How much does it cost to raise a child in 2026?

k9bmkDEC@?8mw@H >F49 5@6D :E 4@DE E@ C2:D6 2 49:=5 :? a_aenk^DEC@?8mk^9bm

kAmtG6CJ 72== 3C:?8D E96 D2>6 C9JE9>i ?6H 324<A24<D[ 7:CDE\52J\@7\D49@@= A9@E@D[ 2?5 2 7C6D9 C@F?5 @7 6IA6?D6D E92E D66> E@ 8C@H 2 =:EE=6 >@C6 6249 J62C] (96E96C :EVD A24<:?8 =F?496D 7@C 2 <:?56C82CE?6C[ HC:E:?8 EF:E:@? 4964<D 7@C 2 4@==686 7C6D9>2?[ @C D@>6H96C6 :? 36EH66?[ E96 4@DE @7 C2:D:?8 2 49:=5 :? E96 &]$] 92D C624965 2 A@:?E E92EVD C6D92A:?8 9@H 72>:=:6D 3F586E[ D2G6[ 2?5 A=2?[ k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]9@>6E2A]4@>^Qmw@>6E2Ak^2m C6A@CED]k^Am

kAm#2:D:?8 2 49:=5 E9C@F89 286 `g ?@H 4@DED k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]=6?5:?8EC66]4@>^563E\4@?D@=:52E:@?^C2:D:?8\2\49:=5\DEF5J^QmSb_b[c`gk^2m — E96 7:CDE E:>6 E92E 7:8FC6 92D E@AA65 Sb__[___[ 2?5 2 ;F>A @7 ?62C=J agT :? ;FDE E9C66 J62CD] p?5 E92EVD 367@C6 2 D:?8=6 4@==686 EF:E:@? 3:== 2CC:G6D]k^Am

kAmq6=@H :D 2 3C62<5@H? @7 H92E 6249 DE286 @7 49:=59@@5 4@DED C:89E ?@H[ 7C@> 52J42C6 E@ 4@==686[ :?4=F5:?8 D@>6 @7 E96 6IEC2D E92E 5@?VE 2=H2JD >2<6 :E :?E@ E96 3F586E]k^Am

k9bms2J42C6 2?5 49:=542C6i E96 62C=J 4CF?49k^9bm

kAmu@C >2?J 72>:=:6D[ E96 7:?2?4:2= C62=:EJ @7 A2C6?E9@@5 9:ED 92C56DE 367@C6 2 49:=5 6G6C D6ED 7@@E :? 2 4=2DDC@@>] %96 ?2E:@?2= 2G6C286 AC:46 @7 49:=542C6 C624965 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^:?7@]49:=542C62H2C6]@C8^>65:2^49:=5\42C6\AC:46D\C:G2=\>2;@C\9@FD69@=5\6IA6?D6DQmS`b[`gc 2 J62C :? a_adk^2m]k^Am

kAm%92E 2??F2= AC:46 E28 >2<6D FA `_T @7 2 EH@\A2C6?E 9@FD69@=5VD >65:2? :?4@>6 2?5 bbT @7 2 D:?8=6 A2C6?EVD] x?72?E 42C6 42? CF? 6G6? 9:896C[ k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^52J42C642=4]4@>^4@DE\3J\286Qm2G6C28:?8 C@F89=J S`c[fe_ 2 J62Ck^2m 2E 2 52J42C6 46?E6C]k^Am

kAmr6?E6C\32D65 :?72?E 42C6 ?@H 4@DED >@C6 E92? :?\DE2E6 AF3=:4 4@==686 EF:E:@? :? E96 >2;@C:EJ @7 DE2E6D] u@C 72>:=:6D H:E9 EH@ 49:=5C6? :? 42C6[ 49:=542C6 7@C EH@ 6I4665D >65:2? C6?E :? 6G6CJ DE2E6 H:E9 2G2:=23=6 52E2]k^Am

kAmx? @?6 C646?E DFCG6J[ E96 2G6C286 A2C6?E C6A@CE65 DA6?5:?8 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]3FD:?6DDH:C6]4@>^?6HD^9@>6^a_ad_`ahdeh___^6?^}6H\r2C6]4@>\#6A@CE\&?4@G6CD\E96\%C@F3=:?8\$E2E6\@7\!2C6?E2=\(6==\q6:?8\p>:5\p>6C:42D\r2C6\rC:D:DQmaaT @7 E96:C 9@FD69@=5 :?4@>6 @? 49:=542C6k^2m[ 2?5 a_T C6A@CE65 8@:?8 :?E@ 563E E@ 277@C5 :E]k^Am

k9bm$F>>6C 42>Ai E96 D62D@?2= 3F586E\3FDE6Ck^9bm

kAmyFDE 2D D49@@=\J62C 49:=542C6 3:==D A2FD6[ DF>>6C 2CC:G6D H:E9 :ED @H? AC:46 E28] u@C H@C<:?8 A2C6?ED[ DF>>6C 42>A @7E6? AC@G:56D 6DD6?E:2= 4@G6C286 7@C E96 >@?E9D H96? D49@@= :D @FE — 2?5 :EVD 86EE:?8 AC:4:6C]k^Am

kAms2J 42>A 2G6C2865 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]>@C?:?83C6H]4@>^DE@C:6D^E96\3:8\3FD:?6DD\@7\DF>>6C\42>AQm23@FE Sgf A6C 52Jk^2m 32D65 @? a_ac 52E2[ H9:49 255D FA E@ >@C6 E92? Sc__ 2 H66< A6C 49:=5] ~G6C?:89E 42>A C@F89=J 5@F3=6D E92E[ 2E 2C@F?5 S`fb A6C 52J]k^Am

kAm|F=E:A=:65 24C@DD 2 76H H66<D @7 42>A — 2?5 24C@DD >@C6 E92? @?6 49:=5 — 2 D62D@? @7 42>A 42? C:G2= 2 >@CE8286 A2J>6?E]k^Am

k9bmq24<\E@\D49@@= 2?5 z\`a 4@DEDk^9bm

kAm~?46 E96 D49@@= J62C 368:?D[ DA6?5:?8 D9:7ED E@ DFAA=:6D[ 4=@E96D[ 2?5 E649?@=@8J] u2>:=:6D H:E9 49:=5C6? :? 6=6>6?E2CJ E9C@F89 9:89 D49@@= A=2? E@ DA6?5 2? 2G6C286 @7 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^?C7]4@>^>65:2\46?E6C^AC6DD\C6=62D6D^>2;@C:EJ\@7\324<\E@\D49@@=\D9@AA6CD\86E\2\9625\DE2CE\@?\E96\D62D@?QmSgeb]ge @? 324<\E@\D49@@= D9@AA:?8 :? a_aek^2m[ AFD9:?8 E@E2= z\`a 324<\E@\D49@@= DA6?5:?8 E@ 2 C64@C5 Scb]b 3:==:@? ?2E:@?H:56]k^Am

kAm%96 EJA:42= 72>:=JVD 3F586E 3C62<D 5@H? C@F89=J =:<6 E9:Dik^Am

kF=mk=: 52E2\=:DE\:E6>\:5lQ6ef__aeb`hdbb__77`h`fc5ef5gb6d4g7Qmt=64EC@?:4Di Sahb]``k^=:mk=: 52E2\=:DE\:E6>\:5lQ65_33_g33`gad7_3a5_`e72356effe42gQmr=@E9:?8 2?5 2446DD@C:6Di Sad_]ahk^=:mk=: 52E2\=:DE\:E6>\:5lQ6h7d2da__`c354d`g652agef4d`5eada5Qm$9@6Di S`fc]_`k^=:mk=: 52E2\=:DE\:E6>\:5lQ6f_ac`ee6452fh2dhh_g6`b6676ch2hchQm$49@@= DFAA=:6Di S`ce]cdk^=:mk^F=m

kAm%92EVD ;FDE E96 DE2CE\@7\J62C 92F= — :E 5@6D?VE 244@F?E 7@C E96 6IEC24FCC:4F=2CD[ 7:6=5 EC:AD[ DA@CED 766D[ 2?5 >:5\J62C C6A=246>6?ED E92E 4@>6 FA @G6C E96 7@==@H:?8 ?:?6 >@?E9D]k^Am

k7:8FC6mk:>8 DC4lQ9EEADi^^:>286D]DE24<6C]4@>^H^`ag_^:>286D^DE@C:6D^a_ae^_h^``^q24<\E@\D49@@=Ta_DA6?5:?8Ta_3C62<5@H?0DE24<6C]A?8Q 2=ElQp 5@?FE 492CE D9@H:?8 2 324<\E@\D49@@= DA6?5:?8 3C62<5@H? @7 2? 2G6C286 72>:=J] Q DEJ=6lQH:5E9i `__TQ ^mk7:842AE:@?mw@>6E2Ak^7:842AE:@?mk^7:8FC6m

k9bmk3C ^m!C:G2E6 D49@@= EF:E:@?k^9bm

kAmu@C 72>:=:6D H9@ 49@@D6 AC:G2E6 65F42E:@?[ E96 ?F>36CD 4=:>3 DE66A=J] %96 ?2E:@?2= 2G6C286 7@C AC:G2E6 z\`a EF:E:@? D:ED 2E k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]AC:G2E6D49@@=C6G:6H]4@>^3=@8^A2J:?8\7@C\AC:G2E6\D49@@=\:?\a_adQmS`c[hhh 2 J62Ck^2m[ H:E9 6=6>6?E2CJ D49@@=D 2G6C28:?8 2C@F?5 S`c[_`g 2?5 9:89 D49@@=D 4=@D6C E@ S`f[hdc]k^Am

kAmr@DED G2CJ H:56=J 3J C68:@? 2?5 D49@@= EJA6 — EF:E:@? :? E96 >@DE 6IA6?D:G6 DE2E6D 42? CF? H6== @G6C Sag[___ 2 J62C[ 2?5 6=:E6 :?56A6?56?E @C 3@2C5:?8 D49@@=D C6249 72C 9:896C] u@C 2 72>:=J H:E9 >@C6 E92? @?6 49:=5 :? AC:G2E6 D49@@=[ EF:E:@? 2=@?6 42? C:G2= 2 D64@?5 >@CE8286]k^Am

k9bm%96 4@==686 J62CDi EF:E:@?[ 9@FD:?8[ 2?5 36J@?5k^9bm

kAmx7 E96 62C=J J62CD 2C6 567:?65 3J 49:=542C6 2?5 E96 >:55=6 J62CD 3J DFAA=:6D 2?5 24E:G:E:6D[ E96 E66? J62CD 3C:?8 @?6 @7 E96 =2C86DE 6IA6?D6D >@DE 72>:=:6D H:== 7246 7@C 2 49:=5i 4@==686]k^Am

kAmu@C E96 a_ad\ae D49@@= J62C[ 2G6C286 AF3=:D965 EF:E:@? 2?5 766D k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^C6D62C49]4@==6863@2C5]@C8^EC6?5D^4@==686\AC:4:?8^9:89=:89EDQm42>6 :? 2Ek^2mik^Am

kF=mk=: 52E2\=:DE\:E6>\:5lQ6h7e4227dg5df_gcb56h62g54cbh3h4b3Qm!F3=:4 7@FC\J62C[ :?\DE2E6i S``[hd_k^=:mk=: 52E2\=:DE\:E6>\:5lQ6aeb`4e`663gga326e4b3b3d`g22d4h`4Qm!F3=:4 7@FC\J62C[ @FE\@7\DE2E6i Sb`[gg_k^=:mk=: 52E2\=:DE\:E6>\:5lQ6e_4_d756ca62cfbd3ffe22a4eg724cb`Qm!C:G2E6 ?@?AC@7:E 7@FC\J62Ci Scd[___k^=:mk^F=m

kAm%F:E:@? :D @?=J A2CE @7 E96 4@DE] ~?46 9@FD:?8[ 7@@5[ 3@@<D[ 2?5 @E96C 6DD6?E:2=D 2C6 724E@C65 :?[ E96 E@E2= 6DE:>2E65 4@DE @7 2EE6?52?46 ;F>AD E@ C@F89=J k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]7:56=:EJ]4@>^=62C?:?8\46?E6C^D>2CE\>@?6J^9@H\>F49\E@\D2G6\7@C\4@==686QmSb_[hh_ 2 J62C 7@C :?\DE2E6 AF3=:4 DEF56?EDk^2m 2?5 Sed[cf_ 2 J62C 2E AC:G2E6 ?@?AC@7:E 4@==686D]k^Am

kAmp 76H 255:E:@?2= D49@@= 4@DED @7E6? 42E49 72>:=:6D @77 8F2C5ik^Am

kF=mk=: 52E2\=:DE\:E6>\:5lQ6g4df_4h6b3b7he3ehga`2h`_ec35d`ggQmkDEC@?8mw@FD:?8 2?5 7@@5]k^DEC@?8m #@@> 2?5 3@2C5 2G6C286 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^65F42E:@?52E2]@C8^2G6C286\4@DE\@7\C@@>\3@2C5\2E\4@==686Qm23@FE S`c[_bc 2 J62Ck^2m 2E AF3=:4 7@FC\J62C D49@@=D[ 2?5 E9@D6 4@DED 92G6 366? C:D:?8 72DE6C E92? EF:E:@? :ED6=7] ~G6C 7@FC J62CD[ 9@FD:?8 2?5 7@@5 2=@?6 42? E@E2= >@C6 E92? Sdc[fe_]k^=:mk=: 52E2\=:DE\:E6>\:5lQ6c3_7cdhd2`h23bfbdfehe_53_2b55gfgQmkDEC@?8mq@@<D 2?5 DFAA=:6D]k^DEC@?8m r@FCD6 >2E6C:2=D 2?5 E6IE3@@<D 255 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]36DE4@==686D]4@>^C6D62C49^2G6C286\4@DE\@7\4@==686\E6IE3@@<D\DE2E:DE:4D^QmS`[___ @? 2G6C286k^2m — 367@C6 E96 =2AE@A @C 4@>AFE6C >@DE 7:CDE\J62C DEF56?ED 3FJ]k^=:mk=: 52E2\=:DE\:E6>\:5lQ6fe6ea_bdh2f6_g5d_5d66`5_22e26fceQmkDEC@?8m%649?@=@8J]k^DEC@?8m u:CDE\J62C DEF56?ED DA6?5 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]36DE4@==686D]4@>^C6D62C49^2G6C286\4@DE\@7\4@==686\E6IE3@@<D\DE2E:DE:4D^Qm2C@F?5 Sg__ 2 J62k^2mC k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]36DE4@==686D]4@>^C6D62C49^2G6C286\4@DE\@7\4@==686\E6IE3@@<D\DE2E:DE:4D^Qm@? E649?@=@8Jk^2m[ H:E9 E96 >2;@C:EJ AFC492D:?8 2 4@>AFE6C 7@C D49@@=]k^=:mk^F=m

kAm$EC6E4965 24C@DD 7@FC J62CD — 2?5 24C@DD >F=E:A=6 <:5D — 4@==686 42? 62D:=J 364@>6 E96 =2C86DE =:?6 :E6> :? 2 72>:=JVD 3F586E]k^Am

k9bm%96 7F== A:4EFC6i H92E :E 2== 255D FA E@k^9bm

k7:8FC6mk:>8 DC4lQ9EEADi^^:>286D]DE24<6C]4@>^H^`ag_^:>286D^DE@C:6D^a_ae^_h^``^%96Ta_4@DEDTa_2==Ta_255Ta_FATa_2ETa_6G6CJTa_DE2860DE24<6C]A?8Q 2=ElQp? :?7@8C2A9:4 D9@H:?8 2 72>:=JUR_bhjD 6DE:>2E65 6IA6?D6D 24C@DD 5:776C6?E DE286D @7 2 49:=5UR_bhjD =:76]Q DEJ=6lQH:5E9i `__TQ ^mk7:842AE:@?mw@>6E2Ak^7:842AE:@?mk^7:8FC6m

kAm%96 4@DED @7 C2:D:?8 2 49:=5 5@?VE 2CC:G6 2== 2E @?46j E96J 4@>A@F?5 @G6C EH@ 564256D @C >@C6] s2J42C6 8:G6D H2J E@ 42>A 2?5 D49@@= DFAA=:6D[ H9:49 8:G6 H2J E@ 24E:G:E:6D 2?5 A@DD:3=J AC:G2E6 EF:E:@?[ H9:49 8:G6 H2J E@ 4@==686] %9C@F89 2== @7 :E[ E96 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^>@?6JH:D6]4@>^>2?28:?8\>@?6J^3F586E:?8^4@DE\C2:D:?8\49:=5\49:=542C6\=6?5:?8EC66\a_aeQmE@E2= 4@DE @7 C2:D:?8 2 49:=5 <66AD 4=:>3:?8k^2m — FA ?62C=J agT :? ;FDE E9C66 J62CD]k^Am

kAmu@C >2?J 72>:=:6D[ E96D6 2C6?VE 5:D4C6E:@?2CJ 6IA6?D6D E96J 42? D:>A=J 4FEj E96JVC6 E96 7F?52>6?E2=D C6BF:C65 E@ D6E <:5D FA 7@C DF446DD — H9:49 :D AC@>AE:?8 >@C6 9@FD69@=5D E@ =@@< 7@C H2JD E@ >2?286 C:D:?8 4@DED]k^Am

k9bmw@>6 6BF:EJ 2D 2 C6D@FC46 D@>6 72>:=:6D 2C6 4@?D:56C:?8k^9bm

kAm&]$] 9@>6@H?6CD 4FCC6?E=J 9@=5 2 ?62C\C64@C5 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^7C65]DE=@F:D765]@C8^D6C:6D^~tw#t}(q$w}~QmSbc]h EC:==:@? :? 9@>6 6BF:EJk^2m] u@C >2?J :?5:G:5F2= 9@>6@H?6CD[ E92E EC2?D=2E6D :?E@ 9F?5C65D @7 E9@FD2?5D @7 5@==2CD @7 G2=F6 3F:=E FA :? 2 9@>6 — G2=F6 E92EVD C62=[ 3FE ?@E 62D:=J 4@?G6CE65 :?E@ 42D9 7@C 2 49:=542C6 3:== @C EF:E:@? A2J>6?E]k^Am

kAm#:D:?8 4@DED 2C6 2 H:56=J C6A@CE65 D@FC46 @7 7:?2?4:2= AC6DDFC6 7@C 9@>6@H?6CD] p DFCG6J @7 `[___ &]$] 9@>6@H?6CD 7@F?5 E92E 2 >2;@C:EJ C6A@CE65 766=:?8 >@56C2E6=J E@ 6IEC6>6=J 7:?2?4:2==J DEC6DD65[ H:E9 C:D:?8 9@>6@H?6CD9:A 4@DED 4:E65 2D 2 E@A 4@?46C?] $6A2C2E6=J[ >@CE8286 C2E6 =@4<\:? 92D 364@>6 2 724E@C :? 9@>6@H?6CDV 564:D:@?D E@ DE2J AFEi >@C6 E92? 92=7 @7 9@>6@H?6CD DFCG6J65 D2:5 E96C6VD ?@ >@CE8286 C2E6 E92E H@F=5 >2<6 E96> 4@>7@CE23=6 D6==:?8 E9:D J62C[ 244@C5:?8 E@ k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]32?<C2E6]4@>^>@CE8286D^>@CE8286\C2E6D\D6?E:>6?E\DFCG6J^Qmq2?<C2E6k^2m]k^Am

kAm$6==:?8 :D?VE E96 @?=J H2J E@ 2446DD 9@>6 6BF:EJ] w@>6@H?6CD H9@ 5@?VE H2?E E@ D6== @C E2<6 @? 2 ?6H >@?E9=J A2J>6?E 92G6 2 76H @AE:@?D[ :?4=F5:?8 9@>6 6BF:EJ =@2?D[ wt{~rD[ 42D9\@FE C67:?2?46D[ 2?5 2 ?6H6C 42E68@CJ @7 AC@5F4E <?@H? 2D 2 9@>6 6BF:EJ :?G6DE>6?E WD@>6E:>6D 42==65 2 9@>6 6BF:EJ 28C66>6?EX] (:E9 2 9@>6 6BF:EJ :?G6DE>6?E[ 2 9@>6@H?6C C646:G6D 2 =F>A DF> @7 42D9 :? 6I492?86 7@C 2 D92C6 @7 E96 9@>6VD 7FEFC6 G2=F6[ H:E9@FE >@?E9=J A2J>6?EDj E96 2CC2?86>6?E :D D6EE=65 — E9C@F89 C67:?2?4:?8[ 2 =@2?[ D2G:?8D[ @C 2 9@>6 D2=6 — H:E9:? 2 D6E E6C>[ @7E6? FA E@ `_ J62CD]k^Am

kAmpD H:E9 2?J 7:?2?4:?8 @AE:@?[ 2 9@>6 6BF:EJ :?G6DE>6?E 42CC:6D 4@DED 2?5 EC256\@77D[ 2?5 :E :D?VE E96 C:89E 7:E 7@C 6G6CJ 9@>6@H?6C] u2>:=:6D H6:89:?8 H96E96C E@ E2A E96:C 6BF:EJ E@ 4@G6C 49:=542C6[ EF:E:@?[ @C @E96C C:D:?8 4@DED EJA:42==J 4@>A2C6 E96D6 @AE:@?D 282:?DE 2 9@>6 6BF:EJ =@2? @C wt{~r 2?5 4@?DF=E 2 7:?2?4:2=[ E2I[ @C =682= AC@76DD:@?2= E@ 56E6C>:?6 H92E 36DE 7:ED E96:C D:EF2E:@?]k^Am

kAmk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]9@>6E2A]4@>^3=@8^4@DE\@7\C2:D:?8\2\49:=5Qmk6>m%9:D DE@CJk^6>mk^2m k6>mH2D AC@5F465 3Jk^6>m k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]9@>6E2A]4@>Qmk6>mw@>6E2Ak^6>mk^2m k6>m2?5 C6G:6H65 2?5 5:DEC:3FE65 3Jk^6>m k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^9F3D]=2^"_b<=8$#_Q C6=lQ?@7@==@HQmk6>m$E24<6Ck^6>mk^2m]k^Am