As you write your Mother’s Day card this year, you may want to add one more thank you: for the thousands of dollars it took to raise you.
Beyond the time, care, and love that go into parenting, raising a child in the US comes with a steep financial cost, and in some states, that price tag is far higher than in others.
A LendingTree study released in April found that it costs US parents an average of $303,418 to raise a child over 18 years. Parents spend an average of 21.9% of their income on child-rearing costs each year, a slight decrease from 22.6% in LendingTree’s 2025 study.
While the costs vary by state, one factor remains constant: the rising cost of childcare during the workday, which is often the largest expense related to having a child.
“Our data from last year showed that in 45 states and DC, if you have two kids, what you pay for childcare on average exceeds [your] mortgage,” Sandra Bishop, the senior director of research for Child Care Aware of America, a national nonprofit organization focused on helping families across the country access affordable childcare, told Business Insider in 2025.
Bishop says this isn’t a new trend. Since Childcare Aware began tracking costs in 2000, the cost of childcare has remained “a major expense for families,” she said. On average, the price of childcare has increased every year that Childcare Aware has tracked it.
“[About] 70 to 80% of what it costs to provide childcare is staff costs,” Bishop said. “As the cost of living goes up, so does the cost of care.”
LendingTree’s study looked at the impact of raising a young child in categories like rent, food, and transportation by measuring the difference between costs for a two-person household and a two-person household with a child. For day care and apparel costs, researchers looked at the average annual costs that families face in each state.
To calculate the estimated costs of raising a child in every state, LendingTree used data from sources including the US Census Bureau’s American Community Survey, the US Bureau of Labor Statistics’ consumer expenditure surveys, Child Care Aware of America’s Price of Care report, and the IRS, among others.
Here’s the annual cost of raising a young child in each state (and Washington, DC) and how each state ranks compared to the rest of the country, with 51 being the cheapest and 1 being the most expensive.
51. Mississippi
Annual average cost of raising a child: $17,148
Annual average day care costs: $7,696
Average food costs: $1,842
Mississippi is the cheapest US state to raise a child in 2026. The state’s ranking is largely helped by its low day care costs, which ranked lowest out of all states in the study.
Parents in the state also see some of the lowest apparel, food, and health insurance premium costs, keeping the total annual price tag well below the national average.
Over 18 years, Mississippi has the fourth-lowest projected child-rearing cost in the country, at $208,621.
50. Alabama
Annual cost of raising a child: $18,019
Annual day care costs: $8,632
Food costs: $1,923
Alabama ranks as the second-cheapest state for raising a small child in the US, with day care costs in the state tied for the second-lowest in the country.
The state also offers the highest tax credit or exemption value in the study, helping lower the overall cost for parents.
Parents in Alabama spend about 16.7% of their income on the costs of raising a small child, the seventh-lowest share nationwide.
49. South Dakota
Annual cost of raising a child: $18,622
Annual day care costs: $8,632
Food costs: $1,922
South Dakota’s child-rearing affordability is driven largely by low day care costs in the state, which are tied with Alabama for the second-lowest in the country.
Parents in South Dakota also spend 15.4% of their income on the costs of raising a child, the third-lowest share among all states.
48. South Carolina
Annual cost of raising a child: $18,910
Annual day care costs: $10,474
Food costs: $1,862
Its relatively low day care costs and a sizable tax credit or exemption help South Carolina rank among the cheapest states for raising a small child in 2026.
The state also has negative added rent costs in the report, meaning households with children paid less in rent than households without children, per LendingTree’s analysis.
Over 18 years, South Carolina has the third-lowest projected child-rearing cost in the country, at $204,213.
47. Arkansas
Annual cost of raising a child: $19,204
Annual day care costs: $9,178
Food costs: $1,771
Arkansas is one of only four states where annual infant day care costs are under $10,000, helping keep the state near the bottom of the overall cost ranking.
The state also has the lowest apparel costs and the fifth-lowest food costs in the study.
Parents in Arkansas spend an average of 18.8% of their income on the costs of raising a child.
46. Georgia
Annual cost of raising a child: $20,365
Annual day care costs: $11,066
Food costs: $1,955
With relatively low day care, rent, and apparel costs and one of the largest tax credits or exemptions in the study, Georgia ranks among the most affordable states to raise a small child in 2026.
Parents in Georgia spend 16.3% of their income on the costs of raising a child, the fourth-lowest share in the country.
45. Texas
Annual cost of raising a child: $20,968
Annual day care costs: $11,349
Food costs: $1,718
Texas is the cheapest of the four most populous US states for raising a small child. The state has the lowest food costs in the country, as well as relatively low rent and day care costs compared with other large states.
Parents in Texas spend 16.5% of their income on child-related costs, the fifth-lowest share nationwide.
44. Iowa
Annual cost of raising a child: $21,137
Annual day care costs: $12,694
Food costs: $1,872
Iowa remains one of the more affordable states for raising a small child, with costs continuing to decrease.
The state saw annual costs fall 3.1% from last year’s report, one of the biggest declines in the study.
Parents in Iowa spend 17.6% of their income on the costs of raising a child, tied with Connecticut for the eighth-lowest share in the country.
43. Oklahoma
Annual cost of raising a child: $21,218
Annual day care costs: $10,809
Food costs: $1,846
Oklahoma’s added rent costs are higher than those of many other lower-cost states, though lower food, apparel, and day care costs help keep child-rearing costs low in the state.
Parents in Oklahoma spend 19.9% of their income on the costs of raising a small child.
42. Louisiana
Annual cost of raising a child: $21,303
Annual day care costs: $10,847
Food costs: $1,859
Louisiana ranks among the top ten cheapest states for raising a child in 2026, with relatively low day care, rent, and apparel costs.
Health insurance premiums are a bigger pressure point for parents in the state, ranking among the highest costs in the country.
Parents in Louisiana spend 20.2% of their income on the costs of raising a child.
41. West Virginia
Annual cost of raising a child: $21,651
Annual day care costs: $10,439
Food costs: $1,772
Despite having the third-highest insurance premiums in the US, West Virginia’s lower day care costs help keep the state among the most affordable for overall annual child-rearing costs.
Parents in West Virginia spend 22.1% of their income on child-rearing costs.
40. New Mexico
Annual cost of raising a child: $21,909
Annual day care costs: $13,521
Food costs: $1,825
Thanks to low food, apparel, day care, and health insurance premiums, New Mexico ranks among the cheapest US states to raise a child in 2026.
The state also saw annual costs fall 3.9% from last year’s report, one of the biggest declines in the study.
Over 18 years, New Mexico has the seventh-lowest projected child-rearing cost, at $218,588.
39. Kentucky
Annual cost of raising a child: $22,097
Annual day care costs: $12,740
Food costs: $1,759
Despite having some of the lowest overall child-rearing costs in the country, parents in Kentucky are seeing costs rise, with the state seeing annual costs rise 15.4% from last year’s report — the seventh-largest increase nationwide.
Parents in the state spend 20.9% of their income on child-rearing costs.
38. Ohio
Annual cost of raising a child: $22,409
Annual day care costs: $13,780
Food costs: $1,887
Ohio’s annual child-rearing costs are below the national average, and its health insurance premiums rank lowest in the country.
Parents in Ohio spend 18.9% of their income on the costs of raising a child, tied with Michigan.
37. Tennessee
Annual cost of raising a child: $22,545
Annual day care costs: $13,126
Food costs: $1,970
Tennessee ranks below the national average for annual child-rearing costs, and the state has one of the lowest added rent costs in the study.
Health insurance premiums, however, are a larger expense for parents in the state, ranking among the highest nationwide.
Parents in Tennessee spend 19.6% of their income on raising a small child.
36. Michigan
Annual cost of raising a child: $22,673
Annual day care costs: $13,454
Food costs: $1,860
Michigan, which has relatively low food, rent, and apparel costs, ranks near the bottom of the ranking. The state also benefits from one of the larger tax credits or exemptions in the study.
Parents in Michigan spend 18.9% of their income on the costs of raising a small child, the same share as in Ohio.
35. North Carolina
Annual cost of raising a child: $22,712
Annual day care costs: $12,370
Food costs: $1,925
North Carolina’s total annual costs are below the national average, although health insurance premiums rank among the 10 highest in the study.
The state’s annual costs rose 9.1% from last year’s report, and its projected 18-year costs rose 15.1%.
34. Nevada
Annual cost of raising a child: $22,751
Annual day care costs: $12,659
Food costs: $1,912
Nevada, one of the most urban states in the country, is also considered a childcare desert, according to a 2023 report by the Nevada Governor’s Office of Workforce Innovation, due to the lack of options and the high demand for available centers. Parents in the state pay an average of $12,659 on day care annually, according to the LendingTree study.
33. New Hampshire
Annual cost of raising a child: $22,805
Annual day care costs: $16,040
Food costs: $2,037
New Hampshire saw the biggest annual cost drop in the country since last year’s report, falling 19.5%.
The state also has the lowest projected 18-year cost of child rearing among US states, at $201,963.
Parents in New Hampshire spend 14.9% of their income on the costs of raising a small child, the second-lowest share nationwide.
32. Idaho
Annual cost of raising a child: $23,107
Annual day care costs: $10,608
Food costs: $2,056
Despite low overall costs, Idaho parents face higher pressure with added rent and transportation costs, both of which rank near the top 20 nationwide.
31. North Dakota
Annual cost of raising a child: $23,278
Annual day care costs: $12,299
Food costs: $1,885
North Dakota’s annual child-rearing costs fell 9.9% from last year’s report, the second-biggest drop in the study.
The state also saw projected 18-year costs fall 20.3%, one of only two drops of at least 20%.
Parents still face relatively high added rent and transportation costs, though lower day care and insurance premium costs help lower the overall annual costs.
30. Wyoming
Annual cost of raising a child: $23,789
Annual day care costs: $12,784
Food costs: $1,940
Wyoming’s overall annual costs fell 1.9% from last year’s report, while projected 18-year costs dropped 10.5%.
Transportation costs are one of the state’s biggest pressure points for parents, ranking among the five highest in the country.
Parents in Wyoming spend 19.7% of their income on raising a child.
29. Missouri
Annual cost of raising a child: $24,473
Annual day care costs: $13,780
Food costs: $1,918
Missouri’s food, apparel, and health insurance premium costs all fall in the lower half of the study, helping overall affordability in the state.
Parents in Missouri spend 20.9% of their income on raising a small child, tying with Kentucky.
28. Pennsylvania
Annual cost of raising a child: $24,626
Annual day care costs: $14,910
Food costs: $1,990
Pennsylvania’s day care and rent costs are moderate compared with those of other states. Costs in the state rose 5.8% from the previous year’s report, highlighting the increased pressure on parents.
Parents in Pennsylvania spend 18.8% of their income on raising a small child, below the national average.
27. Florida
Annual cost of raising a child: $24,968
Annual day care costs: $13,011
Food costs: $2,039
Florida is the second-cheapest of the four most populous US states for raising a small child, ranking behind Texas.
Day care costs are relatively low compared with other large states, but parents face the highest health insurance premium costs in the country.
Over 18 years, Florida’s projected child-rearing costs are $280,280.
26. Delaware
Annual cost of raising a child: $25,108
Annual day care costs: $16,617
Food costs: $1,956
Delaware’s annual costs are driven mostly by high day care and health insurance premiums, which rank among the highest in the country.
However, households with children, on average, pay less in rent than households without children, according to LendingTree.
Parents in the state spend 19% of their income on raising a small child, tied with New Jersey.
25. Utah
Annual cost of raising a child: $25,588
Annual day care costs: $14,160
Food costs: $1,890
Utah saw annual costs rise 17.5% from last year’s report, the fifth-biggest increase in the study.
The state’s added rent and transportation costs are among the bigger drivers of the annual total.
Parents in Utah spend 18.7% of their income on raising a child.
24. Vermont
Annual cost of raising a child: $26,259
Annual day care costs: $18,710
Food costs: $2,175
Parents in Vermont, which in 2022 was ranked the most rural state in the country according to census data, see some of the highest day care and food costs in the country, but also benefit from relatively low rents and a high tax credit or exemption.
Vermont’s annual costs fell 5.2% from last year’s report, the third-biggest drop in the study.
23. Indiana
Annual cost of raising a child: $26,576
Annual day care costs: $16,478
Food costs: $1,766
Indiana’s annual costs rose 11.7% from last year’s report, one of the top in the study.
Food costs are among the lowest in the country, but day care, rent, and transportation push the overall total higher.
Parents in Indiana spend 23.2% of their income on raising a small child, the third-highest share nationwide.
22. Virginia
Annual cost of raising a child: $26,915
Annual day care costs: $16,796
Food costs: $2,032
Virginia’s annual costs rose just 0.9% from last year’s report, one of the smallest increases in the study.
Higher average family income helps lower the burden, with parents spending 17.7% of their income on raising a child.
21. Rhode Island
Annual cost of raising a child: $27,003
Annual day care costs: $18,486
Food costs: $2,106
Rhode Island’s annual costs are largely driven by day care, which ranks among the highest in the country.
The state also has higher food and apparel costs, though parents get some relief from a tax credit or exemption.
Parents in Rhode Island spend 19.4% of their income on raising a small child.
20. Wisconsin
Annual cost of raising a child: $27,047
Annual day care costs: $17,963
Food costs: $1,938
Wisconsin had the fourth-biggest annual cost increase in the country, up 23.3% from last year’s report.
The state also saw projected 18-year costs rise 16%, one of the largest jumps in the study.
Day care is the biggest expense for parents, with annual totals adding up to an average of $17,963.
19. Montana
Annual cost of raising a child: $27,220
Annual day care costs: $15,080
Food costs: $1,952
Lacking sufficient childcare options for the number of children, the state of Montana is considered a “childcare desert,” according to a January 2024 report by the Montana Department of Labor and Industry. On average, Montana parents spend $15,080 on childcare each year, according to the LendingTree study.
Parents in Montana also spend 22.6% of their income on raising a small child, one of the highest shares in the study.
And the costs are only going up. The state had the second-biggest annual cost increase in the country, up 24.5% from last year’s report.
18. Maine
Annual cost of raising a child: $27,448
Annual day care costs: $15,730
Food costs: $2,064
Parents in Maine face relatively high added costs for rent, transportation, and health insurance premiums, though the state’s tax credit or exemption helps offset some of the total.
Maine had the third-biggest annual cost increase in the country, up 24.4% from last year’s report.
The state also saw projected 18-year costs rise 19.8%, the fourth-largest increase in the study.
17. Kansas
Annual cost of raising a child: $27,793
Annual day care costs: $15,156
Food costs: $1,904
Parents in Kansas pay the third-highest added rent costs in the country.
Projected 18-year costs in the state top $303,000, and the state tied Alaska for the biggest increase in projected 18-year costs, up 23.5% from last year’s report.
16. Illinois
Annual cost of raising a child: $27,906
Annual day care costs: $19,807
Food costs: $1,986
Illinois’ annual costs rose 14.6% from last year’s report, tying Arizona for the ninth-biggest increase.
Day care is the biggest pressure point for parents in the state, with costs nearing $20,000 a year.
Parents see some relief on rent, with Illinois ranking much lower in that category than many other states near the top of the overall list.
15. Arizona
Annual cost of raising a child: $27,917
Annual day care costs: $15,964
Food costs: $1,834
Arizona’s annual costs rose 14.6% from last year’s report, tying Illinois for the ninth-biggest increase.
Parents in the state have the fifth-highest added rent costs in the country, and spend 22.3% of their income on raising a small child, one of the highest shares nationwide.
14. Oregon
Annual cost of raising a child: $28,393
Annual day care costs: $19,500
Food costs: $2,096
Oregon’s annual costs rose 8.8% from last year’s report, and day care is the biggest expense for parents, at $19,500 a year.
The state’s tax credit or exemption is one of the larger ones in the study, helping offset some of those higher costs.
13. Alaska
Annual cost of raising a child: $29,024
Annual day care costs: $12,107
Food costs: $2,344
Alaska ranks 13th for annual costs during the first five years, but over 18 years, it becomes the second-most expensive state in the country, per the LendingTree study.
The state has the highest added rent and transportation costs in the study, as well as the third-highest food costs.
Alaska tied Kansas for the biggest jump in projected 18-year costs, up 23.5% from last year’s report.
12. Minnesota
Annual cost of raising a child: $29,322
Annual day care costs: $20,421
Food costs: $2,077
Minnesota remains expensive for parents, largely because of high day care costs that add up to more than $20,000 a year.
The state offers one of the largest tax credits or exemptions in the study, helping bring down the overall annual total.
Annual costs fell 1.9% from last year’s report, and projected 18-year costs also declined.
11. Nebraska
Annual cost of raising a child: $29,491
Annual day care costs: $18,147
Food costs: $1,875
Nebraska had the biggest annual cost increase in the country, up 27.4% from last year’s report.
The state also has the second-highest income burden, with parents spending 23.5% of their income on raising a small child.
10. Connecticut
Annual cost of raising a child: $29,674
Annual day care costs: $18,492
Food costs: $2,057
Connecticut ranks among the 10 most expensive US states for raising a small child in 2026, with day care costs driving much of the total.
Higher average family income softens the burden, with parents spending 17.6% of their income on raising a child.
9. District of Columbia
Annual cost of raising a child: $30,146
Annual day care costs: $26,193
Food costs: $2,432
The District of Columbia has the highest food costs and second-highest day care costs in the study.
It also has the second-highest apparel costs, but parents see major relief on rent, with households with children paying less than those without.
The district has the lowest income burden in the country, with parents spending 13.9% of their income on raising a small child.
8. New York
Annual cost of raising a child: $30,209
Annual day care costs: $20,439
Food costs: $2,157
New York is one of the most expensive US states for raising a small child in 2026, with day care costs reaching above $20,000 a year.
Food and apparel costs are also among the highest in the country.
7. Colorado
Annual cost of raising a child: $31,000
Annual day care costs: $20,978
Food costs: $2,045
Ranked as the seventh-most-expensive state to raise a child in 2026, Colorado has an average annual day care cost of just under $21,000, among the highest in the study.
Parents in Colorado spend 20.3% of their income on raising a small child, tied with Washington and Florida.
6. Washington
Annual cost of raising a child: $31,937
Annual day care costs: $21,348
Food costs: $2,115
Washington remains one of the most expensive states for parents, with day care costs ranking sixth-highest in the country.
Annual costs fell 1.5% from last year’s report, making Washington one of 11 states where costs declined.
5. New Jersey
Annual cost of raising a child: $31,948
Annual day care costs: $20,213
Food costs: $2,068
New Jersey ranks fifth for both annual child-rearing costs and projected 18-year costs.
Day care and added rent are the biggest drivers, and apparel costs rank third-highest in the country.
Parents in New Jersey spend 19% of their income on raising a small child.
4. California
Annual cost of raising a child: $33,692
Annual day care costs: $22,628
Food costs: $2,024
While parenting in California comes with a high price tag in some areas, parents also experience relief compared to other states, including relatively low added rent costs and higher tax credits or exemptions.
Parents in California face the highest apparel costs in the country, as well as the second-highest health insurance premiums.
The state also has the fifth-highest average day care costs, according to the report.
3. Massachusetts
Annual cost of raising a child: $34,247
Annual day care costs: $26,343
Food costs: $2,185
Massachusetts has the highest infant day care costs in the country, at $26,343 annually.
Food costs also rank near the top, though the households with children in the state paid less in rent than households without children, per the LendingTree study.
2. Maryland
Annual cost of raising a child: $36,419
Annual day care costs: $25,321
Food costs: $2,070
Maryland is the second-most expensive US state for raising a small child, with day care costs ranking third-highest nationwide.
The state also saw annual costs rise 15.2% from the previous year’s report, the eighth-biggest jump in the study.
1. Hawaii
Annual cost of raising a child: $40,342
Annual day care costs: $24,115
Food costs: $2,391
Hawaii is the most expensive state in the country to raise a child in 2026, leading the list by nearly $4,000 in annual costs.
Parents in the state face some of the highest costs across several categories, including rent, food, transportation, day care, and health insurance premiums.
Hawaii also has the highest income burden in the country, with parents spending about 27.4% of their income on child-rearing costs.
Editor’s note: This story was first published in May 2025 and most recently updated in May 2026.
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