According to the National Institute of Censuses and Statistics (INDEC) of Argentina, in October the cost of raising a child increased by approximately 4% compared to the previous month. To cover the expenses associated with raising a child at different stages of their life, households needed between $381,230 and $479,723, depending on the child's age.
In October, the cost of raising a newborn was $388,184, of which $111,749 corresponded to goods and services, and $276,435 to the cost of care. For children aged 1 to 3 years, parents had to allocate $460,220, distributed as $144,294 for goods and services, and $315,926 for care. For children aged 4 to 5 years, the cost was $381,230, with $183,776 for goods and services, and $197,454 for care. In the age range of 6 to 12 years, the total amount rose to $479,723, with $227,975 for goods and services, and $251,748 for care.
It is noteworthy that the monthly increases were more significant in the costs of care than in goods and services. The basket of child-rearing, implemented by INDEC in March 2024, evaluates the costs associated with raising children and adolescents up to 12 years.
This measurement considers expenses for food, clothing, housing, transportation, and health, as well as care costs, based on the time dedicated to these tasks and valued according to the category of "Assistance and care of people" of the Private Household Labor Regime. The implementation of this basket aims to highlight the economic costs related to care tasks, commonly unpaid, and is used as a reference in legal processes for setting child support payments.
