Parents in New York City seem to scoff at a recent study that estimated the cost of raising a child in New York at about $15,447 annually, when spread over 18 years.
Yet, families across the five boroughs told the Post their expenses are significantly higher, with estimates ranging from $19,000 to an eye-popping $100,000 per child.
A report from LendingTree published on April 6 indicated that it costs American parents over $300,000 to raise their kids across 18 years. New York is positioned 15th in the country, with a total expense of $278,051 per child.
This averages out to around $15,447 each year.
“Oh, no way!” Cinzia Leon reacted strongly, letting the Post know that just her son’s confirmation last year was a hefty financial burden.
“The hall alone cost $12,000,” recounted Leon. She hosted a party for 100 guests, and the costs ballooned with expenses for costumes, entertainment, and photography. “I had Uncle Magic there for $900 and the cannoli guy for $300. Plus, the video cost $600 and the photographer $500.”
“Need me to go on?” she added.
Staten Island
Leon and her husband, Carlos, have three children aged 13, 9, and 4 on Staten Island. She runs Moretti Bakery, which she opened 25 years ago with her late mother.
Her two older sons are in public schools while her youngest is part of a city-funded preschool program, which is accessible to all families.
However, weekends are hectic at the bakery, requiring her to hire a babysitter every Saturday and Sunday.
“That’s $450 just for those two days,” Leon told the Post. “Add it up, and that’s $1,800 a month.” During spring break, hiring a nanny racked up an additional $1,500.
Clothing also adds to her bills.
Her teenage son, who wears men’s 2XL, costs her $200 for jackets alone. The speed at which kids grow means one moment they’re in size 5, then suddenly size 6. “I recently bought three pairs of sneakers at $150 each,” she remarked.
Leon also pays $200 weekly for a tutor, plus related transport costs.
“Driving around adds up,” she noted. “It’s $145 just to fill up these days.”
Her daughter’s dental visit for “two teeth extracted” and “eight cavities” included a sedation fee of $1,900. “Of course, insurance won’t cover that,” she lamented.
Queens
Rachel Bloor, a Kew Gardens mother, told the Post she and her husband Spencer consider themselves “somewhat frugal” and manage to keep their costs lower than many families in the city. They save by opting for second-hand clothes and using the library.
Nonetheless, Bloor said she easily spends $20,000 each year on her 5-year-old daughter, Sheena.
“The mortgage isn’t part of that,” added Bloor, who lives in a two-bedroom apartment.
While her daughter’s preschool is free, classes end at 3 p.m. when Bloor, who works in HR, is still on the job. Paying for an extension of 45 hours in the afternoons would cost $1,600 monthly, but thanks to a grant, Bloor pays only $660 for nine months, adding another $5,940 for summer camp.
Including extracurricular activities like swimming and dance, which can cost an additional $4,000 each year, Bloor recognized that “groceries can be pricey, particularly if you opt for the farmers market.”
Through her employment, Bloor’s family receives health insurance at a monthly premium of $800. “Let’s say my daughter’s portion is $200. Add $300 for dental expenses and that means $500 monthly for her insurance,” she estimated.
Potential outings are rare treats. Bloor recently spent $80 for three movie tickets, popcorn, and of course, candy. “When you add everything up, it’s like having a second child is out of the question,” she said.
“You can’t really do anything fun,” she lamented. “We managed, but there was no way we could afford a nice vacation.”
Bronx
Jessenia and her husband, Giancarlos Tejada, have been thinking about another child since the mayor announced plans to extend preschool to younger ages.
“We’re considering our options,” shared Jessenia, a 36-year-old Bronx resident.
Another Riverdale mother, who wished to remain anonymous, mentioned how the city’s universal pre-K program influenced when they started their family. “We waited until our first entered Universal Pre-K so we wouldn’t have to pay for two kids,” she noted.
Statistics suggest that child care in the city averages around $940 weekly. Tejada lucked out with a daycare in Westchester at $375 a week.
Last year, Tejada’s daycare expenditure was $18,000—a bargain by city standards.
Though she considered a home-based program, a suitable place priced at $525 in Riverdale was beyond their means. Once Tejada found a center near her job, it allowed her to watch her daughter from 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.
However, the nursery doesn’t provide supplies.
“Diapers, wipes, bug spray, sunscreen, and baby formula can easily add another $5,000 a year, which is a lot,” noted Tejada. “I buy a 20-ounce double pack for $60 every two weeks.”
“When I crunched the numbers, it felt like I was paying twice as much,” she chuckled.
Brooklyn
Kylie Surma has faced steep costs for her 4-year-old son’s daycare in Brooklyn. She started daycare when he was just five months old, and Surma and her husband, who works in tech, returned to their jobs.
“For the first two years, we paid about $3,000 a month, totaling $36,000 for daycare,” Surma said of the “ridiculous” bills.
Having moved from Minneapolis nine years ago, Surma and her French husband find themselves without family support.
“We’ve had to manage everything regarding childcare ourselves,” she explained, anticipating that expenses could soar to $60,000, especially with her son now in an excellent French dual-language program in Fort Greene.
Stephen Barber, a 51-year-old broadcast engineer, is raising his third child, Ryu, in Bay Ridge, where he benefits from a free preschool program.
His older children, an 18-year-old daughter and 21-year-old son, attended school in the Bronx before he switched them to private Catholic school, which cost about $1,500 monthly.
Additional expenses followed: $100 for three uniforms for his daughter, $40 on shirts for his son, and $50 for slacks. “You must buy several since kids get dirty easily. And if you don’t have a washer-dryer, laundry can be a hassle,” Barber explained.
Currently, Barber’s biggest bill is $3,000 annually for his younger son’s after-school sports program, while he tries to limit Ryu’s screen time.
Electricity bills run high, nearing $500 per month. “With all the gadgets, it can heat up fast, so air conditioning is a constant worry.” He noted he saved nearly $300 after moving to a smaller apartment.
Barber recounted a time when he juggled two jobs and worked 16-hour shifts six days a week but insists he wouldn’t trade it.
“That’s just part of being a father,” he shared. “I made this commitment.”
Manhattan
Gabriel Debrentin, 42, of the Upper West Side, once thought about enrolling his daughter in a well-reviewed Catholic school but dismissed the idea when the $48,000 kindergarten tuition seemed overwhelming.
“Even with potential financial help, it’s challenging,” noted Debrentin, whose husband works in advertising and has two children from a previous marriage. “It’s hard to predict expenses a few years from now.”
Debrentin shared stories of parents who received aid one year but couldn’t secure it the next, forcing them to withdraw their kids from private schools.
An ex-marketing executive, Debrentin lost her job when her daughter was just a year old. “Suddenly, no income and a baby; it was tough,” she explained, noting that child care costs were so intimidating they decided it was strategic to stay home a while longer.
She attempted freelancing, and while she found it difficult to secure a job again, she pushed through.
Debrentin observed that her neighbors pay nannies upwards of $48,000 per year, surpassing the total income of some low-income households.
The article also noted anonymous parents on the Lower East Side, where a mother and father, both artists, earn about $40,000 yearly while raising their 4-year-old in a small, rent-stabilized apartment. Thanks to city programs, they managed to get free childcare.
The assistance of programs like Women, Infants, and Children helps provide essential food items during pregnancy and after giving birth.
Parents echoed Surma’s sentiment: despite the financial strains, kids bring immense joy.
“After a tough day, coming home and seeing my kids is the best feeling,” Barber expressed proudly.
