The Cost of Raising A Child
Prepared by Art Schneider
Human Development/Family Studies Specialist
University of Missouri Outreach/Extension
Since 1960 the USDA has provided estimates of expenditures for children from birth through age 17. The estimates assume more than one child in a family. If there is only one child, estimates should be multiplied by 1.24. For more than two children, multiply 0.77 in the appropriate age category.
All data are from the annual reports of the USDA Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion. Included in the estimates are costs for housing, food, transportation, clothing, health care, child care and education, and miscellaneous (personal care items, reading, entertainment and reading materials).
This page contains data from the 1995 to 1999 annual reports to allow comparison between years.
Chart One -- The first chart shows how the average income levels for each category have changed in five years for husband-wife families.
Charts Two to Seven --Comparison of 1995 to 1999 changes in costs for children for Lower Income at ages 0-2, 3-5, 6-8, 9-11, 12-14, and 15-17.
Charts Eight to Thirteen --Comparison of 1995 to 1999 changes in costs for children for Middle Income at ages 0-2, 3-5, 6-8, 9-11, 12-14, and 15-17.
Charts Fourteen to Nineteen --Comparison of 1995 to 1999 changes in costs for children for Upper Income at ages 0-2, 3-5, 6-8, 9-11, 12-14, and 15-17.
Chart Twenty --1995 Low Income Family Comparison of Cost to Raise Child at ages 0-2, 3-5, 6-8, 9-11, 12-14, and 15-17.
Chart Twenty-one--1996 Low Income Family Comparison of Cost to Raise Child at ages 0-2, 3-5, 6-8, 9-11, 12-14, and 15-17.
Chart Twenty-two --1997 Low Income Family Comparison of Cost to Raise Child at ages 0-2, 3-5, 6-8, 9-11, 12-14, and 15-17.
Chart Twenty-three --1998 Low Income Family Comparison of Cost to Raise Child at ages 0-2, 3-5, 6-8, 9-11, 12-14, and 15-17.
Chart Twenty-four --1999 Low Income Family Comparison of Cost to Raise Child at ages 0-2, 3-5, 6-8, 9-11, 12-14, and 15-17.
Chart Twenty-five --1995 Middle Income Family Comparison of Cost to Raise Child at ages 0-2, 3-5, 6-8, 9-11, 12-14, and 15-17.
Chart Twenty-six --1996 Middle Income Family Comparison of Cost to Raise Child at ages 0-2, 3-5, 6-8, 9-11, 12-14, and 15-17.
Chart Twenty-seven --1997 Middle Income Family Comparison of Cost to Raise Child at ages 0-2, 3-5, 6-8, 9-11, 12-14, and 15-17.
Chart Twenty-eight --1998 Middle Income Family Comparison of Cost to Raise Child at ages 0-2, 3-5, 6-8, 9-11, 12-14, and 15-17.
Chart Twenty-nine --1999 Middle Income Family Comparison of Cost to Raise Child at ages 0-2, 3-5, 6-8, 9-11, 12-14, and 15-17.
Chart Thirty --1995 Upper Income Family Comparison of Cost to Raise Child at ages 0-2, 3-5, 6-8, 9-11, 12-14, and 15-17.
Chart Thirty-one --1996 Upper Income Family Comparison of Cost to Raise Child at ages 0-2, 3-5, 6-8, 9-11, 12-14, and 15-17.
Chart Thirty-two --1997 Upper Income Family Comparison of Cost to Raise Child at ages 0-2, 3-5, 6-8, 9-11, 12-14, and 15-17.
Chart Thirty-three --1998 Upper Income Family Comparison of Cost to Raise Child at ages 0-2, 3-5, 6-8, 9-11, 12-14, and 15-17.
Chart Thirty-four --1999 Upper Income Family Comparison of Cost to Raise Child at ages 0-2, 3-5, 6-8, 9-11, 12-14, and 15-17.
Chart Thirty-five --This is a comparison of child-rearing costs for Lower Income families for single parent and for husband-wife family (1999 before tax income of less than $36,800 and in 1995 before tax income of less than $33,700). Eighty-three percent of single parent households fall into this category and 33 percent of husband-wife families.
Chart Thirty-six --1999 Lower Income (Lowest one-third U.S. households, under $36,800 before-tax income) differences in single-parent and husband-wife households by age of child.
