Cost of Raising a Child: 2006 vs 2026
The annual cost of raising a child in urban India has changed sharply over the last 20 years.
Here’s how some yearly expenses compare between 2006 and 2026:
• School education: ₹3,750 → ₹27,388
• Food: ₹3,760 → ₹23,300
• Healthcare: ₹1,434 → ₹1,657
• Clothing: ₹1,500 → ₹8,000
Total estimated yearly cost:
• 2006: ~₹10,444
• 2026: ~₹60,345
During the same period, estimated annual income rose from around ₹76,000 to nearly ₹3 lakh.
The estimates are based on survey-average urban expenditure data and not individual household budgets.