
Hawaii Tops 2026 List as Most Expensive State to Raise a Child; Mississippi Cheapest
A LendingTree analysis finds raising a child in the US costs an average of about $303,418 over 18 years, with daycare the largest ongoing expense; Hawaii is the most expensive state and Mississippi the cheapest, with wide variation driven by daycare costs, rent, food, health insurance premiums, and tax credits that soften or amplify the burden across states.








