Family Finance

Wondering how much it costs to raise a child in today's economy? This calculator gives you a personalized 18-year projection grounded in USDA expenditure data, updated for 2026 prices, and adjusted for your household income, geographic region, childcare arrangement, and college savings target. A middle-income two-parent family in an urban area typically spends $310,000–$340,000 per child through age 17, before adding college. Use the inputs below to see your numbers — including annual cost, breakdown by category (housing, food, childcare, healthcare, transportation, education), and a college-fund contribution to meet your goal.