by Nick Selbe

The Least Affordable Places for Single Parents

Raising a family is hard enough as it is, let alone doing so as a single parent. CareerTrends found the least affordable places for single parents.

Any parent knows that raising a child is the biggest financial strain one can undertake. Many advocate for increased government welfare for low-income parents, as more than 5 million babies aged 3 or younger are living in households struggling to pay for basic needs, including providing the necessary supply of diapers.

With this in mind, CareerTrends -- an employment and career research site -- found the least affordable places for single parents. The data comes from the Economic Policy Institute's 2015 Family Budget Calculator, which provides an estimate of community-specific costs of childcare, food, healthcare, housing, taxes, transportation and other necessities for different family sizes across 618 locations.

The list ranks locations by the monthly dollar amount required for a single adult with two children to meet a secure yet modest living standard. The EPI assumes the ages of the two children to be 4- and 8-years-old.

The national average for the cost of living of single parents under these parameters is $4,818 per month. Six locations have monthly budgets of over $7,000, with Washington, D.C. leading the way at $8,669 per month.

Among the top 50 most expensive locations, most are located in the Northeast, and all have a monthly budget of over $5,400. Four of the top 10 places are located in New York, which features 12 areas in the overall top 50.

Single parents face unique challenges when it comes to affordability, as they often have to provide for their children on a single income. The least affordable places for single parents can vary based on factors such as cost of living, housing costs, childcare expenses, and job opportunities. However, here are some areas that tend to be particularly challenging for single parents:

    San Francisco, California

    San Francisco is one of the most expensive cities in the United States, with a high cost of living and sky-high housing costs. The median rent for a two-bedroom apartment in San Francisco is over $3,000 per month, making it nearly impossible for many single parents to afford.

    New York City, New York

    New York City is another notoriously expensive city, with high housing costs and a high cost of living. Childcare expenses can also be particularly high in this area.

    Honolulu, Hawaii

    Honolulu is one of the most expensive cities in the United States, with a high cost of living and high housing costs. Childcare costs can also be particularly high in this area.

    Stamford, Connecticut

    Stamford is one of the most expensive cities in the United States, with a high cost of living and high housing costs. Childcare expenses can also be particularly high in this area.

    Washington, D.C.

    Washington, D.C. is another expensive city, with high housing costs and a high cost of living. Childcare expenses can also be particularly high in this area.

Overall, single parents in these areas may face significant challenges when it comes to affordability, particularly when it comes to housing costs and childcare expenses.

Real Estate: "The Least Affordable Places for Single Parents"