Expenditure on Children by Families

Here are a few quick facts about expenditure on children by families in the U.S. Study uses interpolated data that includes household expenditure such as housing, food, transportation, health care, and child-specific expenditure like clothing, child care, and education.

• Average range of expenses on children is $9,130 to $25,700 (varies by income level and family types).
• Expenditure is inversely proportional to income (the higher the income, the lower the expenditure percentage); 25% by lowest income group; 16% by middle income group; 12% by highest income group.
• Largest expenditure is on Housing (30%), Education (18%), Food (16%).
• Urban Northeast has the highest expenditure per child (Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Vermont).
• Total expenditure per child from birth to 18: $164,160 (single parent), $175,550 (husband-wife).