Iran War could cost $2 billion per month, Congressional Budget Office estimates

Updated on: September 15, 2026 / 2:42 PM EDT / CBS News

The war with Iran could cost approximately $2 billion to $3 billion per month for as long as it continues, according to a report released by the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office on Tuesday. The report estimates those costs could rise when there are tit-for-tat exchanges of fire with Iran.

The office estimated the war between Feb. 28 and Aug. 1 has directly cost the U.S. about $38 billion, a figure that does not include repairing U.S. bases in the region damaged during the conflict. The CBO noted that replacing munitions used in the war accounts for most of the total cost.

In particular, the CBO said the large expenditure of interceptor missiles used to defend against incoming missiles leaves behind a "reduced inventory of interceptors for several years."

"The shortfall would become especially problematic if a conflict arose with an opponent whose arsenal included large numbers of ballistic and cruise missiles," according to the report, which pointed out that China maintains such an arsenal and could employ it if there were a conflict over Taiwan.

The CBO estimates it will cost $21.7 billion to replace the munitions used…

Original source: https://www.cbsnews.com/healthwatch/