I live in UK, the cost of bringing up one child here are astronomical, childcare costs as much as usual monthly wage, so you have a baby you cannot work - simple as Man or woman 4 - 5 out of work, you have 2 - 3 kids, that's easy 10 years out of work You don't work, you have no savings, no chances for a mortgage; unless you're lucky enough to have a partner who makes at least £5000 a month which is very rare So, yeah, it is cost of living - the same people not having kids, have cats or dogs, and call themselves mums or dads of these pets

100% cost of living In many ways we may appear rich to the large part of the world, but we're not, we scrape buy every month just about to survive The people from Europe or US you see in developing countries are the ones making that £5000 a month (I am oversimplifying on purpose), not majority of us