SEATTLE, Wash. – Providence ranked 16th on a list of the 40 most expensive US cities to have a baby in, compiled by the online real estate brokerage Redfin. The list looked at costs for the baby’s first year.
Cities were ranked based on housing data from multiple listings services across the nation, cost of childcare and cost of healthcare, among other expenses compiled from government and public sources.
The estimated cost of raising a child in Providence was $26,700. Housing and childcare costs comprised the bulk of the Providence total, at $7,400 and $10,000, respectively. Baby items cost $5,600, health care $3,000 and energy $800 for Providence parents.
Housing costs were determined by calculating the average cost per year of scaling up from a two-bedroom home to a three-bedroom home. Such an upgrade would cost parents about $20,000 per year first place city San Jose, where the total average cost of a baby’s first year was $41,600.
Of the top 10 most expensive cities, seven were in California. Boston, New York City and Washington D.C. completed the leading 10.
