How much childcare costs in Alaska
Center-based infant care in Alaska costs about $20,298 a year in 2026 dollars (estimate), or $1,692 a month. In 2022 federal data it was $16,606, 15.8% of the median family income and 2.3× the HHS 7% affordability benchmark.
Cost by age and care type
Annual prices for full-time care, averaged across the 8 of Alaska's 30 counties with a price 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) | $16,606 | $20,298 | $13,040 | $15,939 |
| Toddler (24 to 35 months) | $15,208 | $18,590 | $12,033 | $14,709 |
| Preschool (36 to 54 months) | $13,701 | $16,747 | $11,603 | $14,183 |
Family child care, in a provider's home, costs about $13,040 a year for an infant in Alaska (2022 data): $3,566, or 21% less than a center.
Childcare cost by county in Alaska
Sitka City and Borough has the highest center-based infant price in Alaska, $24,413 a year in 2022 data, and Kenai Peninsula Borough the lowest, $8,052: a gap of $16,361 a year (203% higher). These county prices are Department of Labor estimates: estimated from the state's surveys in other years.
The federal file has a center-based infant price for 8 of Alaska's 30 counties in 2022. The state figures above average only those counties.
| County | Center infant | Toddler | Preschool | Home infant | Family income | Infant share |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sitka City and Borough | $24,413 | $21,160 | $18,720 | n/a | $107,896 | 22.6% |
| Fairbanks North Star Borough | $20,551 | $14,880 | $13,784 | $16,424 | $100,854 | 20.4% |
| Anchorage Municipality | $18,819 | $17,533 | $15,067 | $13,500 | $115,272 | 16.3% |
| Ketchikan Gateway Borough | $16,223 | $13,880 | $12,896 | $7,339 | $105,493 | 15.4% |
| Kodiak Island Borough | $14,604 | $12,660 | $12,168 | $14,168 | $104,276 | 14.0% |
| Matanuska-Susitna Borough | $12,957 | $12,436 | $12,020 | $11,220 | $100,753 | 12.9% |
| Juneau City and Borough | $11,787 | $11,787 | $13,091 | $6,840 | $113,750 | 10.4% |
| Kenai Peninsula Borough | $8,052 | $11,295 | $10,086 | $13,076 | $101,126 | 8.0% |
Annual median prices in 2022 data, not quotes. Counties with identical prices are grouped. All 8 center-based infant prices here are Department of Labor estimates: estimated from the state's surveys in other years. How prices are estimated.
States with similar prices
See how Alaska compares in the full ranking of childcare costs by state.
Frequently asked questions
How much is daycare in Alaska per month?
Center-based infant care in Alaska costs about $1,692 a month in estimated 2026 dollars ($1,384 a month in 2022 federal data). In a center, toddler care runs about $1,549 and preschool about $1,396 a month in 2026 dollars, and home-based infant care about $1,328. These are population-weighted averages across the 8 of Alaska's 30 counties with a price; actual prices vary by provider.
What is the cheapest county for childcare in Alaska?
Sitka City and Borough has the highest center-based infant price in Alaska, $24,413 a year in 2022 data, and Kenai Peninsula Borough the lowest, $8,052: a gap of $16,361 a year (203% 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 Alaska?
Center-based infant care takes about 15.8% of the median family income in Alaska ($16,606 against $105,329, 2022 data), 2.3× the HHS 7% affordability benchmark. That ranks 14 of 49 for burden, where 1 is the heaviest. Across counties it ranges from 8.0% in Kenai Peninsula Borough to 22.6% in Sitka City and Borough.
Source: National Database of Childcare Prices, U.S. Department of Labor, Women's Bureau, county file NDCP2022.xlsx (2022 data for Alaska). 2026 estimates use the BLS CPI-U day care and preschool index (series CUUR0000SEEB03) to August 2026. Methodology · Download every county (CSV)