How much will it cost to raise a child in 2026? The answer given by ChatGPT may leave prospective parents collectively silent.

**The first year requires $15,000 to $30,000**
For middle-income families, the estimated expenses from pregnancy to the baby's first birthday (including prenatal checkups, childbirth, baby supplies, childcare, etc.) range from $15,000 to $30,000. In places like New York and San Francisco, this number can double to start at $30,000 to $40,000.

**35,000 to 450,000 for ages 0-18**
AI calculates that raising a child until the age of 18 will cost between 350,000 to 450,000, not including university tuition fees. If we calculate an average of over 20,000 per year, after 18 years, it will almost be equivalent to making a down payment.

**Cost black hole in these areas**
🏥 Medical costs rise every year, and the insurance deductible and out-of-pocket maximum increase year by year.
🏠 As the number of people in the family increases, many families need to move or spend more money on child protection.
👶 The custody fee is growing at the fastest rate, almost as crazily as the increase in housing prices.
🍼 Baby formula, diapers, and clothes are all undergoing inflation, and supply chain issues are causing price increases.

**These situations will be more costly**
Childbirth complications, entering NICU → directly add around 100,000
Choosing private schools instead of public ones → annual fees double
Living in a first-tier city vs a small town → Raising a child can cost more than 100,000.
Buy a full set of high-end brand gear → earn a few thousand more each year

**University costs not included**
Public state universities will add an additional 40,000 to 80,000 over four years, while private universities start at 200,000. This is on top of the 18-year baseline.

**What is reality like**
AI's analysis basically aligns with the recommendations of financial planners—raising children is one of life's most expensive decisions. The cost of the first year is equivalent to buying a decent second-hand car, and the total expenditure over 18 years can match the housing prices in some areas.

The regional differences are enormous: the cost in rural Mississippi and Manhattan can differ by over a million. Low-income families face the same or even higher costs with fewer resources, while wealthy individuals can easily spend double.

This is just a conservative estimate based on existing data by AI. The actual cost is likely to be higher.