By Jessica Learish
/ CBS NEWS
Having a baby is an expensive endeavor — but the cost of giving birth in the U.S. varies wildly. The cost of hospital childbirth is more than three times more expensive in New Jersey than it is in Nebraska, for example.
CBS News looked at the cost of vagin*l birth, with no complications, before health insurance. Hospital Pricing Specialists collected raw price-tag data from nearly 4,500 hospitals across the country. The overall price tag is made up of room and board charges, operating room and pharmacy expenses, lab work and hospital fees.
Here's what we learned.
Alabama
It costs $15,162, on average, to give birth in an Alabama hospital.
Here, Kristen McArthur poses for a portrait with Paul Sparkman at the 2019 March for Reproductive Freedom in Birmingham, Alabama.
Alaska
Giving birth in a hospital in Alaska will cost, on average, $18,748. That's around 24% higher than the national average sticker price.
Arizona
The average price of giving birth in Arizona is $19,093.
Olympian Michael Phelps poses with his wife, Nicole Johnson, and son Maverick at the Phoenix Open in Scottsdale, Arizona. Maverick, the couple's third son, was born in September 2019.
Arkansas
The average price of giving birth in an Arkansas hospital is $15,005 — right around the national average.
In June 2019, actors Kristen Bell and Dax Shepard traveled to Arkansas to surprise expectant mothers with a $500 Walmart gift card and a cart full of essentials from their Hello Bello baby product line.
California
It costs an average of $26,380 to give birth in a California hospital. That's 75% higher than the national average.
California's sky-high room and board charges are part of the high cost. It's one of only two states to charge more than $10,000 for room and board alone.
Colorado
Families in Colorado pay an average of $15,627 to give birth in local hospitals.
Here, a nurse escorts a pregnant woman to an exam room at Inner City Health Center in Denver.
Connecticut
The average hospital bill for giving birth in Connecticut is $17,072.
Washington D.C.
In the nation's capital, the average price of hospital birth is $21,243. That's 41% higher than the national average.
Delaware
It costs an average of $11,391 to give birth in a Delaware hospital.
Florida
The average price of giving birth in a Florida hospital is $22,015.
Christian Vazquez, catcher for the Boston Red Sox, holds his newborn son Diego at his Weston, Florida, home in December 2019.
Georgia
The average hospital bill for giving birth in Georgia is $14,776.
Here, a Georgia woman laughs during an ultrasound appointment in Savannah.
Hawaii
In the Aloha State, hospitals charge growing families an average of $12,139.
Here, a U.S. Marine corporal hugs his eight-months-pregnant wife after returning to Hawaii from a deployment in Afghanistan.
Idaho
It costs an average of $10,897 to deliver a baby in an Idaho hospital. That's 24% below the national average.
Illinois
The average hospital bill for giving birth in Illinois is $16,241.
A nurse in Evanston shows a new mom the best way to hold her newborn daughter.
Indiana
It costs an average of $17,168 to deliver a baby in an Indiana hospital.
Iowa
On average, hospitals in Iowa charge $10,487 for vagin*l births.
In January 2020, days before the Iowa Caucus, then-presidential-candidate Pete Buttigieg greeted a baby in Webster City.
Kansas
In this Midwestern state, the average sticker price for hospital birth is $21,034.
Here, a couple in Lawrence, Kansas, takes a selfie with a sonogram photo.
Kentucky
Giving birth in a hospital in Kentucky will cost, on average, $12,443. That's around 17% lower than the national average.
Louisiana
Looking to give birth in a Louisiana hospital? The average price is $16,272.
Maine
It costs an average of $9,623 to give birth in hospitals in Maine, just 64% of the national average.
Here, achildbirth and lactation specialist does a prenatal consult with an expectant mother in Portland.
Maryland
Hospitals in Maryland charge an average of $8,934 for labor and delivery care.
A nurse in Baltimore examines a baby as the mother looks on.
Massachusetts
The average sticker price of giving birth in Massachusetts hospitals is $14,063.
Here, a Boston police officer visits a mother and her newborn.
Michigan
It costs an average of $12,711 to give birth in Michigan hospitals.
Minnesota
The average hospital bill for births in Minnesota is $14,559.
A family in St. Paul celebrates Christmas Day in the hospital with their newest addition.
Mississippi
In Mississippi, the average cost of a hospital birth is $12,413.
Missouri
It costs $15,544, on average, to give birth in a Missouri hospital.
Montana
The average hospital bill for growing Montana families is $11,938.
Nebraska
At $8,805, Nebraska has the lowest average price for hospital births.
Nevada
It costs an average of $21,239 to give birth in a Nevada hospital. That's 41% higher than the national average.
Two women celebrate at a joint baby shower for active-duty servicewomen and women with deployed partners at Nellis Air Force Base.
New Hampshire
In New Hampshire, the average price for labor and delivery care is $11,491.
A New Hampshire newborn sits beside Hulk, one of the world's largest-known pitbulls, in 2016.
New Jersey
New Jersey has the highest average price for hospital births: $29,048. That's almost twice the national average.
Like California, New Jersey's room and board prices are much higher than in other states — more than triple the national average.
New Mexico
It costs $17,961 to give birth in New Mexico hospitals, on average.
New York
In New York, hospitals charge growing families an average of $15,619.
Geri Andre-Major of Mount Vernon checks on her infant son during the coronavirus lockdown. Andre-Major's maternity pay was cut off in March when she was furloughed from her pre-school teaching job.
North Carolina
It costs an average of $12,910 to give birth in a North Carolina hospital.
Soccer star Hope Solo gave birth to twins near her home in North Carolina in April 2020.
North Dakota
The average price of hospital birth in North Dakota is $9,255, almost 40% below the national average.
Ohio
It costs an average of $15,149 to give birth in an Ohio hospital.
Oklahoma
The average price of hospital births in Oklahoma is $12,662.
Oregon
It costs $15,121, on average, to give birth in Oregon hospitals.
Here, a Portland mother holds her newborn baby.
Pennsylvania
The average price of hospital births in Pennsylvania is $19,764.
One of Penn State's youngest fans wears protective headphones during a pregame pep rally in University Park.
Rhode Island
It costs $16,626, on average, to give birth in a Rhode Island hospital.
South Carolina
In South Carolina, hospitals charge growing families an average of $17,684.
South Dakota
The price of hospital births in South Dakota is $11,799, around 22% below the national average.
Tennessee
It costs an average of $13,261 to give birth in Tennessee hospitals.
Country star Maren Morris continued to perform throughout her pregnancy in 2019. She gave birth to a son in Nashville in March 2020.
Texas
The average price of a hospital birth in Texas is $17,738.
Here, pregnant nurse Samantha Salinas takes a walk with her husband, Tim, and their daughter, Macie, near their home in San Antonio.
Utah
It costs an average of $11,602 to give birth in Utah hospitals.
In December 2019, Utah mom Jenny Collins gave birth to a baby boy in a hospital in American Fork.
Vermont
Hospitals in Vermont charge growing families an average of $10,377.
Here, an infant wears a "Babies for Bernie" shirt at a rally for Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders.
Virginia
On average, it costs $14,504 to give birth in Virginia hospitals.
Washington
On average, Washington hospitals charge growing families $18,077.
West Virginia
It costs an average of $11,442 to give birth in a West Virginia hospital.
A baby in a star-spangled dress sits on top of a car during the Independence Day parade in Ripley.
Wisconsin
In Wisconsin, hospital births cost $11,220.
Emoni Keller of Milwaukee shared her experience giving birth during the COVID-19 pandemic with WDJT, a local CBS affiliate. Her daughter was born on March 23, 2020.
Wyoming
It costs an average of $12,243 to give birth in a Wyoming hospital.
