The Edge: The eye-opening cost of raising kids

CHARLOTTE, N.C.- Raising a child in America just got a whole lot more expensive. A new study shows it now costs more than $300,000 to raise a kid to age 18. That’s about $16,800 a year– and that’s before college. Where you live makes a massive difference. Hawaii is the most expensive state to raise a child in, with families expected to spend $412,661 in 2026. In North Carolina the price tag is $248,000. In South Carolina it will cost you about $204,000.