Annual child care expenses for Houston parents are lower than the national average of $25,181, according to the SmartAsset report.

Houston, Texas — For those considering starting a family, it’s always important to consider how much money it costs to raise a child. These costs aren’t any cheaper, especially in a region that includes Houston, The Woodlands and Sugar Land, where the annual costs of raising a single child can add up to more than $21,000 each year.

That’s according to a new annual report from SmartAsset that examined child care costs in 50 of America’s largest metropolitan areas.

Despite the seemingly high annual price tag, raising a child in Houston is actually much more affordable than in most other U.S. metropolises. The city was ranked 13th on the list of lowest annual child-rearing costs among the 50 cities in the report.

Continue reading this article from our partners ABC13 at Houston CultureMap.