Cost of Raising a Child Calculator
Updated on 22 Oct 2026 · Checked by Aotob
Raising a child to 18 would cost about $421,460.
$1,500 a month today, rising 3% a year with prices.
Cost to 18
$421,460
Childcare is the biggest cost in the early years and drops once school starts, while food, activities and housing grow. Child benefits, tax credits and free childcare hours where you live can cut the total.
Show the working
1,500 × 12 = 18,000 a year, rising 3% a year for 18 years = 421,460
By item over the years
| Item | A month | Total |
|---|---|---|
| Food | 250 | 70,243 |
| Clothes and shoes | 80 | 22,478 |
| Childcare and school | 600 | 168,584 |
| Extra housing and bills | 300 | 84,292 |
| Activities, toys, holidays | 150 | 42,146 |
| Health, transport, other | 120 | 33,717 |
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to raise a child?
US estimates run around $300,000 to $330,000 to age 17 for a middle-income family; UK estimates are around £160,000 to £230,000 to 18. Childcare is the biggest variable.
When is it most expensive?
Before school, if you pay for full-time childcare, and again in the teenage years.
What help is there?
Child benefit or allowances, tax credits, free childcare hours and dependent care accounts, depending on where you live.
Updated 22 Oct 2026Source: Published government rules and typical costs, checked October 2026Checked by AotobYour own estimates; averages vary widely.Report an issue