How much does it cost to raise a newborn?

Hi Mums & Dads,


I'm doing a small project on the average additional expenditure you incur per month taking care of your child from the moment you take him/her home to the time they enter kindergarten. Its for my University project so i'd appreciate any help.


Basically what i'm looking for is an average $ amount that you are spending for raising and taking care of your child. Costs would include basic necessities (cloths, food, shelter etc), and additional expenses such as toys, classes (baby gym etc), and doctors visits/medicines etc. etc etc. Do not include expenses for a domestic helper.


I guess everyones answer will be different - i'm just looking for an average in Hong Kong. 'Guesstimates' are fine.


Also it would be great if you could break down the following


0-12 Months = $$/month

12-24 Months = $$/month

24-36 Months = $$/month


And if you could include a few comments on what the major expenses were.


Thanks for your help!! :)

I'm not sure many people actually look at the cost this way unless they are very organised with their finances and put every expense into an accounting program. We may know the cost of daycare / school but I'm not sure many parents would even consider adding up the extra food, electricity, activities, loss of earnings, medical, toys, clothes, furnitures, changing cars, change in lifestyle, haircuts, the birthday parties they attend, the extra spending on holidays.....the list would be endless.

From 18months-2years: Playgroup fees of HK$1,500 + diapersHK$260 + formula milk $520 = HK$2,280 and the other ones, I haven't really added up.


From 2-3 years: School fees HK$3,080 + school travel $500 + HK$260 diapers + HK$260 formula milk = HK$4,100 + all the others ones I haven't added up


From 3 years onwards (may not be relevant to your project though):- School feels of HK$2,500 + school travel $570 + HK$260 diapers + HK$260 formula milk = HK$3,590


Birthday parties, I think we spend on average around HK$2,000.


We also have an education fund for her of around $3k per month since she was born.


I think it really depends on your income level as well. If you are on an expatriate package, you will probably spend more on your kids. We're not rich but we know that we are above average with the lifestyle we have, so we're grateful for that.


In terms of clothes, I have spent between $5 - $400 (less than a handful of times in 3 years for anything over $300) for my daughter.


As for food, she just eats what we eat. If not, it is just the chinese congee with a bit of vegies and meat (that will probably cost around $10-15 per meal)


We do take her to Ocean Park once a month (we have the annual pass) and Jumping Gym at least 2-3 times a month so those on average add up to $200/month.


I haven't even taken into account the toys and books that I buy for her. I don't buy a lot, I get given toys and books, but I'm too afraid to add up what I DO spend on her. Yikes!!

Interesting. My baby will be born in Oct and I already spent $12,000 on his furniture (cot, high chair, clothes, playpen etc). And all of these stuff are second hand, from the asiaxpat trading post! Not to mention that we will spend an extra $4000/mth for the helper from Oct onward....

That's is the case, Cara. I don't know exactly what I will need. That cost includes baby changing table, wardrobes, bottle sterilizer, breast pump, baby monitor, baby stroller, baby toys, books and many others, which should cover all his needs until he is 1 year old. I hope that many of the stuff can be use for my future kids as well.

It is to wide a question, you can spend as much or as little as you want. Basically all a baby needs in its first year is a cot (although one of mine never slept ibn a cot, he slept with us from birth), a sling, pushchair, bottles, a few toys, books and clothes. And of course nappies. None of the other stuff is a necessity. Food is negliable as you just puree whatever you're making. You do not need to take them to baby classes, although mother and baby groups are good as you get to meet and chat with other mums but they are cheap. Baies get a lot of stimulation from walking round the supermarket, park etc with you/ And if you want to be more adventurous, then places like Ocean OPark and Disneyland are free for under 3's.Most costs with children occur once they reach 3 or 4 and start wanting to go to dance classes, swimming lesson etc, kindy and school.

So the first year could be as little as $5k or as much as $30k.

I think you will get very different answers from people depending on their financial situation, ethnic background, and values. Some people buy only new things, some buy or inherit used. Some buy every new and seemingly "necessary" gadget and some are minimalists. Some buy from the street markets and some import everything from overseas.


In my opinion the needs of a newborn to 1 year old can be met with very little cost. Breastfeeding, using cloth diapers, making your own baby food, and borrowing things from friends, makes your only significant cost the medical expenses. But if you put your child into many activities and buy all sorts of new things for them it can be very expensive.


We are somewhere in the middle. I breastfeed and use cloth diapers which has almost no cost. But I buy only organic and send my 21 month old son to many programs. Food for our family of 4 is about $6000 a month and all of his activities and classes are $4000 a month. And if you consider that I wouldn't have the helper if I didn't have a child, that's another $4500 a month.


You would get a better picture of the "average" costs by asking specific questions.