United States · National Database of Childcare Prices, U.S. Department of Labor, Women's Bureau · latest survey 2020–2022

Childcare and daycare costs by state

Name: US childcare cost by state
Creator: Childcare Cost Index
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Ranked against family income, with 2026 estimates

Center-based infant care runs about $16,304 a year in 2026 dollars (estimate). In the 2020 to 2022 federal survey it was $13,294, roughly 14.1% of the median family income, above the HHS 7% affordability benchmark in every state with data. By state, the 2026 estimate runs from $8,360 in Mississippi to $31,146 in District of Columbia.

$8,360 · MississippiUS avg $16,304, 2026 est.$31,146 · District of Columbia

$16,304

US infant care, per year (2026 est.)

$1,359

Per month (2026 est.)

14.1%

Of median family income (survey year)

49 of 49

States above the 7% benchmark

The full ranking, by state

Annual price, and what it takes out of the median family income. Free to download, no sign-up.

Setting

Age

#	State	Per year	Per month	Per month, 2026 est.	Share of family income	vs 7% line	Year
1	District of Columbiapriciest	$25,480	$2,123	$2,595	17.4%	2.5×	2022
2	Massachusetts	$22,879	$1,907	$2,331	19.0%	2.7×	2022
3	California	$19,270	$1,606	$1,963	18.4%	2.6×	2022†
4	Washington	$19,236	$1,603	$1,959	17.6%	2.5×	2022†
5	Colorado	$18,768	$1,564	$1,912	17.1%	2.4×	2022
6	Connecticut	$18,405	$1,534	$1,875	16.0%	2.3×	2022
7	Hawaii	$17,288	$1,441	$1,761	16.0%	2.3×	2022
8	Vermont	$16,564	$1,380	$1,754	18.3%	2.6×	2021†
9	Maryland	$17,157	$1,430	$1,748	14.6%	2.1×	2022†
10	Minnesota	$16,796	$1,400	$1,711	15.9%	2.3×	2022†
11	Alaska	$16,606	$1,384	$1,692	15.8%	2.3×	2022†
12	Oregon	$16,586	$1,382	$1,689	17.8%	2.5×	2022
13	New Jersey	$15,976	$1,331	$1,627	13.5%	1.9×	2022†
14	New York	$15,366	$1,281	$1,565	15.5%	2.2×	2022
15	New Hampshire	$15,335	$1,278	$1,562	13.6%	1.9×	2022†
16	Rhode Island	$15,235	$1,270	$1,552	14.4%	2.1×	2022†
17	Illinois	$14,727	$1,227	$1,500	15.2%	2.2×	2022†
18	Ohio	$13,785	$1,149	$1,404	16.0%	2.3×	2022
19	Nevada	$13,606	$1,134	$1,386	15.9%	2.3×	2022†
20	Virginia	$13,568	$1,131	$1,382	12.7%	1.8×	2022†
21	Wisconsin	$13,368	$1,114	$1,362	14.6%	2.1×	2022
22	Arizona	$13,143	$1,095	$1,339	14.8%	2.1×	2022
23	Missouri	$11,771	$981	$1,270	16.2%	2.3×	2020†
24	Delaware	$12,401	$1,033	$1,263	12.4%	1.8×	2022†
25	Pennsylvania	$11,496	$958	$1,240	14.2%	2.0×	2020†
26	Maine	$12,150	$1,013	$1,238	13.8%	2.0×	2022†
27	Utah	$11,772	$981	$1,199	11.5%	1.6×	2022†
28	Florida	$11,712	$976	$1,193	14.0%	2.0×	2022
29	Montana	$11,580	$965	$1,180	13.9%	2.0×	2022†
30	Nebraska	$11,413	$951	$1,163	12.3%	1.8×	2022†
31	North Carolina	$11,386	$949	$1,160	13.6%	1.9×	2022†
32	North Dakota	$11,196	$933	$1,140	11.4%	1.6×	2022†
33	Oklahoma	$11,035	$920	$1,124	14.6%	2.1×	2022†
34	Tennessee	$9,812	$818	$999	12.1%	1.7×	2022†
35	South Carolina	$9,605	$800	$978	12.0%	1.7×	2022†
36	Texas	$9,038	$753	$921	10.5%	1.5×	2022
37	Wyoming	$8,901	$742	$907	10.3%	1.5×	2022†
38	West Virginia	$8,743	$729	$891	12.4%	1.8×	2022†
39	Georgia	$8,697	$725	$886	10.0%	1.4×	2022†
40	Iowa	$8,642	$720	$880	9.5%	1.4×	2022†
41	Michigan	$8,625	$719	$879	10.0%	1.4×	2022†
42	Idaho	$8,602	$717	$876	10.1%	1.4×	2022†
43	Kentucky	$8,289	$691	$844	10.9%	1.6×	2022†
44	Kansas	$8,146	$679	$830	9.1%	1.3×	2022†
45	Louisiana	$7,774	$648	$792	10.7%	1.5×	2022†
46	South Dakota	$7,763	$647	$791	8.7%	1.2×	2022
47	Alabama	$7,052	$588	$718	9.1%	1.3×	2022†
48	Arkansas	$6,698	$558	$709	10.1%	1.4×	2021†
49	Mississippi	$6,839	$570	$697	10.2%	1.5×	2022†

† Most county prices behind this state's latest year are Department of Labor estimates rather than direct survey results. Where prices are modelled.

Source: National Database of Childcare Prices, U.S. Department of Labor, Women's Bureau. County median prices aggregated to state level, population-weighted, using each state's latest survey (2020–2022), annualized from weekly medians. Ranked by the 2026 estimate: each state's survey price scaled by the BLS day care and preschool CPI to August 2026 (method).

Download full dataset (CSV)County dataset (CSV)

Childcare cost in your state

County-by-county prices, age and care type, and neighboring states for each state in the index.

Key statistics

Free to cite. A link back to the Childcare Cost Index is appreciated.

Center-based infant care in the US costs about $13,294 a year, roughly 14.1% of the median family income, per the Childcare Cost Index (National Database of Childcare Prices, U.S. Department of Labor, Women's Bureau, latest survey 2020–2022).
Adjusted with the BLS day care and preschool CPI, center-based infant care costs an estimated $16,304 a year in 2026 dollars, per the Childcare Cost Index.
US infant care runs about 2.0 times the HHS 7% affordability benchmark, per the Childcare Cost Index.
Center-based infant care sits above the HHS 7% affordability benchmark in every one of the 49 states with data, per the Childcare Cost Index (latest survey 2020–2022).
Massachusetts carries the heaviest infant-care burden in the US at about 19.0% of the median family income, 2.7 times the 7% benchmark, per the Childcare Cost Index.
South Dakota carries the lightest infant-care burden at about 8.7% of the median family income, still above the 7% benchmark, per the Childcare Cost Index.
District of Columbia is the most expensive US state for center-based infant care at about $31,146 a year in estimated 2026 dollars ($25,480 in its 2022 survey). In the survey data Arkansas is the least expensive at $6,698; in 2026 dollars it is Mississippi, at about $8,360, per the Childcare Cost Index (latest survey 2020–2022, CPI to August 2026).
Across states, infant care ranges from about 8.7% to 19.0% of the median family income, per the Childcare Cost Index (latest survey 2020–2022).
Prices behind the Childcare Cost Index come from the National Database of Childcare Prices, U.S. Department of Labor, Women's Bureau, measured against each state's median family income; the full dataset is free to download as CSV.

Frequently asked questions

How much does childcare cost per year in the US?

Center-based infant care costs about $16,304 a year nationally in estimated 2026 dollars, or roughly $1,359 a month. In the 2020 to 2022 federal survey it was $13,294 ($1,108 a month). Family and home-based care is lower, around $10,211 a year in the survey. Prices fall as children get older: about $11,289 for a toddler and $10,554 for a preschooler in a center. By state, infant care ranges from about $8,360 in Mississippi to $31,146 in District of Columbia, estimated, in 2026 dollars.

Which state has the most expensive childcare?

District of Columbia is the most expensive for center-based infant care at about $31,146 a year, estimated, in 2026 dollars ($25,480 in its 2022 survey, about 17.4% of the median family income there). Mississippi is the least expensive at about $8,360. See the full ranking above.

Is childcare affordable anywhere in the US?

The 7% line is the affordability benchmark the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has used for child care: a 2024 rule capped subsidy co-payments at 7% of family income, and a final rule published May 12, 2026 and effective July 13, 2026 removed that federal cap. By that benchmark, infant care is unaffordable in every state with data: it is above 7% in all 49 of them, and nationally it takes about 14.1% of the median family income.

How many times the 7% affordability benchmark does infant care cost?

Nationally, center-based infant care takes about 14.1% of the median family income, roughly 2.0 times the HHS 7% affordability benchmark. The burden is heaviest in Massachusetts, at about 2.7 times the benchmark (19.0% of income), and lightest in South Dakota, at about 1.2 times (8.7%). No state comes in under the benchmark.

How much is daycare per month?

Center-based infant care averages about $1,359 a month nationally in estimated 2026 dollars ($1,108 in the federal survey). It varies widely by state, age and setting: use the ranking above to switch between center and home care and between infant, toddler and preschool ages, and to find your state.