Everyone knows that having a baby is incredibly expensive, from delivery or adoption costs to outfitting a household with strollers, bottles, cribs and layettes. But even if friends and family come together to provide everything needed on day one, there are ongoing costs of raising a child. So how much should a typical couple expect to budget each month? To find out, we looked at some average costs (and one tax credit), both by state and for the 100 largest metros in the U.S.:
- The difference in rent between a typical one-bedroom and two-bedroom apartment
- Average cost of a day care center
- Average cost of baby apparel, diapers and wipes
- Average additional food costs
- Average cost of adding a dependent to workplace insurance
- Federal tax credit
These are just the basic costs. Parents who prioritize higher-end goods, parent-and-me classes, baby sitters and other little luxuries to help with parental stresses can expect to spend more.
Image Credit: DepositPhotos.com.
Wide cost variations from state to state
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The average monthly cost of raising a baby across all 50 states is $1,037. Massachusetts is the most expensive state for raising a baby, at an average cost of $1,521 a month. Arkansas is the cheapest state, with an average monthly cost of $723.
Day care costs are far and away the largest monthly expense, representing 72% of monthly costs, on average. The proportion is highest in New York state at 85% and lowest in Alaska at 59%.
New parents in 22 out of the 50 states, as well as the District of Columbia, can expect their monthly costs to go up by at least $1,000 — just for the basics.
Parents in 63 of the 100 largest metros can expect to increase their monthly costs by at least $1,000.
People in the 10 most expensive states (and District of Columbia) to raise a baby can expect their monthly budgets to balloon by over $1,200 a month (you can see the complete data here.)
Here are the 13 U.S. metro areas with the highest average monthly costs for raising a new baby:
Image Credit: DepositPhotos.com.
13. New Haven, Connecticut
Total average monthly cost: $1,345
Average difference between one- and two-bedroom home: $222
Average daycare cost: $1,012
Average baby apparel, diapers and wipes costs: $59
Average additional food costs: $49
Image Credit: DepositPhotos.com.
12. Denver
Total average monthly cost: $1,346
Average difference between one- and two-bedroom home: $242
Average daycare cost: $965
Average baby apparel, diapers and wipes costs: $59
Average additional food costs: $54
Image Credit: DepositPhotos.com.
11. Seattle
Total average monthly cost: $1,364
Average difference between one- and two-bedroom home: $207
Average daycare cost: $965
Average baby apparel, diapers and wipes costs: $59
Average additional food costs: $54
Image Credit: DepositPhotos.com.
10. Washington, D.C.
Total average monthly cost: $1,368
Average difference between one- and two-bedroom home: $207
Average daycare cost: $1,005
Average baby apparel, diapers and wipes costs: $60
Average additional food costs: $60
Image Credit: DepositPhotos.com.
9. Oxnard, California
Total average monthly cost: $1,398
Average difference between one- and two-bedroom home: $345
Average daycare cost: $1,012
Average baby apparel, diapers and wipes costs: $59
Average additional food costs: $49
Image Credit: DepositPhotos.com.
8. San Diego, California
Total average monthly cost: $1,432
Average difference between one- and two-bedroom home: $385
Average daycare cost: $926
Average baby apparel, diapers and wipes costs: $59
Average additional food costs: $48
Image Credit: DepositPhotos.com.
7. Worcester, Massachusetts
Total average monthly cost: $1,435
Average difference between one- and two-bedroom home: $313
Average daycare cost: $1,012
Average baby apparel, diapers and wipes costs: $60
Average additional food costs: $60
Image Credit: DepositPhotos.com.
6. Los Angeles
Total average monthly cost: $1,462
Average difference between one- and two-bedroom home: $374
Average daycare cost: $968
Average baby apparel, diapers and wipes costs: $59
Average additional food costs: $48
Image Credit: DepositPhotos.com.
5. Honolulu
Total average monthly cost: $1,652
Average difference between one- and two-bedroom home: $501
Average daycare cost: $1,003
Average baby apparel, diapers and wipes costs: $59
Average additional food costs: $54
Image Credit: DepositPhotos.com.
4. San Francisco
Total average monthly cost: $1,663
Average difference between one- and two-bedroom home: $252
Average daycare cost: $1,290
Average baby apparel, diapers and wipes costs: $59
Average additional food costs: $48
Image Credit: DepositPhotos.com.
3. Boston
Total average monthly cost: $1,671
Average difference between one- and two-bedroom home: $315
Average daycare cost: $1,247
Average baby apparel, diapers and wipes costs: $60
Average additional food costs: $60
Image Credit: DepositPhotos.com.
2. Bridgeport, Connecticut
Total average monthly cost: $1,704
Average difference between one- and two-bedroom home: $331
Average daycare cost: $1,262
Average baby apparel, diapers and wipes costs: $59
Average additional food costs: $49
Image Credit: DepositPhotos.com.
1. San Jose, California
Total average monthly cost: $1,705
Average difference between one- and two-bedroom home: $320
Average daycare cost: $1,265
Average baby apparel, diapers and wipes costs: $59
Average additional food costs: $48
This article originally appeared on MagnifyMoney.com and was syndicated by MediaFeed.org.
Image Credit: DepositPhotos.com.
