Common expenses tied to raising a child — including child care, food, medical care, housing and other necessities — can total tens of thousands of dollars annually. While costs are high across major metro areas, the burden varies sharply by location, with families in some places facing annual expenses more than twice as high as those elsewhere. These costs can also shift quickly, making local trends important for households planning to grow.
SmartAsset analyzed 48 of the largest U.S. metro areas to estimate the annual cost of raising a small child in a household with two working adults. The study also measured how estimated costs changed from 2025 to 2026.
Key Findings
Costs declined in two metros. Only two metro areas saw the cost of raising a child decline from 2025 to 2026: Richmond, Virginia (-1.91%), and Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk (-1.21%). Meanwhile, costs were nearly flat in the nearby Washington-Arlington-Alexandria and Baltimore-Columbia-Towson metro areas, rising 0.3% and 0.5%, respectively. San Francisco is the most expensive metro area to raise a child. In the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont metro area, the cost of raising a child is $43,171, the highest in the nation. Next door, San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara ranks No. 3 ($41,817). Indianapolis saw the biggest spike in child-rearing costs. In the Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood metro area, the cost of raising a child jumped 20.77% between 2025 and 2026, the largest increase in the study. Memphis is the least expensive metro area in which to raise a child. The cost of raising a child in Memphis is $19,922, making it the most affordable metro area in the study for child-rearing. Since 2025, the cost of raising a child in Memphis has increased $1,245. SmartAssetHow Much It Costs To Raise a Child
1. San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA
Annual cost of raising a child (2026): $43,171
Cost of childcare (2026): $22,777 Cost of food (2026): $2,348 Other expenses (2026): $18,046One-year change (2025 to 2026): 10.75%
2. Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA
Annual cost of raising a child (2026): $42,584
Cost of childcare (2026): $24,957 Cost of food (2026): $2,216 Other expenses (2026): $15,411One-year change (2025 to 2026): 8.57%
3. San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA
Annual cost of raising a child (2026): $41,817
Cost of childcare (2026): $21,972 Cost of food (2026): $2,230 Other expenses (2026): $17,615One-year change (2025 to 2026): 10.43%
4. Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
Annual cost of raising a child (2026): $36,282
Cost of childcare (2026): $20,137 Cost of food (2026): $2,215 Other expenses (2026): $13,930One-year change (2025 to 2026): 5.32%
5. Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO
Annual cost of raising a child (2026): $34,712
Cost of childcare (2026): $20,478 Cost of food (2026): $2,062 Other expenses (2026): $12,172One-year change (2025 to 2026): 8.73%
6. San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA
Annual cost of raising a child (2026): $34,705
Cost of childcare (2026): $16,085 Cost of food (2026): $1,983 Other expenses (2026): $16,637One-year change (2025 to 2026): 8.32%
7. Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT
Annual cost of raising a child (2026): $33,773
Cost of childcare (2026): $18,503 Cost of food (2026): $2,039 Other expenses (2026): $13,231One-year change (2025 to 2026): 1.88%
8. Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN
Annual cost of raising a child (2026): $33,307
Cost of childcare (2026): $19,509 Cost of food (2026): $2,172 Other expenses (2026): $11,626One-year change (2025 to 2026): 8.08%
9. Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA
Annual cost of raising a child (2026): $33,299
Cost of childcare (2026): $14,578 Cost of food (2026): $2,059 Other expenses (2026): $16,662One-year change (2025 to 2026): 10.25%
10. Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR
Annual cost of raising a child (2026): $32,906
Cost of childcare (2026): $19,741 Cost of food (2026): $2,192 Other expenses (2026): $10,973One-year change (2025 to 2026): 9.02%
11. Providence-Warwick, RI
Annual cost of raising a child (2026): $32,619
Cost of childcare (2026): $17,652 Cost of food (2026): $2,060 Other expenses (2026): $12,907One-year change (2025 to 2026): 9.1%
12. Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN
Annual cost of raising a child (2026): $32,543
Cost of childcare (2026): $19,918 Cost of food (2026): $1,802 Other expenses (2026): $10,823One-year change (2025 to 2026): 20.77%
13. Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
Annual cost of raising a child (2026): $32,191
Cost of childcare (2026): $14,083 Cost of food (2026): $1,990 Other expenses (2026): $16,118One-year change (2025 to 2026): 9.28%
14. Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA
Annual cost of raising a child (2026): $31,417
Cost of childcare (2026): $17,783 Cost of food (2026): $2,082 Other expenses (2026): $11,552One-year change (2025 to 2026): 2.47%
15. New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY
Annual cost of raising a child (2026): $31,144
Cost of childcare (2026): $17,450 Cost of food (2026): $2,195 Other expenses (2026): $11,499One-year change (2025 to 2026): 3.19%
16. Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA
Annual cost of raising a child (2026): $30,883
Cost of childcare (2026): $13,762 Cost of food (2026): $1,797 Other expenses (2026): $15,324One-year change (2025 to 2026): 7.99%
17. Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC
Annual cost of raising a child (2026): $30,248
Cost of childcare (2026): $17,956 Cost of food (2026): $2,209 Other expenses (2026): $10,083One-year change (2025 to 2026): 0.3%
18. Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD
Annual cost of raising a child (2026): $28,215
Cost of childcare (2026): $14,799 Cost of food (2026): $2,062 Other expenses (2026): $11,354One-year change (2025 to 2026): 0.52%
19. Cleveland, OH
Annual cost of raising a child (2026): $27,771
Cost of childcare (2026): $15,660 Cost of food (2026): $2,076 Other expenses (2026): $10,035One-year change (2025 to 2026): 6.70%
20. Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI
Annual cost of raising a child (2026): $27,728
Cost of childcare (2026): $15,030 Cost of food (2026): $1,957 Other expenses (2026): $10,741One-year change (2025 to 2026): 10.33%
21. Cincinnati, OH
Annual cost of raising a child (2026): $27,388
Cost of childcare (2026): $14,494 Cost of food (2026): $1,850 Other expenses (2026): $11,044One-year change (2025 to 2026): 7.15%
22. Columbus, OH
Annual cost of raising a child (2026): $27,368
Cost of childcare (2026): $15,117 Cost of food (2026): $1,897 Other expenses (2026): $10,354One-year change (2025 to 2026): 5.84%
23. Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV
Annual cost of raising a child (2026): $27,289
Cost of childcare (2026): $14,368 Cost of food (2026): $1,874 Other expenses (2026): $11,047One-year change (2025 to 2026): 8.53%
24. Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL
Annual cost of raising a child (2026): $26,635
Cost of childcare (2026): $14,510 Cost of food (2026): $2,045 Other expenses (2026): $10,080One-year change (2025 to 2026): 8.04%
25. Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL
Annual cost of raising a child (2026): $26,235
Cost of childcare (2026): $11,636 Cost of food (2026): $2,136 Other expenses (2026): $12,463One-year change (2025 to 2026): 9.37%
26. Raleigh-Cary, NC
Annual cost of raising a child (2026): $25,945
Cost of childcare (2026): $14,088 Cost of food (2026): $2,049 Other expenses (2026): $9,808One-year change (2025 to 2026): 6.94%
27. St. Louis, MO
Annual cost of raising a child (2026): $25,449
Cost of childcare (2026): $13,740 Cost of food (2026): $1,998 Other expenses (2026): $9,711One-year change (2025 to 2026): 4.66%
28. Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ
Annual cost of raising a child (2026): $25,425
Cost of childcare (2026): $12,263 Cost of food (2026): $1,841 Other expenses (2026): $11,321One-year change (2025 to 2026): 4.14%
29. Jacksonville, FL
Annual cost of raising a child (2026): $25,218
Cost of childcare (2026): $11,418 Cost of food (2026): $1,998 Other expenses (2026): $11,802One-year change (2025 to 2026): 10.69%
30. Pittsburgh, PA
Annual cost of raising a child (2026): $25,139
Cost of childcare (2026): $12,870 Cost of food (2026): $2,018 Other expenses (2026): $10,251One-year change (2025 to 2026): 1.66%
31. Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX
Annual cost of raising a child (2026): $24,891
Cost of childcare (2026): $12,091 Cost of food (2026): $1,788 Other expenses (2026): $11,012One-year change (2025 to 2026): 2.91%
32. Salt Lake City-Murray, UT
Annual cost of raising a child (2026): $24,670
Cost of childcare (2026): $10,986 Cost of food (2026): $1,903 Other expenses (2026): $11,781One-year change (2025 to 2026): 4.4%
33. Kansas City, MO
Annual cost of raising a child (2026): $24,543
Cost of childcare (2026): $13,216 Cost of food (2026): $1,992 Other expenses (2026): $9,335One-year change (2025 to 2026): 6.05%
34. Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL
Annual cost of raising a child (2026): $24,185
Cost of childcare (2026): $10,791 Cost of food (2026): $2,018 Other expenses (2026): $11,376One-year change (2025 to 2026): 10.55%
35. Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC
Annual cost of raising a child (2026): $24,161
Cost of childcare (2026): $12,419 Cost of food (2026): $1,979 Other expenses (2026): $9,763One-year change (2025 to 2026): 6.01%
36. Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL
Annual cost of raising a child (2026): $23,836
Cost of childcare (2026): $10,753 Cost of food (2026): $1,994 Other expenses (2026): $11,089One-year change (2025 to 2026): 11.76%
37. Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI
Annual cost of raising a child (2026): $23,682
Cost of childcare (2026): $10,985 Cost of food (2026): $1,890 Other expenses (2026): $10,807One-year change (2025 to 2026): 7.99%
38. Oklahoma City, OK
Annual cost of raising a child (2026): $23,597
Cost of childcare (2026): $11,271 Cost of food (2026): $1,867 Other expenses (2026): $10,459One-year change (2025 to 2026): 3.29%
39. Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX
Annual cost of raising a child (2026): $23,340
Cost of childcare (2026): $10,736 Cost of food (2026): $1,826 Other expenses (2026): $10,778One-year change (2025 to 2026): 4.49%
40. Louisville/Jefferson County, KY
Annual cost of raising a child (2026): $23,270
Cost of childcare (2026): $11,410 Cost of food (2026): $1,844 Other expenses (2026): $10,016One-year change (2025 to 2026): 7.61%
41. Richmond, VA
Annual cost of raising a child (2026): $22,658
Cost of childcare (2026): $11,448 Cost of food (2026): $2,015 Other expenses (2026): $9,195One-year change (2025 to 2026): -1.91%
42. Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX
Annual cost of raising a child (2026): $22,605
Cost of childcare (2026): $10,265 Cost of food (2026): $1,721 Other expenses (2026): $10,619One-year change (2025 to 2026): 3.37%
43. Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA
Annual cost of raising a child (2026): $22,470
Cost of childcare (2026): $10,611 Cost of food (2026): $2,024 Other expenses (2026): $9,835One-year change (2025 to 2026): 7.92%
44. Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA
Annual cost of raising a child (2026): $22,314
Cost of childcare (2026): $10,656 Cost of food (2026): $1,958 Other expenses (2026): $9,700One-year change (2025 to 2026): -1.21%
45. Birmingham, AL
Annual cost of raising a child (2026): $21,684
Cost of childcare (2026): $8,980 Cost of food (2026): $1,989 Other expenses (2026): $10,715One-year change (2025 to 2026): 13.64%
46. San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX
Annual cost of raising a child (2026): $21,393
Cost of childcare (2026): $9,560 Cost of food (2026): $1,589 Other expenses (2026): $10,244One-year change (2025 to 2026): 2.14%
47. Nashville-Davidson–Murfreesboro–Franklin, TN
Annual cost of raising a child (2026): $21,216
Cost of childcare (2026): $8,584 Cost of food (2026): $2,069 Other expenses (2026): $10,563One-year change (2025 to 2026): 2.06%
48. Memphis, TN
Annual cost of raising a child (2026): $19,922
Cost of childcare (2026): $8,550 Cost of food (2026): $1,933 Other expenses (2026): $9,439One-year change (2025 to 2026): 3.42%
Methodology
SmartAsset used MIT Living Wage Calculator data to compare the living costs of a household with two working adults and one child to those of a childless household with two working adults in 48 of the largest metro areas. The data is as of February 2026 and compares to data from February 2025 and February 2024. Costs include additions for food, housing, childcare, healthcare, transportation and other necessities. Source data providers are not affiliated with, and do not endorse or sponsor, this study or its findings.
This story was produced by SmartAsset and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
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