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Cost of raising a child calculator

Eighteen years of costs.

Built and reviewed by Dovanic, Founder and editor, FreeByteLast reviewed: 2026-08-18
$
3%

Total cost

$292,680

Cost in the final year

$21,280

With these inputs, total cost comes to $292,680 over 18 years. Cost in the final year works out to $21,280.

Average per month
$1,355

Over time · by years

What moves the number · Total cost

Input−10%Now+10%
Yearly cost$263,412$292,680$321,948
Inflation$284,887$292,680$300,732
Years$272,020$292,680$335,880

Solve for an input

Whatmakesequal

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Save this set of inputs, change something, then save again to compare the outcomes side by side.

Eighteen years of costs.

A worked example

Starting figures

Yearly cost
$12,500
Inflation
3%
Years
18

What it returns

Total cost
$292,680
Cost in the final year
$21,280
Average per month
$1,355

How to read the results

With the defaults above, total cost works out at $292,680.

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