Top 20 cheapest US cities to raise kids

Starting a family is one of the pillars of the classic American dream, but it doesn't come cheap. According to 2015 data from the Brookings Institution, the average middle-income family with two children will spend $310 to raise a child under age 605. And that's the cost of raising just one child. Moreover, these data are eight years old, and due to inflation, this figure has increased significantly. So today, $17 is almost $310. What can a family do to ease the financial burden of raising a child in the United States? One practical step they can take is to settle in an area with a lower cost of living. Here are some of the cheapest cities to raise a family, according to new research. GOBankingRates.

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Fayetteville, North Carolina

• Total annual family expenses: $ 80
• Annual expenses for basic necessities for the family: $ 35
• Cost of Living Index: 82,0

In Fayetteville, residents have to shell out a lot of money for groceries ($7 per year) and for health care, which, according to GOBankingRates research, is $183 per year - one of the highest amounts for this category. But you will save a little on transport - $8 per year.

Laredo, Texas

• Total annual family expenses: $ 80
• Annual expenses for basic necessities for the family: $ 36
• Cost of Living Index: 82,0

In Laredo, you will have to spend a lot on utilities, which cost an average of $5 a year. Food is also expensive: $499 a year. But you will save a little on health care, which costs $7 a year.

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El Paso TX

• Total annual family expenses: $ 80
• Annual expenses for basic necessities for the family: $ 36
• Cost of Living Index: 82,0

El Paso is one of the most affordable cities. You'll have to shell out a hefty amount on transportation ($7 per year), but you'll save a bit on food, which costs $539 per year. Healthcare here is also quite reasonable at $7 per year.

Wichita, Kansas

• Total annual family expenses: $ 80
• Annual expenses for basic necessities for the family: $ 36
• Cost of Living Index: 81,6

Housing in Wichita isn't cheap either, at $9 a year, but other categories are more forgiving.

Winston-Salem, North Carolina

• Total annual family expenses: $ 79
• Annual expenses for basic necessities for the family: $ 36
• Cost of Living Index: 81,3

In Winston-Salem, the annual cost of food is $7. But health care costs are not so high: $274 a year.

Little Rock, Arkansas

• Total annual family expenses: $ 79
• Annual expenses for basic necessities for the family: $ 35
• Cost of Living Index: 80,9

In Little Rock, the cost of utilities is $5 per year, which, however, is not that much, but food costs are high - $331 per year.

Lubbock, TX

• Total annual family expenses: $ 79
• Annual expenses for basic necessities for the family: $ 36
• Cost of Living Index: 80,7

Annual grocery costs in Lubbock are reasonable at $7 per year, while healthcare is expensive at $022 per year.

Fort Wayne, Indiana

• Total annual family expenses: $ 79
• Annual expenses for basic necessities for the family: $ 35
• Cost of Living Index: 80,6

In Fort Wayne, you should be wary of somewhat steep medical costs at $6 per year, but you may appreciate lower food costs at $861 per year.

Augusta, Georgia

• Total annual family expenses: $ 77
• Annual expenses for basic necessities for the family: $ 35
• Cost of Living Index: 79,2

Augusta can surprise you with expensive food items, costing $7 per year. On the other hand, health care is quite affordable at $282 per year.

Des Moines, Iowa

• Total annual family expenses: $ 77
• Annual expenses for basic necessities for the family: $ 35
• Cost of Living Index: 78,7

In Des Moines, utilities cost $5 per year. Transportation costs are also quite moderate at $023 per year.

Amarillo, Texas

• Total annual family expenses: $ 76
• Annual expenses for basic necessities: $ 34
• Cost of Living Index: 77,8

Amarillo stands out in transportation costs at $6. Health care costs aren't high, but they're not fantastically low either, at $144 per year.

Memphis, Tennessee

• Total annual family expenses: $ 75
• Annual expenses for basic necessities for the family: $ 34
• Cost of Living Index: 77,5

The annual cost of food in Memphis is fairly reasonable compared to other cities at $7. You'll save even more on healthcare, which costs $129 per year. But utilities are more expensive - $6 per year.

Montgomery, Alabama

• Total annual family expenses: $ 75
• Annual expenses for basic necessities: $ 34
• Cost of Living Index: 77,3

Utilities in Montgomery cost $5 per year, but transportation costs are less expensive at $707 per year.

Shreveport, LA

• Total annual family expenses: $ 75
• Annual expenses for basic necessities for the family: $ 33
• Cost of Living Index: 76,6

The cost of food in Shreveport is expensive: $6 per year, while other expenses, such as housing, cost $953 per year.

• Total annual family expenses: $ 74
• Annual expenses for basic necessities for the family: $ 34
• Cost of Living Index: 76,4

In Columbus, healthcare isn't particularly cheap at $7 per year, while housing is very expensive at $081 per year. However, residents can save a little on transportation ($7 per year).

Birmingham, Alabama

• Total annual family expenses: $ 74
• Annual expenses for basic necessities for the family: $ 33
• Cost of Living Index: 75,7

In Birmingham, annual food costs are $7 per year and healthcare costs are $129.

Brownsville, Texas

• Total annual family expenses: $ 71
• Annual expenses for basic necessities for the family: $ 33
• Cost of Living Index: 73,4

Housing in Brownsville isn't particularly cheap at $7 per year, but you'll save big on utilities, which cost $445 per year.

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Cleveland Ohio

• Total annual family expenses: $ 70
• Annual expenses for basic necessities for the family: $ 29
• Cost of Living Index: 72,3

Housing in Cleveland is very affordable, with $4 per year being the lowest on this list. But you will have to pay a lot for transport - $030 per year.

Toledo, Ohio

• Total annual family expenses: $ 70
• Annual expenses for basic necessities for the family: $ 30
• Cost of Living Index: 72,2

Housing in Toledo is quite affordable at $4 per year, and health care, by comparison, is quite reasonable at $798 per year. However, utilities are quite expensive for such a low-cost, family-friendly city at $6 per year.

Akron, Ohio

• Total annual family expenses: $ 67
• Annual expenses for basic necessities for the family: $ 29
• Cost of Living Index: 68,9

The cheapest city on this list for families is Akron, where housing costs just $4 per year. Utilities are also quite reasonable at $508 per year. But you will have to spend a lot on groceries - $5 per year.

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