NJ among most expensive states to have a baby: Here's how much it costs
Mentalist and magician Alex Voz stuns with baby prediction
After congratulating FOX 5 NY's Richard Giacovas on his baby boy due August 25, mentalist Alex Voz delivers an emotional on-air surprise—revealing the baby's name, a sonogram image and even predicting the exact birth time with a watch frozen in time.
NEW JERSEY - Welcoming a new baby is one of life’s greatest joys, but if you live in the Tri-State area, it may also be one of the biggest financial commitments you’ll ever make.
Delivery room costs
By the numbers:
Some recent surveys revealed that New York and New Jersey are two of the most expensive states in the country when it comes to giving birth.
According to the FAIR Health Cost of Giving Birth Tracker, the national median charge for an out-of-network vaginal delivery is $32,737. If that vaginal delivery is in-network, the national median drops to $15,728. For C-sections, the national median sits at $19,911 for in-network deliveries and jump to $44,432 for out-of-network care.
If you are giving birth in New York or New Jersey, prepare for a higher baseline across the board:
New York:
- Vaginal delivery (in-network): $22,814
- Vaginal delivery (out-of-network): $36,892
- C-section (in-network): $26,890
- C-section (out-of-network): $49,262
New Jersey:
- Vaginal delivery (in-network): $23,278
- Vaginal delivery (out-of-network): $44,324
- C-section (in-network): $27,697
- C-section (out-of-network): $58,504
Even with insurance coverage, an in-network delivery in New York or New Jersey will cost roughly $7,000 to $7,700 more than the national median.
(FAIR Health)
A 2026 WalletHub analysis confirms this localized price surge, ranking New Jersey 42nd and New York 41st in the nation for having the highest conventional delivery charges. New Jersey also lands in the bottom tier (tied for 38th) for the highest cesarean delivery charges in the U.S.
Long-term costs
Dig deeper:
The costs don't vanish once you bring your newborn home. WalletHub’s 2026 "Best & Worst States to Have a Baby" report evaluated all 50 states and Washington, D.C. for overall affordability, looking beyond just the hospital bill.
Neither state fared well in the budget department. Out of 51 regions, New York ranked 50th, making it the second most expensive state in the nation to have a baby. New Jersey wasn't far behind, ranking 45th overall for cost.
A massive driver of New York’s low affordability score is the cost of childcare, ranking 48th for the highest average annual infant-care costs.
Worth the price?
The other side:
Despite the financial burden, both states are leading the country in keeping newborns safe. When looking at infant mortality rates across the country, New Jersey boasts the 2nd lowest, while New York holds the 4th lowest.
WalletHub ranks New Jersey 20th and New York 22nd overall for generalized health care quality, reflecting strong access to pediatricians, highly rated hospitals, and robust maternal care networks.
New York also ranked 6th in the nation for family-friendliness and 8th for baby-friendliness. New Jersey took 14th and 16th place, respectively.
The Source: Information from this article was sourced from FAIR Health Cost of Giving Birth Tracker and WalletHub’s 2026 "Best & Worst States to Have a Baby" report.