The USDA stopped tracking what it costs to raise a child in 2017. Here’s what the updated number looks like

The USDA used to publish an annual report called "Expenditures on Children by Families" every year from 1960 to 2017. Their last figure was $233,610 (2015 dollars) for a middle-income couple to raise one child from birth to 17, not including college.

Then they just stopped. No explanation. The calculator on their website still uses the 2015 numbers.

I spent a few weeks pulling together the updated figures using the USDA's original methodology with current BLS inflation data, Brookings Institution estimates, and category-specific sources like Care.com and Child Care Aware. The consolidated number lands around $331,000 to $340,000 in 2026 dollars. That's roughly $18,400 to $18,900 per year, or about $1,530 to $1,575 per month.

A few things that stood out:

• Childcare is the fastest-growing category. Infant daycare averages $14,760/year nationally and costs more than in-state college tuition in 33 states.
• Where you live changes the number dramatically. Boston area families spend around $38,000/year per child. In New Orleans, it's closer to $18,000.
• The $331K does not include college. Adding a public university brings it to roughly $455,000. Private pushes it toward $600,000.

For parents or anyone planning a family: did these numbers surprise you, or does this track with what you're actually spending? Curious how people's real experience compares to the averages.