HOUSTON — SmartAsset released a study on the annual cost of raising a child in the Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands metro area. The report projects that in 2026, the average annual cost for a two-parent household to raise one child in the region will be $22,605.

The 2026 figure represents a 3.4% increase from the 2025 annual cost of $21,868. In 2024, the average annual cost to raise one child in the same metro area was $21,396, indicating a steady upward trend in child-related expenses over the three-year span.

According to the study, the Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands metro area ranks 42nd among the nation’s largest metropolitan areas for the annual cost of raising a single child. The ranking reflects relatively moderate expenses compared to other major U.S. regions.

The study calculated costs based on childcare, food, housing, transportation, health care, and other child-related expenses. These categories form the basis of SmartAsset’s projection for household expenditures associated with raising a child in the Houston area.