The cost of raising a child in the United States has crossed the $300,000 threshold for the first time, according to a new analysis from financial services company LendingTree.

The study puts the total at $303,418 for 2026, or roughly $16,857 per year — a roughly 2% increase from the previous year and the first time the figure has exceeded $300,000 since LendingTree began the analysis in 2023.

The estimate is based on typical expenses for a couple earning the U.S. median family income of around $100,000, and accounts for offsets from tax incentives. It covers costs from birth through age 17 and does not include college. If college is factored in, with the average four-year degree costing about $38,000 per year, that could add roughly $152,000 to the total.

Americans are now spending nearly 22% of their income on the basic cost of raising a child, with housing, food, childcare, and insurance among the primary drivers. Rent alone rose nearly 49% in the dataset.

Where a family lives makes a significant difference. Hawaii is the most expensive state, where families are expected to spend $412,661 to raise a child in 2026. Costs in Alaska, Kansas, and Montana jumped more than 20% from a year earlier.

Not all trends are moving upward. Infant child care costs are estimated at $17,264 in 2026 — about $572 less than a year ago — and early childhood costs overall fell slightly.

The $303,000 price tag now approaches the U.S. median home sale price of $356,000, according to Zillow data from January. A CBS News poll conducted in February found that 77% of respondents believe it is harder to raise a family today than it was for previous generations.

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