it is literally free, even profitable if done correctly. and no i'm not talking about child labor. social programs in the us will pay well above the cost of raising a child. enough so that with just one child a single mother can get enough welfare to feed and clothe her child with enough left over to feed herself. she can also qualify for free housing and medical care for her child. public schools will serve as daycare once they are 5, or as young as 2 in some states. between ebt, wic, etc. and local programs like second harvest, raising a child is not a financial burden at all.
United States