Most and Least Expensive States for New Parents
Children are a blessing on everything in your life except for your bank account (and maybe the amount of sleep you get). There is no way around the fact that raising a kid today is expensive. However, seeing the affordability range across the U.S. can give you some perspective on where there still may be pockets of affordability based on state averages.
To see how all the states stack up for your childcare costs, MoneyLion did some research, only to turn up some pretty interesting variants.
Key Findings
The annual cost of infant care ranges from about $7,000 (Mississippi) all the way up to over $26,000 (Massachusetts). Toddlers cost anywhere from $6,000 (Mississippi) to $18,000 (Vermont).
In Nevada, New Jersey, California, Florida and Alaska, the median cost for out-of-network childbirth delivery (not including C-section) is over $40,000. The national median is about $29,000.
Only five states (Oklahoma, Arkansas, West Virginia, North Dakota and Iowa) have monthly rent payments coming in under $1,000 on average. Average annual rent across all states is about $10,000 less than average mortgage, with Hawaii having the biggest gap at about $45,000.
Nearly 50% of the country has healthcare costs of over $7,000 a year on average.
In Alaska and Hawaii, the annual cost of groceries averages over $10,000.
Though everything feels more and more expensive in this economy, your estimated cost of living goes up exponentially when you factor in having kids. Here is the cost of childcare in every state, ranked from least to most expensive.
1. Mississippi
Average annual cost of infant care: $6,868
Average annual cost of childcare for a 4-year-old: $6,251
Annual rent: $12,300
Annual mortgage cost: $13,453
Total annual cost of necessities: $25,563
2. Alabama
Average annual cost of infant care: $7,871
Average annual cost of childcare for a 4-year-old: $7,268
Annual rent: $12,828
Annual mortgage cost: $16,303
Total annual cost of necessities: $25,793
3. Arkansas
Average annual cost of infant care: $8,873
Average annual cost of childcare for a 4-year-old: $7,670
Annual rent: $11,616
Annual mortgage cost: $15,533
Total annual cost of necessities: $25,744
4. Louisiana
Average annual cost of infant care: $8,873
Average annual cost of childcare for a 4-year-old: $8,153
Annual rent: $12,828
Annual mortgage cost: $14,941
Total annual cost of necessities: $25,947
5. Iowa
Average annual cost of infant care: $9,605
Average annual cost of childcare for a 4-year-old: $8,276
Annual rent: $11,940
Annual mortgage cost: $16,649
Total annual cost of necessities: $26,493
6. South Dakota
Average annual cost of infant care: $8,680
Average annual cost of childcare for a 4-year-old: $7,893
Annual rent: $12,336
Annual mortgage cost: $22,320
Total annual cost of necessities: $27,598
7. Kentucky
Average annual cost of infant care: $9,756
Average annual cost of childcare for a 4-year-old: $7,778
Annual rent: $13,068
Annual mortgage cost: $16,263
Total annual cost of necessities: $26,892
8. Kansas
Average annual cost of infant care: $9,105
Average annual cost of childcare for a 4-year-old: $7,963
Annual rent: $13,344
Annual mortgage cost: $17,210
Total annual cost of necessities: $26,119
9. Michigan
Average annual cost of infant care: $10,023
Average annual cost of childcare for a 4-year-old: $9,007
Annual rent: $14,004
Annual mortgage cost: $18,148
Total annual cost of necessities: $27,231
10. Wyoming
Average annual cost of infant care: $9,327
Average annual cost of childcare for a 4-year-old: $9,006
Annual rent: $14,904
Annual mortgage cost: $25,143
Total annual cost of necessities: $26,578
11. Tennessee
Average annual cost of infant care: $12,249
Average annual cost of childcare for a 4-year-old: $8,469
Annual rent: $16,368
Annual mortgage cost: $23,213
Total annual cost of necessities: $25,314
12. Oklahoma
Average annual cost of infant care: $12,468
Average annual cost of childcare for a 4-year-old: $10,790
Annual rent: $11,028
Annual mortgage cost: $15,470
Total annual cost of necessities: $25,988
13. North Carolina
Average annual cost of infant care: $11,720
Average annual cost of childcare for a 4-year-old: $7,744
Annual rent: $16,332
Annual mortgage cost: $23,541
Total annual cost of necessities: $27,979
14. West Virginia
Average annual cost of infant care: $9,692
Average annual cost of childcare for a 4-year-old: $9,540
Annual rent: $11,736
Annual mortgage cost: $12,244
Total annual cost of necessities: $26,691
15. Idaho
Average annual cost of infant care: $9,630
Average annual cost of childcare for a 4-year-old: $8,117
Annual rent: $17,040
Annual mortgage cost: $33,254
Total annual cost of necessities: $27,375
16. North Dakota
Average annual cost of infant care: $12,373
Average annual cost of childcare for a 4-year-old: $10,474
Annual rent: $11,844
Annual mortgage cost: $20,280
Total annual cost of necessities: $27,329
17. Missouri
Average annual cost of infant care: $13,173
Average annual cost of childcare for a 4-year-old: $10,332
Annual rent: $14,028
Annual mortgage cost: $18,649
Total annual cost of necessities: $26,200
18. New Mexico
Average annual cost of infant care: $14,244
Average annual cost of childcare for a 4-year-old: $9,993
Annual rent: $14,304
Annual mortgage cost: $22,090
Total annual cost of necessities: $26,188
19. Texas
Average annual cost of infant care: $10,706
Average annual cost of childcare for a 4-year-old: $9,664
Annual rent: $14,916
Annual mortgage cost: $21,057
Total annual cost of necessities: $27,159
20. South Carolina
Average annual cost of infant care: $11,512
Average annual cost of childcare for a 4-year-old: $10,481
Annual rent: $16,944
Annual mortgage cost: $21,398
Total annual cost of necessities: $27,286
21. Utah
Average annual cost of infant care: $13,094
Average annual cost of childcare for a 4-year-old: $9,725
Annual rent: $16,680
Annual mortgage cost: $38,303
Total annual cost of necessities: $26,348
22. Indiana
Average annual cost of infant care: $14,471
Average annual cost of childcare for a 4-year-old: $9,925
Annual rent: $13,644
Annual mortgage cost: $17,936
Total annual cost of necessities: $26,906
23. Nebraska
Average annual cost of infant care: $14,106
Average annual cost of childcare for a 4-year-old: $11,863
Annual rent: $13,452
Annual mortgage cost: $19,470
Total annual cost of necessities: $27,174
24. Georgia
Average annual cost of infant care: $11,863
Average annual cost of childcare for a 4-year-old: $10,359
Annual rent: $17,280
Annual mortgage cost: $23,296
Total annual cost of necessities: $27,595
25. Montana
Average annual cost of infant care: $12,778
Average annual cost of childcare for a 4-year-old: $11,418
Annual rent: $17,136
Annual mortgage cost: $32,744
Total annual cost of necessities: $28,190
26. Virginia
Average annual cost of infant care: $14,277
Average annual cost of childcare for a 4-year-old: $10,807
Annual rent: $21,732
Annual mortgage cost: $29,262
Total annual cost of necessities: $27,793
27. Pennsylvania
Average annual cost of infant care: $13,354
Average annual cost of childcare for a 4-year-old: $11,798
Annual rent: $18,852
Annual mortgage cost: $19,923
Total annual cost of necessities: $28,595
28. Illinois
Average annual cost of infant care: $16,107
Average annual cost of childcare for a 4-year-old: $10,947
Annual rent: $20,784
Annual mortgage cost: $20,577
Total annual cost of necessities: $28,277
29. Florida
Average annual cost of infant care: $13,021
Average annual cost of childcare for a 4-year-old: $9,548
Annual rent: $20,304
Annual mortgage cost: $27,557
Total annual cost of necessities: $28,505
30. Arizona
Average annual cost of infant care: $15,625
Average annual cost of childcare for a 4-year-old: $12,152
Annual rent: $15,876
Annual mortgage cost: $29,959
Total annual cost of necessities: $28,522
31. Ohio
Average annual cost of infant care: $17,071
Average annual cost of childcare for a 4-year-old: $13,426
Annual rent: $13,320
Annual mortgage cost: $17,341
Total annual cost of necessities: $27,377
32. Maine
Average annual cost of infant care: $13,310
Average annual cost of childcare for a 4-year-old: $11,227
Annual rent: $20,868
Annual mortgage cost: $28,400
Total annual cost of necessities: $30,984
33. Delaware
Average annual cost of infant care: $16,220
Average annual cost of childcare for a 4-year-old: $12,168
Annual rent: $18,492
Annual mortgage cost: $28,238
Total annual cost of necessities: $28,499
34. Wisconsin
Average annual cost of infant care: $16,956
Average annual cost of childcare for a 4-year-old: $14,974
Annual rent: $15,408
Annual mortgage cost: $23,593
Total annual cost of necessities: $27,661
35. Maryland
Average annual cost of infant care: $18,946
Average annual cost of childcare for a 4-year-old: $13,355
Annual rent: $20,148
Annual mortgage cost: $31,048
Total annual cost of necessities: $30,668
36. Rhode Island
Average annual cost of infant care: $16,758
Average annual cost of childcare for a 4-year-old: $14,193
Annual rent: $22,692
Annual mortgage cost: $35,853
Total annual cost of necessities: $30,223
37. New Hampshire
Average annual cost of infant care: $17,364
Average annual cost of childcare for a 4-year-old: $14,437
Annual rent: $22,500
Annual mortgage cost: $36,983
Total annual cost of necessities: $30,005
38. Nevada
Average annual cost of infant care: $15,950
Average annual cost of childcare for a 4-year-old: $13,268
Annual rent: $16,092
Annual mortgage cost: $32,198
Total annual cost of necessities: $29,243
39. Oregon
Average annual cost of infant care: $19,064
Average annual cost of childcare for a 4-year-old: $13,717
Annual rent: $17,724
Annual mortgage cost: $35,430
Total annual cost of necessities: $30,719
40. Minnesota
Average annual cost of infant care: $22,569
Average annual cost of childcare for a 4-year-old: $17,882
Annual rent: $16,356
Annual mortgage cost: $24,882
Total annual cost of necessities: $28,185
41. Colorado
Average annual cost of infant care: $21,840
Average annual cost of childcare for a 4-year-old: $15,992
Annual rent: $18,888
Annual mortgage cost: $38,741
Total annual cost of necessities: $27,140
42. Washington
Average annual cost of infant care: $20,677
Average annual cost of childcare for a 4-year-old: $14,413
Annual rent: $22,248
Annual mortgage cost: $43,013
Total annual cost of necessities: $31,941
43. Vermont
Average annual cost of infant care: $18,836
Average annual cost of childcare for a 4-year-old: $18,366
Annual rent: $21,960
Annual mortgage cost: $27,640
Total annual cost of necessities: $30,107
44. New York
Average annual cost of infant care: $17,361
Average annual cost of childcare for a 4-year-old: $14,988
Annual rent: $37,020
Annual mortgage cost: $33,946
Total annual cost of necessities: $29,918
45. Connecticut
Average annual cost of infant care: $20,254
Average annual cost of childcare for a 4-year-old: $16,493
Annual rent: $23,076
Annual mortgage cost: $32,603
Total annual cost of necessities: $31,147
46. Hawaii
Average annual cost of infant care: $21,167
Average annual cost of childcare for a 4-year-old: $15,244
Annual rent: $22,140
Annual mortgage cost: $67,468
Total annual cost of necessities: $40,335
47. California
Average annual cost of infant care: $21,945
Average annual cost of childcare for a 4-year-old: $13,020
Annual rent: $27,120
Annual mortgage cost: $55,317
Total annual cost of necessities: $35,013
48. New Jersey
Average annual cost of infant care: $18,155
Average annual cost of childcare for a 4-year-old: $17,534
Annual rent: $25,644
Annual mortgage cost: $41,067
Total annual cost of necessities: $30,910
49. Alaska
Average annual cost of infant care: $20,943
Average annual cost of childcare for a 4-year-old: $16,768
Annual rent: $16,044
Annual mortgage cost: $28,188
Total annual cost of necessities: $36,921
50. Massachusetts
Average annual cost of infant care: $26,709
Average annual cost of childcare for a 4-year-old: $17,939
Annual rent: $31,068
Annual mortgage cost: $47,729
Total annual cost of necessities: $33,889
Methodology: In order to find the most and least expensive states for new parents, MoneyLion looked at the following seven data points across all 50 states: (1) average annual cost of infant care sourced from the Economic Policy Institute (EPI); (2) average annual cost of child care for a 4-year old as sourced from EPI; (3) median cost of an out of network childbirth (non-C-section) as sourced from FAIR Health’s 2025 data; (4) median allowed value (in network) cost for childbirth (non-C-section) as sourced from FAIR Health’s 2025 data; (5) annual rent as sourced from Apartments.com; (6) annual mortgage cost, taking the average single-family residence home value for 2026 as sourced from Zillow’s May 2026 data, and then assuming a 9% down payment (National Association of Realtors says first-time homebuyers on average put down 8%-10%) with a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage at 6.49% as sourced from FreddieMac’s June 25, 2026, data; and (7) total annual cost for necessities groceries, utilities, transportation and healthcare (excluding housing) using the Bureau of Labor Statistics 2024 Consumer Expenditure Survey data for a married couple with children under 6 and using Q1 2026 cost-of-living indices from the Missouri Economic Research and Information Center. These seven factors were then scored and combined, with the lowest score being best. In final calculations, factors (1) and (2) were weighed 3x and factors (4), (5), and (7) were weighed 1.5x. All data is up to date as of July 1, 2026.
This article was provided by MoneyLion.com for informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, legal or tax advice.
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