What Does It Cost to Raise a Child?

Here's a tough one:  How much money will that little bundle of joy cost you?  
Better sit down. ...Dennis

According to USDA’s Cost of Raising a Child report, the answer for a child born in 2012 is $241,080 for food, shelter and other necessities over the next 17 years, which translates to about $301,970 when adjusted for inflation!

For new parents or people thinking of expanding their families, our Cost of Raising a Child calculator allows you to tailor your results based on household size, income, and geographic region to get a more accurate estimate of your expected costs. The full Cost of Raising a Child report, titled Expenditures on Children by Families (2012) and calculator are available on the web at www.cnpp.usda.gov.