Overview
- LendingTree’s 2026 analysis pegs the average 18‑year cost at $303,418 after tax credits, equal to $16,857 a year and up 1.9% from last year.
- The early years remain the priciest, with average annual costs of $29,325 for ages 0–5, reflecting a slight drop driven by a modest decline in daycare prices.
- Infant daycare is the single biggest line item at $17,264 a year, and child‑care prices rose about 8% from mid‑2024 through last month versus 4% overall inflation.
- Costs vary widely by location, with six states projected above $300,000 and Hawaii highest at $412,661, while places like Washington, D.C., New Hampshire, and South Carolina cluster near $200,000.
- Families with young children devote about 21.9% of income to basic expenses, prompting cutbacks or even a parent leaving work, and policy steps are starting to surface such as New York City’s $73 million for 2,000 free 2‑K seats this fall.