Charleston earned the #5, Columbia #6 and Greenville #7 as the cheapest US Metros to have a baby. As far as state rankings are concerned, South Carolina comes in at #8.
Everyone knows that having a baby is incredibly expensive, from delivery or adoption costs to outfitting a household with strollers, bottles, cribs and layettes. But even if friends and family come together to provide everything needed on day one, there are ongoing costs of raising a child. So how much should a typical couple expect to budget each month?
The study: Monthly Basic Baby Budget. The basic ongoing monthly cost of raising a baby where you live.
To find out, MagnifyMoney looked at some average costs (and one tax credit), both by state and for the 100 largest metros in the U.S.:
- The difference in rent between a typical one-bedroom and two-bedroom apartment
- Average cost of a day care center
- Average cost of baby apparel, diapers and wipes
- Average additional food costs
- Average cost of adding a dependent to workplace insurance
- Federal tax credit
