Childcare Costs by State (2026)

Compare daycare prices across all 50 states and DC

📊 National Average $13,824/yr Center-based infant care

📈 Most Expensive $24,243/yr District of Columbia

📉 Least Expensive $6,001/yr Alabama

💸 Most Expensive States

💚 Most Affordable States

All States

Alaska $12,120/yr $1,010/mo 14% of income Alabama $6,001/yr $500/mo 10.1% of income Arkansas $8,869/yr $739/mo 15.7% of income Arizona $14,040/yr $1,170/mo 19.3% of income California $18,201/yr $1,517/mo 19.8% of income Colorado $19,573/yr $1,631/mo 22.3% of income Connecticut $16,588/yr $1,382/mo 18.4% of income District of Columbia $24,243/yr $2,020/mo 23.8% of income Delaware $11,021/yr $918/mo 14.5% of income Florida $9,238/yr $770/mo 13.6% of income Georgia $9,227/yr $769/mo 12.9% of income Hawaii $20,647/yr $1,721/mo 21.8% of income Iowa $11,500/yr $958/mo 15.9% of income Idaho $10,108/yr $842/mo 15.1% of income Illinois $13,802/yr $1,150/mo 17.6% of income Indiana $13,736/yr $1,145/mo 20.4% of income Kansas $11,222/yr $935/mo 16.1% of income Kentucky $9,685/yr $807/mo 16% of income Louisiana $7,724/yr $644/mo 13.4% of income Massachusetts $20,913/yr $1,743/mo 21.7% of income Maryland $15,919/yr $1,327/mo 14.7% of income Maine $11,830/yr $986/mo 17.3% of income Michigan $9,458/yr $788/mo 13.8% of income Minnesota $20,129/yr $1,677/mo 23.9% of income Missouri $9,984/yr $832/mo 15.1% of income Mississippi $6,188/yr $516/mo 11.9% of income Montana $11,700/yr $975/mo 17.7% of income North Carolina $12,370/yr $1,031/mo 18.7% of income North Dakota $12,299/yr $1,025/mo 16.6% of income Nebraska $13,383/yr $1,115/mo 18.6% of income New Hampshire $17,250/yr $1,438/mo 19% of income New Jersey $19,634/yr $1,636/mo 19.3% of income New Mexico $13,521/yr $1,127/mo 23% of income Nevada $9,703/yr $809/mo 13.5% of income New York $21,826/yr $1,819/mo 28.8% of income Ohio $13,780/yr $1,148/mo 21% of income Oklahoma $10,809/yr $901/mo 17.6% of income Oregon $19,500/yr $1,625/mo 25.5% of income Pennsylvania $14,910/yr $1,243/mo 20.4% of income Rhode Island $18,486/yr $1,541/mo 24.8% of income South Carolina $10,474/yr $873/mo 16.5% of income South Dakota $7,862/yr $655/mo 11.3% of income Tennessee $11,985/yr $999/mo 19% of income Texas $11,349/yr $946/mo 15.5% of income Utah $14,160/yr $1,180/mo 16.3% of income Virginia $16,796/yr $1,400/mo 19.3% of income Vermont $18,710/yr $1,559/mo 25.8% of income Washington $21,348/yr $1,779/mo 23.6% of income Wisconsin $17,963/yr $1,497/mo 24.8% of income West Virginia $10,439/yr $870/mo 19.9% of income Wyoming $12,784/yr $1,065/mo 17.6% of income

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📚 Understanding Childcare Costs

Childcare is one of the largest expenses for American families with young children. The federal government defines "affordable" childcare as costing no more than 7% of household income — a standard that no state currently meets for center-based infant care. Costs vary dramatically by state, care type (center vs. family daycare vs. nanny), and child's age (infant care costs the most due to lower caregiver-to-child ratios).

In over 38 states, the annual cost of infant daycare exceeds the average in-state public college tuition. For two-child families, childcare costs exceed mortgage payments in 45+ states. Tax credits like the Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit (CDCTC) and Dependent Care FSAs can help offset some costs, but the maximum benefits cover only a fraction of actual expenses.