By Can I Afford It · How we calculate this
Most family costs are recurring, which makes them easy to underestimate: a monthly bill that looks small adds up across years. The figures below are typical national costs, and childcare in particular varies widely from one city to the next.
Up-front costs here run from about $300 (lactation consultant) to $150,000 (surrogacy). Recurring costs run from about $150 a month (homeschooling) to $6,000 a month (executive mba tuition).
Typical national prices, not quotes. Financed payments are principal and interest at each item's usual down payment, rate and term, before tax, fees and insurance. 9 of these have a full calculator; any of them can be checked against your income.
| Item | Typical cost | Per month | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 529 plan savings | $300/mo | $300/mo | Check it |
| ABA therapy | $4,500/mo | $4,500/mo | Check it |
| Adoption | $45,000 | One-time | Calculator |
| Baby | $250/mo | $250/mo | Check it |
| Baby shower | $800 | One-time | Check it |
| Birthday party | $600 | One-time | Check it |
| Boarding school tuition | $4,500/mo | $4,500/mo | Check it |
| Braces | $6,000 | One-time | Calculator |
| Child support | $900/mo | $900/mo | Check it |
| College admissions consultant | $5,000 | One-time | Check it |
| College tuition | $2,500/mo | $2,500/mo | Check it |
| Community college tuition | $300/mo | $300/mo | Check it |
| Daycare | $1,500/mo | $1,500/mo | Calculator |
| Dental hygiene degree tuition | $1,000/mo | $1,000/mo | Check it |
| Dental school tuition | $5,500/mo | $5,500/mo | Check it |
| Doula | $1,500 | One-time | Calculator |
| DPT program tuition | $2,500/mo | $2,500/mo | Check it |
| Egg freezing | $11,000 | One-time | Check it |
| Executive MBA tuition | $6,000/mo | $6,000/mo | Check it |
| Grad school tuition | $2,000/mo | $2,000/mo | Check it |
| Home birth | $4,500 | One-time | Check it |
| Homeschooling | $150/mo | $150/mo | Check it |
| IUI treatment | $1,500 | One-time | Check it |
| IVF treatment | $20,000 | One-time | Check it |
| Kids | $350/mo | $350/mo | Calculator |
| Lactation consultant | $300 | One-time | Check it |
| MBA tuition | $3,500/mo | $3,500/mo | Check it |
| MSW tuition | $1,000/mo | $1,000/mo | Check it |
| Nanny | $3,500/mo | $3,500/mo | Calculator |
| Night nurse | $5,000 | One-time | Check it |
| NP program tuition | $1,300/mo | $1,300/mo | Check it |
| Nursing degree tuition | $700/mo | $700/mo | Check it |
| PA program tuition | $4,000/mo | $4,000/mo | Check it |
| Pharmacy school tuition | $3,000/mo | $3,000/mo | Check it |
| Private school tuition | $1,000/mo | $1,000/mo | Check it |
| Second child | $280/mo | $280/mo | Calculator |
| Speech therapy | $400/mo | $400/mo | Check it |
| Study abroad | $2,500/mo | $2,500/mo | Check it |
| Summer camp | $1,200 | One-time | Check it |
| Surrogacy | $150,000 | One-time | Calculator |
| Triplets | $850/mo | $850/mo | Check it |
| Tuition | $1,500/mo | $1,500/mo | Calculator |
| Twins | $550/mo | $550/mo | Check it |
| Vet tech program tuition | $600/mo | $600/mo | Check it |
| Veterinary school tuition | $4,000/mo | $4,000/mo | Check it |
| Weekly tutoring sessions | $350/mo | $350/mo | Check it |
| Wooden swing set | $3,500 | One-time | Check it |
| Youth travel sports | $200/mo | $200/mo | Check it |