- The average cost of having a baby in the US is $10,808.
- In 2016, 2,684,803 mothers had a vaginal birth and 1,258,581 mothers had a c-section, the latter of which is on the rise.
- FAIR Health gave Business Insider a state-by-state view of how much it costs to have a baby in every state for both a vaginal birth and c-section, with or without insurance.
The cost of having a baby isn’t cheap – in the United States, at least.
The average cost to have a baby in the US, without complications during delivery, is $10,808 – which can increase to $30,000 when factoring in care provided before and after pregnancy. Kate Middleton, Duchess of Cambridge, was likely billed less than that to bring new royal baby boy, Prince Louis Arthur Charles, into the world. For 24 hours in a deluxe room and a non-Caesarean delivery in 2015, the Lindo Wing charged £5,670, or $8,900 – and that’s for luxurious maternity ward accommodations.
When considering the fact that in the US, 2,684,803 mothers had a vaginal birth and 1,258,581 mothers had a c-section in 2016, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, that’s a lot of money going into the healthcare system just from maternity costs.
C-sections are the more costly of the two, and they’re on the rise. Nearly 32% of all births in 2016 were c-sections – a rate that has increased by nearly 50% since the 1990s, reports The Guardian.
But whether you have a vaginal birth or a C-section, the cost varies depending on what state you live in.
FAIR Health provided Business Insider with a state-by-state view on just how much it costs to have a baby in every state.
Scroll through below to find out how much it costs to have a baby in your state, ranked from least expensive to most. We've included the median cost of having a vaginal birth with insurance and having a vaginal birth without insurance, as well as the cost of having a c-section with insurance and having a c-section without insurance.
The cost with insurance reflects the full hospital bill. Actual out-of-pocket costs would be lower and dependent on the coinsurance or copay included in the individual's health insurance plan. The cost without insurance is based on the full amount a hospital might bill, which an uninsured person would be fully responsible for unless other arrangements were made.
50. Alabama
Cost of having a baby:
Vaginal birth with insurance: $4,884.44Vaginal birth without insurance: $9,013.88
C-section with insurance: $7,404.07C-section without insurance: $12,593.60
49. Rhode Island
Cost of having a baby:
Vaginal birth with insurance: $4,987.38Vaginal birth without insurance: $9,147.54
C-section with insurance: $7,939.74C-section without insurance: $13,610.95
48. Nebraska
Cost of having a baby:
Vaginal birth with insurance: $5,223.61Vaginal birth without insurance: $9,611.30
C-section with insurance: $8,039.19C-section without insurance: $13,893.06
47. Louisiana
Cost of having a baby:
Vaginal birth with insurance: $5,409.55Vaginal birth without insurance: $9,887.10
C-section with insurance: $7,791.89C-section without insurance: $13,225.10
46. Utah
Cost of having a baby:
Vaginal birth with insurance: $5,454.84Vaginal birth without insurance: $9,919.41
C-section with insurance: $8,132.89C-section without insurance: $13,887.42
45. Arkansas
Cost of having a baby:
Vaginal birth with insurance: $5,524.18Vaginal birth without insurance: $10,062.24
C-section with insurance: $7,989.74C-section without insurance: $13,602.12
44. Kansas
Cost of having a baby:
Vaginal birth with insurance: $5,566.41Vaginal birth without insurance: $10,216.65
C-section with insurance: $8,415.16C-section without insurance: $14,651.73
43. Hawaii
Cost of having a baby:
Vaginal birth with insurance: $5,622.85Vaginal birth without insurance: $10,332.87
C-section with insurance: $8,160.38C-section without insurance: $14,147.39
42. Kentucky
Cost of having a baby:
Vaginal birth with insurance: $5,647.04Vaginal birth without insurance: $10,485.97
C-section with insurance: $8,427.77C-section without insurance: $14,518.31
41. Iowa
Cost of having a baby:
Vaginal birth with insurance: $5,647.90Vaginal birth without insurance: $10,452.98
C-section with insurance: $8,456.64C-section without insurance: $14,590.62
40. Mississippi
Cost of having a baby:
Vaginal birth with insurance: $5,651.97Vaginal birth without insurance: $10,430.48
C-section with insurance: $8,576.33C-section without insurance: $14,955.90
39. Ohio
Cost of having a baby:
Vaginal birth with insurance: $5,705.76Vaginal birth without insurance: $10,609.60
C-section with insurance: $8,090.67C-section without insurance: $13,820.24
38. West Virginia
Cost of having a baby:
Vaginal birth with insurance: $5,717.18Vaginal birth without insurance: $10,301.50
C-section with insurance: $8,429.48C-section without insurance: $14,508.64
37. Idaho
Cost of having a baby:
Vaginal birth with insurance: $5,772.21Vaginal birth without insurance: $10,476.10
C-section with insurance: $8,338.79C-section without insurance: $14,405.24
36. New Mexico
Cost of having a baby:
Vaginal birth with insurance: $5,819.31Vaginal birth without insurance: $11,033.96
C-section with insurance: $8,391.94C-section without insurance: $14,677.68
35. Maine
Cost of having a baby:
Vaginal birth with insurance: $5,879.74Vaginal birth without insurance: $10,685.24
C-section with insurance: $8,093.16C-section without insurance: $13,761.92
34. Missouri
Cost of having a baby:
Vaginal birth with insurance: $5,904.83Vaginal birth without insurance: $10,906.82
C-section with insurance: $8,883.15C-section without insurance: $15,534.41
33. Michigan
Cost of having a baby:
Vaginal birth with insurance: $5,978.05Vaginal birth without insurance: $10,957.85
C-section with insurance: $8,443.70C-section without insurance: $14,530.95
32. Delaware
Cost of having a baby:
Vaginal birth with insurance: $5,978.86Vaginal birth without insurance: $10,933.21
C-section with insurance: $8,373.46C-section without insurance: $14,367.51
31. Minnesota
Cost of having a baby:
Vaginal birth with insurance: $6,011.99Vaginal birth without insurance: $11,031.86
C-section with insurance: $8,809.20C-section without insurance: $15,231.75
30. Oklahoma
Cost of having a baby:
Vaginal birth with insurance: $6,057.96Vaginal birth without insurance: $11,287.31
C-section with insurance: $8,619.79C-section without insurance: $15,055.99
29. Montana
Cost of having a baby:
Vaginal birth with insurance: $6,101.17Vaginal birth without insurance: $11,176.59
C-section with insurance: $8,473.76C-section without insurance: $14,641.75
28. South Dakota
Cost of having a baby:
Vaginal birth with insurance: $6,121.19Vaginal birth without insurance: $11,175.50
C-section with insurance: $8,793.36C-section without insurance: $15,406.29
27. South Carolina
Cost of having a baby:
Vaginal birth with insurance: $6,141.69Vaginal birth without insurance: $11,377.81
C-section with insurance: $8,727.16C-section without insurance: $15,103.24
26. New Hampshire
Cost of having a baby:
Vaginal birth with insurance: $6,207.80Vaginal birth without insurance: $11,487.32
C-section with insurance: $9,409.77C-section without insurance: $16,803.04
25. Indiana
Cost of having a baby:
Vaginal birth with insurance: $6,347.41Vaginal birth without insurance: $11,837.14
C-section with insurance: $9,355.35C-section without insurance: $16,602.23
24. North Carolina
Cost of having a baby:
Vaginal birth with insurance: $6,407.91Vaginal birth without insurance: $11,848.73
C-section with insurance: $8,971.04C-section without insurance: $15,670.46
23. Washington
Cost of having a baby:
Vaginal birth with insurance: $6,408.83Vaginal birth without insurance: $11,769.31
C-section with insurance: $9,338.87C-section without insurance: $16,439.41
22. Virginia
Cost of having a baby:
Vaginal birth with insurance: $6,493.98Vaginal birth without insurance: $12,065.79
C-section with insurance: $9,557.10C-section without insurance: $16,970.82
21. Vermont
Cost of having a baby:
Vaginal birth with insurance: $6,502.27Vaginal birth without insurance: $12,074.59
C-section with insurance: $10,644.78C-section without insurance: $19,525.80
20. Maryland
Cost of having a baby:
Vaginal birth with insurance: $6,508.44Vaginal birth without insurance: $11,820.32
C-section with insurance: $9,110.67C-section without insurance: $15,820.97
19. Pennsylvania
Cost of having a baby:
Vaginal birth with insurance: $6,535.24Vaginal birth without insurance: $12,037.00
C-section with insurance: $9,797.40C-section without insurance: $17,452.53
18. Colorado
Cost of having a baby:
Vaginal birth with insurance: $6,648.17Vaginal birth without insurance: $12,549.70
C-section with insurance: $9,358.13C-section without insurance: $16,574.70
17. Georgia
Cost of having a baby:
Vaginal birth with insurance: $6,693.32Vaginal birth without insurance: $12,447.83
C-section with insurance: $9,427.23C-section without insurance: $16,711.12
16. Tennessee
Cost of having a baby:
Vaginal birth with insurance: $6,696.51Vaginal birth without insurance: $12,602.76
C-section with insurance: $9,328.75C-section without insurance: $16,465.34
15. Oregon
Cost of having a baby:
Vaginal birth with insurance: $6,725.62Vaginal birth without insurance: $12,231.67
C-section with insurance: $9,569.14C-section without insurance: $16,973.33
14. Arizona
Cost of having a baby:
Vaginal birth with insurance: $6,806.76Vaginal birth without insurance: $12,930.96
C-section with insurance: $9,599.50C-section without insurance: $17,198.69
13. Texas
Cost of having a baby:
Vaginal birth with insurance: $6,923.48Vaginal birth without insurance: $13,149.87
C-section with insurance: $10,199.52C-section without insurance: $18,425.98
12. Nevada
Cost of having a baby:
Vaginal birth with insurance: $6,947.47Vaginal birth without insurance: $13,135.05
C-section with insurance: $10,130.72C-section without insurance: $18,299.01
11. California
Cost of having a baby:
Vaginal birth with insurance: $7,001.03Vaginal birth without insurance: $13,081.32
C-section with insurance: $10,102.40C-section without insurance: $18,088.29
10. Wyoming
Cost of having a baby:
Vaginal birth with insurance: $7,018.03Vaginal birth without insurance: $13,117.31
C-section with insurance: $10,017.69C-section without insurance: $18,184.22
9. North Dakota
Cost of having a baby:
Vaginal birth with insurance: $7,294.10Vaginal birth without insurance: $13,191.93
C-section with insurance: $9,647.96C-section without insurance: $16,993.96
8. Florida
Cost of having a baby:
Vaginal birth with insurance: $7,391.90Vaginal birth without insurance: $13,923.95
C-section with insurance: $10,514.41C-section without insurance: $18,864.02
7. Illinois
Cost of having a baby:
Vaginal birth with insurance: $7,447.68Vaginal birth without insurance: $14,047.36
C-section with insurance: $10,511.16C-section without insurance: $19,001.81
6. Connecticut
Cost of having a baby:
Vaginal birth with insurance: $7,906.21Vaginal birth without insurance: $14,583.66
C-section with insurance: $11,188.13C-section without insurance: $20,410.99
5. Massachusetts
Cost of having a baby:
Vaginal birth with insurance: $7,949.91Vaginal birth without insurance: $14,618.17
C-section with insurance: $10,349.98C-section without insurance: $18,461.72
4. Wisconsin
Cost of having a baby:
Vaginal birth with insurance: $8,278.86Vaginal birth without insurance: $15,798.92
C-section with insurance: $11,757.92C-section without insurance: $21,703.62
3. New York
Cost of having a baby:
Vaginal birth with insurance: $8,449.33Vaginal birth without insurance: $15,518.68
C-section with insurance: $11,387.63C-section without insurance: $20,706.77
2. New Jersey
Cost of having a baby:
Vaginal birth with insurance: $8,755.88Vaginal birth without insurance: $16,674.62
C-section with insurance: $11,637.74C-section without insurance: $21,297.28
1. Alaska
Cost of having a baby:
Vaginal birth with insurance: $10,681.28Vaginal birth without insurance: $19,775.79
C-section with insurance: $14,927.76C-section without insurance: $28,491.95
