Millions of babies are born every day, making birth the most common reason for a trip to the emergency room. But when the parents of these newborns leave the hospital, the postpartum experience can be vastly affected by the medical bills that follow them home.
Here's how much it costs to give birth around the world. A great deal of this information comes from the 2016 Coyne College study of birth costs around the world. (It's important to note that these numbers have likely changed since the study was conducted. )
The United States has one of the highest birth costs, with "surprise billing" skyrocketing some bills to six figures.
The average cost of a birth is in the US is around $10,800, but with the lack of transparency in the American healthcare system, the medical bills on the higher end can be outrageously high.
Professor Gerard Anderson of the Johns Hopkins Centre for Hospital Finance and Management told BBC, "you … pay a fee for services a la carte in the US so if you are worried about the pain of the childbirth and have an epidural, you'll have to pay for it … And all those costs rack up."
Make sure to check the average price of giving birth in your state, from Time.
Canada has low rates, making it a destination for citizens and visitors.
Just across the Northern border, the average price for a natural birth is only $3,195. Canada's low rates and high-quality facilities make it a destination for birth tourists, according to Maclean's.
Pregnant visitors do pay a larger price but take advantage of the comparatively low rates and on-soil citizenship.
Delivery in Argentina won’t break the bank.
The average delivery price in Argentina is $2,237, but only $2,972 for a C-section procedure.
Chile doesn’t overcharge for C-section procedures.
In Chile, the average cost is $3,589, but that includes the average for standard births and cesarean births.
Give birth like a British royal for the cost of an American birth.
According to CNBC, in the United Kingdom, it costs about "$2,300 on average for a vaginal delivery or planned C-section … or $3,400 for a more complicated procedure."
The National Health Service completely covers pregnancy and childbirth, but low-cost private options are available. If you'd like to have your baby in the same hospital wing as the Duchess of Cambridge, you could do so for perhaps less than the cost of the average American delivery, according to Fortune.
Birth in Germany or France will only set you back a little over $2,500.
France, in particular, is known for its excellent healthcare benefits, that even protect non-citizens.
Everything is a little pricier in Australia.
The average is around $5,312 for a standard delivery.
Island nations like Singapore charge more for the importing of materials.
Wealthier island nations have higher birth costs, with Singapore's between $8,000 and $10,000.
Japan may have the highest financial birth cost in the world.
A typical childbirth in Japan will run you about $61,810. According to the Nikkei Asian Review, however, this country boasts the lowest mortality rate in the world, thanks to its "strong health systems with ample numbers of highly skilled workers, well-developed infrastructure, sanitation, public health education, and guaranteed universal access to quality care at all ages."
Switzerland is not cheap.
Switzerland has similar birth prices to Singapore, with an average cost of $7,751 and a C-section average of about $9,965.
Hong Kong, China has a steep price.
The average price ranges between $12,000 and $15,000.
It's inexpensive to give birth in Spain.
The average cost is around $1,950, with any complications adding minimal costs.
Birth in Mexico runs relatively cheap but still may feature major hidden costs.
While there is no average cost associated with delivery in Mexico, Martina Žoldoš recounted her hospital experience to Matador Network. Her expected $600 price was more than doubled due to her doctor's last-minute Cesarean suggestion.
South African hospitals have an affordable price tag for the basics.
Without medical insurance, a typical birth at a private hospital will run you around $1500, with a C-section at around $2,000, according to HuffPost. Unfortunately, the bill can climb much higher with surprise $500 fees for other doctors.
Even a C-section birth in Thailand won’t go over $3,000.
New Zealand writer and Nepalese expat, Elen Turner, recounted her costs and experience giving birth at a hospital in Bangkok for The BillFold. In Thailand, she had no hospital bills for the birth, but without insurance, the average price was a little over $2,000, according to Thailand Starter Kit.
Indonesia and the Philippines both have relatively low costs.
In Indonesia, the average cost of delivery is $1,837 and in the Philippines, it's $2,122, according to Pacific Cross International. A complicated C-section birth, however, can reach $7,300.
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