Minnesota Now One of the Most Expensive States To Raise a Baby

Everything costs more these days… and yes, that includes having kids.

From diapers to daycare to the never-ending grocery bills, raising a child has always been expensive. But new numbers show it’s gotten way more intense than most people probably realize.

According to a new study from LendingTree, the average cost of raising a child in the U.S. is now about $16,857 per year. That adds up to a jaw-dropping $303,418 over 18 years. But, here's some news you didn't see coming: Minnesota is significantly higher than the national average.

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Minnesota Now One of the Most Expensive States To Raise a Baby:

Minnesota now ranks as the 12th most expensive state in the country to raise a child. For comparison, Wisconsin comes in at 20th, while Iowa is near the bottom at 44th. Hawaii is the most expensive state.

Parents in Minnesota are spending roughly $29,000+ per year raising a kid, which adds up to more than half a million dollars by the time they turn 18. Yeah, that's nearly double the national estimate. So, if it feels expensive, it’s not just you.

Also See: This is the Salary You Need to Be Considered Rich in Minnesota

And that’s just to get them to adulthood. College? That’s a whole separate conversation. Yikes.

Why Is It So High Here?

A big reason comes down to one thing: childcare. According to Lending Tree, Infant daycare costs in Minnesota are among the highest in the country, and that alone can eat up a huge chunk of a family’s budget.

But it’s not just daycare. The study also factors in housing, food, transportation, insurance, clothes, and more.

It all adds up fast… like, really fast.