How much childcare costs in Alabama
Center-based infant care in Alabama costs about $8,620 a year in 2026 dollars (estimate), or $718 a month. In 2022 federal data it was $7,052, 9.1% of the median family income and 1.3× the HHS 7% affordability benchmark.
Cost by age and care type
Annual prices for full-time care, averaged across Alabama's counties and weighted by population. 2026 figures are estimates scaled by the BLS day care and preschool CPI to August 2026.
| Age | Center, 2022 | Center, 2026 est. | Home, 2022 | Home, 2026 est. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Infant (0 to 23 months) | $7,052 | $8,620 | $6,698 | $8,187 |
| Toddler (24 to 35 months) | $6,944 | $8,488 | $6,564 | $8,024 |
| Preschool (36 to 54 months) | $6,516 | $7,965 | $6,408 | $7,833 |
Family child care, in a provider's home, costs about $6,698 a year for an infant in Alabama (2022 data): $354, or 5% less than a center.
Childcare cost by county in Alabama
Shelby County has the highest center-based infant price in Alabama, $7,657 a year in 2022 data, and Clay County, Cleburne County and 2 other counties the lowest, $5,927: a gap of $1,730 a year (29% higher). These county prices are Department of Labor estimates: estimated from the state's surveys in other years.
| County | Center infant | Toddler | Preschool | Home infant | Family income | Infant share |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shelby County | $7,657 | $7,885 | $7,235 | $7,578 | $112,123 | 6.8% |
| Jefferson County | $7,635 | $7,866 | $7,216 | $7,570 | $83,299 | 9.2% |
| 3 countiesBlount County, St. Clair County, Walker County | $7,588 | $7,823 | $7,173 | $7,570 | $68,810 to $83,565 | 9.1 to 11.0% |
| 5 countiesAutauga County, Bullock County, Covington County, Dallas County, Elmore County | $7,582 | $7,213 | $6,498 | $7,058 | $43,750 to $84,463 | 9.0 to 17.3% |
| Montgomery County | $7,566 | $7,200 | $6,485 | $7,050 | $71,258 | 10.6% |
| 4 countiesButler County, Chilton County, Lowndes County, Wilcox County | $7,532 | $7,171 | $6,456 | $7,050 | $46,269 to $72,090 | 10.4 to 16.3% |
| 3 countiesBibb County, Marengo County, Tuscaloosa County | $7,094 | $6,888 | $6,693 | $5,386 | $67,083 to $83,129 | 8.5 to 10.6% |
| 5 countiesColbert County, Lauderdale County, Limestone County, Madison County, Morgan County | $7,073 | $6,997 | $6,607 | $7,596 | $69,400 to $101,032 | 7.0 to 10.2% |
9 countiesChoctaw County, Fayette County, Greene County, Hale County, Lamar County, Marion County, Perry County, Pickens County, Sumter County | $7,050 | $6,846 | $6,651 | $5,380 | $40,462 to $64,661 | 10.9 to 17.4% |
| 4 countiesChambers County, Lee County, Macon County, Russell County | $7,018 | $6,986 | $6,531 | $6,946 | $52,617 to $86,772 | 8.1 to 13.3% |
| 4 countiesCullman County, Franklin County, Lawrence County, Winston County | $7,016 | $6,947 | $6,557 | $7,588 | $61,537 to $72,331 | 9.7 to 11.4% |
| Tallapoosa County | $6,967 | $6,938 | $6,483 | $6,938 | $63,358 | 11.0% |
| 3 countiesBaldwin County, Escambia County, Mobile County | $6,932 | $6,715 | $6,390 | $6,733 | $57,329 to $89,953 | 7.7 to 12.1% |
| 4 countiesClarke County, Conecuh County, Monroe County, Washington County | $6,882 | $6,669 | $6,344 | $6,725 | $55,380 to $75,492 | 9.1 to 12.4% |
| 5 countiesBarbour County, Coffee County, Dale County, Houston County, Pike County | $6,336 | $6,066 | $5,741 | $5,453 | $55,672 to $76,211 | 8.3 to 11.4% |
| 3 countiesCrenshaw County, Geneva County, Henry County | $6,299 | $6,030 | $5,705 | $5,447 | $60,345 to $75,475 | 8.3 to 10.4% |
| 2 countiesEtowah County, Marshall County | $6,152 | $5,643 | $5,383 | $4,309 | $67,242 to $71,511 | 8.6 to 9.1% |
| 3 countiesCherokee County, DeKalb County, Jackson County | $6,113 | $5,606 | $5,346 | $4,304 | $59,225 to $63,429 | 9.6 to 10.3% |
| 2 countiesCalhoun County, Talladega County | $5,968 | $5,957 | $5,957 | $5,386 | $66,224 to $68,959 | 8.7 to 9.0% |
| 4 countiesClay County, Cleburne County, Coosa County, Randolph County | $5,927 | $5,918 | $5,918 | $5,380 | $60,216 to $71,833 | 8.3 to 9.8% |
Annual median prices in 2022 data, not quotes. Counties with identical prices are grouped. All 67 center-based infant prices here are Department of Labor estimates: estimated from the state's surveys in other years. How prices are estimated.
Neighboring states
- Florida$1,193/mo infant, 2026 est.
- Georgia$886/mo infant, 2026 est.
- Mississippi$697/mo infant, 2026 est.
- Tennessee$999/mo infant, 2026 est.
See how Alabama compares in the full ranking of childcare costs by state.
Frequently asked questions
How much is daycare in Alabama per month?
Center-based infant care in Alabama costs about $718 a month in estimated 2026 dollars ($588 a month in 2022 federal data). In a center, toddler care runs about $707 and preschool about $664 a month in 2026 dollars, and home-based infant care about $682. These are population-weighted averages across Alabama's counties; actual prices vary by provider.
What is the cheapest county for childcare in Alabama?
Shelby County has the highest center-based infant price in Alabama, $7,657 a year in 2022 data, and Clay County, Cleburne County and 2 other counties the lowest, $5,927: a gap of $1,730 a year (29% higher). These county prices are Department of Labor estimates: estimated from the state's surveys in other years.
How much of a family's income does childcare take in Alabama?
Center-based infant care takes about 9.1% of the median family income in Alabama ($7,052 against $77,668, 2022 data), 1.3× the HHS 7% affordability benchmark. That ranks 48 of 49 for burden, where 1 is the heaviest. Across counties it ranges from 6.8% in Shelby County to 17.4% in Perry County.
Source: National Database of Childcare Prices, U.S. Department of Labor, Women's Bureau, county file NDCP2022.xlsx (2022 data for Alabama). 2026 estimates use the BLS CPI-U day care and preschool index (series CUUR0000SEEB03) to August 2026. Methodology · Download every county (CSV)