After the highest inflation in 40 years, many Americans struggle to afford necessities such as food, housing, and healthcare—as well as the fundamental aspiration to start a family.
Factoring in rising costs, with childcare chief among them, being a parent in America has never been more expensive than it is today. But how do costs vary across the Puget Sound region, and how does the Pacific Northwest compare to the rest of the nation?
National Context: The Baseline
According to Investors Observer Research analysis of America’s 100 most populous metropolitan areas, the average annual cost of raising a child is $22,989—translating to $413,810 over 18 years. A dual-income household without children needs $64,229 annually to cover basic necessities, but this jumps dramatically with kids: $91,608 for one child, $114,898 for two, and $133,197 for three children.
“Families with kids have to bring in at least six figures in most major metropolitan areas just to get by—let alone eating out, traveling, and spending on other entertainment,” says Sam Bourgi, Senior Analyst at Investor Observer Research.
The Puget Sound Reality: A Region of Contrasts
The Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue metropolitan statistical area tells a sobering story. In 2024, the annual cost to raise a child in this metro reached $30,781, climbing to a projected $34,448 in 2025—50% higher than the national average. Over 18 years, parents in the region can expect to spend approximately $620,064 per child…