What is / should be a comfortable salary combined to raise a kid?

Seems like a repeated question from others. 'Comfortable' is subjective. Anyways IMO, I dont believe in articles that quotes $200K or more to raise a child till 18.

I cant speak with experience for older kids, but age 0-5 years old, the costs can be manageable with potentially baby bonuses and CDA benefits given up to $20K.

The reason kids become expensive are usually when you start adding on your 'wants' eg. everything needs to be branded and new, premium diapers, many toys, extra curricular activities and classes etc.

Public hospitals can use Medisave, and may take just $4-5K from pregnancy to delivery.

Ask and find hand-me-downs - clothes, milk bottles, toys, strollers etc.

Use housebrand diapers; breastfeed if possible. When older, they share what we eat.

For other things buy in bulk online, dont buy toys, borrow books.

For childcare, after subsidy you may be looking at around $8-10K. But if you have help from family members like grandparents, that amount can also be saved.

​Take it a step at a time, your salary should also increase with age.

As such, you only need $10K savings max, with additional mthly expenses $500, (exclude childcare) should suffice.

Depends on how you want to raise the kid.

For a normal kid without skin allergy, you can choose to use KCA diaper or Merries diaper; kodomo bath or Babyganics products. All these makes a difference in cost $$. I can't say the delta in quality justify for it.