s important to keep in mind that housing costs can vary based on a number of factors, including:

Geographic area
Type of dwelling (single-family home, townhouse, condominium, etc.)
Whether the family rents or owns their home
Size of the home as it corresponds to family size (i.e., number of bedrooms required based on the number of children and adults)
Age of the home

Economic conditions can also influence the cost of housing for families. When housing prices rise, that can make it more expensive for families to purchase a home. Likewise, rising inflation can push up rental prices along with increased prices for other consumer goods.

Housing assistance programs can help by providing money to supplement the cost of rent for eligible lower-income families.

Food: 27% of Income

Sustenance tends to be the next major cost for parents. The amount that a family spends varies. It is based on the number of children in the home, household income, geographic region, and preferred diet.

The USDA offers some perspective on how much families may spend on food. Each month, the USDA issues monthly reports on food costs at four different levels: thrifty, low-cost, moderate-cost, and liberal. These reports consider different household sizes with children of different ages. The reference family consists of a male and a female adult ages 19 to 50 and two children in the 6- to 8-year-old range and the 9- to 11-year-old range.

Here’s how the average food spending numbers for the reference family add up on a monthly basis, as of July 2022:

Thrifty plan: $951. 70
Low-cost plan: $1,025.90
Moderate plan: $1,276.90
Liberal plan: $1,543.40

At the low end, a typical family of four spends about $11,500 per year on food at home. At the high end, they spend more than $18,500 per year on food. That’s around 27% of their income if you’re going by the median household income of $67,521 mentioned earlier.

Spending money on food away from home, including dine-in meals at restaurants, takeout meals, and snacks purchased at convenience stores, can inflate food costs for families.

Childcare: 12% to 29% of Income

Childcare costs can easily take up a sizable part of parents’ budgets each year. The cost of childcare in the U.S. ranges from $5,436 to $24,243 annually, according to 2020 figures from the Economic Policy Institute. How much you pay for childcare can depend on the type of care needed, the number of children who require care, and where your family lives.

For instance, Washington, D.C., residents pay the most. Infant care costs $24,243 annually, which represents about 29% of the median family income for parents in the area. Meanwhile, parents in Mississippi pay the least. Annual childcare amounts to $5,436 for an infant and $4,784 for a 4-year-old in that state. That represents roughly 12% of the median family income for the state.

Day care centers may give a discount if you have more than one child enrolled.

What Else Do Families Spend Money on?

Aside from housing, food, childcare and education, there are other costs associated with raising children that are important to budget for. Some of the most common things that parents may pay for to raise kids include:

Transportation
Healthcare and insurance
Clothing
Extracurricular activities
Sports and hobbies
School fees for field trips, activities, fundraisers, etc.
Family trips or vacations

Some of these items could be considered necessary, while others may be wants. How much you spend on these things (if you do at all) can depend on the number of kids you have and what your budget allows. It’s important, though, to consider each and every budget item when determining your personal cost of raising children.

$310,605

The total cost to raise a child born in 2015 to age 17 after you factor in an inflation rate of 4%.

The Good and Bad News

There is some good news when it comes to the cost of raising a child in America. Economies of scale also apply to the number of children you have. The USDA points out that each additional child costs less because siblings can share a bedroom and a family can buy food in larger, more cost-effective quantities. And while your offspring might not necessarily like it, clothing and toys can be handed down, and older siblings can often babysit younger ones.

Now for the bad news: The numbers we mentioned above don’t account for the cost of a college education. Higher education can add to the total for parents who help pay for their children’s college costs. How much you pay for college can depend on whether your child:

Attends a two- or four-year school
Goes to a public or private university
Is charged in-state or out-of-state tuition rates (at public universities)

The average annual cost (in-state) for the 2021–2022 academic year comes in at $22,690 for a public college and $51,690 for a private college, according to the College Board. Keep in mind that these figures include the cost of tuition, fees, and room and board. That means saving early and taking advantage of 529 plans or other investment vehicles to keep kids from graduating with a large amount of debt.

Strategies to Reduce Costs When Having a Child

Raising a child can be an emotional roller coaster. Ask any parent, and they’ll probably tell you that there are ups and downs. We understand that the costs associated with the responsibilities of being a parent and raising a child can be draining. So we’ve highlighted a list of tips that you may want to consider to help you reduce your expenses:

Plan ahead. It’s important to have a good plan in place. This principle is very important with anything you do that costs you money. If you want to have a child and/or are expecting, it’s important to get your affairs in order sooner rather than later. Good planning can keep you one step ahead of the game.
Set aside money for your child. Save money in an account meant just for your child in the same way you would for a rainy day, a major purchase, or retirement. It could be a savings account or a long-term investment vehicle. Dip into this fund if and only when the need arises for expenses related to your child. You should also take advantage of special accounts like 529 plans.
Look for parent-friendly tax credits and deductions that can reduce your tax liability or help you get some money back, like the Child Tax Credit.
Less is often more. Using some restraint can help you cut down costs, especially in the beginning. After all, babies don’t need much other than food, clothing, and a place to sleep.
Think about the must-haves for your kids rather than the needs. You can probably do without anything that falls into the latter category. Ask yourself whether your 12-year-old really needs the latest gaming console when the last one works perfectly fine.
Think sustainably. Consider recycling and secondhand. Consider reaching out to family and friends about any clothing that they’re no longer using. Use cloth diapers rather than disposable ones. This will not only help you save money but also can help you reduce your carbon footprint.

What is the average cost of raising a child in the United States?

While it can vary due to geography and the cost of childcare, $310,605 is the average amount spent on raising a child born in 2015 to age 17. This amount does not include the cost of paying for higher education, which can easily add $80,000 to $100,000+ per child to the total.

How do the expenses of child rearing break down?

Housing is the biggest expense associated with raising kids, followed by paying for food. Following those two categories of expenses, parents spend the most on childcare, transportation, healthcare, clothing, and miscellaneous spending.

What are the major costs of raising a child in the U.S.?

The major cost of raising a child is housing. This is followed by food. However, some of the other key expenses that most parents don’t think about right off the bat include education.

How can I reduce the costs of raising my children?

Some of the best ways to reduce the costs of raising a child or children include proper planning and saving exclusively for the little ones. Other tips include looking for parent-friendly tax benefits and keeping a less-is-more attitude in mind. Parents can also keep a check on their budgets by recycling and using secondhand clothing. And of course, try to do away with the wants and stick with the must-haves, as the former are often dispensable.

Which state has the lowest childcare costs?

According to the Economic Policy Institute, the state with the lowest childcare costs is Mississippi. Parents pay an average of $5,436 for an infant and $4,784 for a 4-year-old in childcare each year.

The Bottom Line

Nobody wants to think of their children as just an expense, but the financial side of child rearing can’t be ignored. Understanding the numbers can help you determine if you can afford to have children if you don’t have them yet. And if you already have kids, being cost-conscious can help you to make smarter financial decisions so that you can stretch every dollar.

How much does a child cost in Germany? – DW – 12/17/2018

Photo: picture-alliance/A. Gora

Culture

Efim Schumann

December 17, 2018

Accurate to a cent of statistics, we calculated how much children, babies and adults, cost German parents. Let's just say it's not cheap. It would be difficult without help.

https://p.dw.com/p/39xmR

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Infant, counting the cost of a stroller, baby cot, diapers and so on costs parents in Germany an average of 520 euros every month. And the older the son or daughter, the more you have to spend on them. Although they already do without a stroller and diapers, clothes and shoes are more expensive, they need a computer, a game console, a music center, a mobile phone ... Yes, and pocket money must be given to the offspring. So in adolescence (from 12 to 18 years old), Germans already spend about 700 euros per month per child.

State allowances for children

True, they help parents. The financial assistance that residents of Germany receive for children (and not only Germans, but also citizens of other countries living in Germany) can be divided into three types. First, it is the so-called "children's money" (Kindergeld). This is, in principle, compensation - of course, partial - to parents for raising children and spending money on them. For the first and second child, the state pays 194 euros per month, for the third - 200 euros, for the fourth and so on - 225 euros. Starting from the new year, these amounts increase by another 10 euros per month.

"Children's money" is paid until the children come of age, that is, up to 18 years. But if the child is unemployed, then up to 21 years. And if he continues his studies after school (regardless of where exactly: at a university, secondary school or vocational school), then until his 25th birthday.

Do German parents really spend this money on their children and not on themselves? After all, no one controls it. But various sociological studies (and not only surveys) show that the vast majority of Germans buy clothes, shoes, toys for a child with "children's money", pay for his sports, study at a music school, and so on.

Baby care

Another government benefit is the so-called parental money (Elterngeld). They are received, regardless of paid maternity leave, by those parents who sit after birth with a child (by their choice - mother or father) and, therefore, cannot work. "Parent's money", which would be more correct to call the allowance for the care of an infant, is paid during the year. Or, if both parents take turns taking vacations, and not just one, two months longer. Incidentally, in Germany almost a third of fathers take time off to look after their newborn.

The amount of the "parental" allowance depends on how much the parents earned before the birth of the child. Those who earned a lot receive 65 percent of their previous earnings (net) as "parental money", and fathers and mothers with low earnings receive up to 100 percent. The lower limit is 300 euros per month. So much is due to those who did not work at all before the birth of a child: the unemployed, students, recipients of social assistance for the poor ... Well, the maximum amount of benefits is 1,800 euros per month. If the parents, in addition to the newborn, also have other small children, a supplement is paid.

Photo: picture-alliance/A. Gora

These two allowances - "children" and "parents" - are state. But there are others that can be attributed to the third type of payments for children in Germany. A special "family allowance" (Familienzuschlag) is received by government officials, members of the Bundeswehr and judges who have minor children. The amount of the allowance depends on which department or institution they work for. The minimum "family allowance" is 100-140 euros per month for the first and second child, for the third - from 280 to 355 euros. It is paid, like the state "children's money", until the child reaches the age of majority or, if he is studying, until his 25th birthday.

Benefits, subsidies, taxes

Special mention should be made of the many material benefits that families with children are entitled to in Germany. Here are just a few examples. Children can be insured together with their parents at the health insurance fund, and then the health insurance for them is free. Parents with children receive great benefits when building their own house or buying an apartment. "Children's money for the construction and purchase of real estate" (Baukindergeld) is up to 12 thousand euros. Families with low incomes receive subsidies for renting an apartment. The presence of children is also taken into account when calculating unemployment benefits and social benefits for the poor. Well, the listing of various tax benefits, which also turn into "live" money for parents, would take up too much space.

However, all this, of course, does not mean that a child in Germany costs nothing to parents. Until he comes of age, he costs more than 130 thousand euros. With this money you can buy a two-room apartment or even a small house in the village. More precisely: one could...

See also:

How children are vaccinated in Germany0005

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How to apply for escort for children and teenagers from 5 to 16 years old

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Who can apply for escort
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On direct non-stop Utair flights, you can order the service of transportation of children and teenagers under the supervision of the airline.

Who can apply for accompaniment

Children from 5 to 12 years old who fly unaccompanied by an adult passenger are required.
Adolescents from 12 to 16 years old - at the request of the parents.

Children under 5 years of age are not provided with the service of transportation of children under the supervision of the airline.

On which flights the service cannot be ordered

— on flights with transfers at Vnukovo airport;
- on charter flights;
- on codeshare flights with other airlines, where Utair is a marketing partner. The service can only be ordered on flights where Utair is the operator and provides the aircraft.

Transportation of unaccompanied disabled children is not carried out by the airline.

Conditions of carriage

We carry unaccompanied minors if:
— there is a prior consent of the airline for carriage;
- there is a confirmed booking on the transportation route;
- the child will be met at the airport of destination;
- you paid for the transportation in accordance with the current rules and tariffs;
- You have completed a Notice of Special Treatment.

In the screening and boarding area, the child is under the control of the responsible Utair officer. Parents, guardians or accompanying children do not enter this area, but must not leave the airport before the flight has departed.

Who fills out the "Notice of Special Treatment"

The notice is filled out by parents, adoptive parents, guardians or trustees in the presence of a Utair representative, and in the absence of an airline representative office at the airport, in the presence of a transportation service agent. If necessary, it can be filled immediately for the return flight.

Another person may complete the notice only if they have a notarized power of attorney to send the child by air under the supervision of a responsible Utair officer. It is issued by parents, adoptive parents, guardians or trustees.

An example of a power of attorney to send a child.

Restrictions on Utair flights

The ability to transport unaccompanied children is limited by the type of aircraft:

for Boeing aircraft - three children;
for ATR aircraft - one child.

Issuing and paying for a ticket

You can issue a ticket with an escort service:

in the Utair support chat. Help in the chat at the bottom of the page. In the chat menu, select "Children / Unaccompanied Child / Pregnant Women" → "Airline Unaccompanied Child Service" → "Buy Ticket with Unaccompanied Child Service".
at the ticket office.

The ticket is issued taking into account children's discounts. Above the fare, a service fee is charged, it is:
- 3,800 ₽ for each segment of transportation on direct flights through the territory of the Russian Federation;
- $65 for each segment of carriage on an international flight.

Registration

Advance seat selection and online registration are not available for unaccompanied children. Such passengers are assigned seats at the airport during check-in for the flight.

At the airport

The parent, adoptive parent, guardian, guardian or person authorized to send the child arrives at the airport with the child. Before departure, at the Utair representative office (in the absence of a representative office in the transportation service), he fills out and signs the necessary documents, then transfers the child to the representative of the airline / transportation service agent. The representative/agent of the transportation service of the airline is personally responsible for the child until it is handed over to the responsible flight attendant.