How much childcare costs in Arizona
Center-based infant care in Arizona costs about $16,065 a year in 2026 dollars (estimate), or $1,339 a month. In 2022 federal data it was $13,143, 14.8% of the median family income and 2.1× the HHS 7% affordability benchmark.
Cost by age and care type
Annual prices for full-time care, averaged across Arizona'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) | $13,143 | $16,065 | $9,384 | $11,471 |
| Toddler (24 to 35 months) | $10,139 | $12,393 | $8,876 | $10,850 |
| Preschool (36 to 54 months) | $10,139 | $12,393 | $8,876 | $10,850 |
Family child care, in a provider's home, costs about $9,384 a year for an infant in Arizona (2022 data): $3,759, or 29% less than a center.
Childcare cost by county in Arizona
Maricopa County has the highest center-based infant price in Arizona, $14,040 a year in 2022 data, and La Paz County, Mohave County and Yuma County the lowest, $9,750: a gap of $4,290 a year (44% higher).
| County | Center infant | Toddler | Preschool | Home infant | Family income | Infant share |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maricopa County | $14,040 | $10,920 | $10,920 | $9,360 | $94,672 | 14.8% |
| Pima County | $13,000 | $9,490 | $9,490 | $9,100 | $82,620 | 15.7% |
| 4 countiesApache County, Coconino County, Navajo County, Yavapai County | $11,700 | $9,100 | $9,100 | $9,100 | $46,534 to $86,862 | 13.5 to 25.1% |
| 4 countiesCochise County, Graham County, Greenlee County, Santa Cruz County | $11,180 | $8,047 | $8,047 | $9,100 | $59,444 to $78,172 | 14.3 to 18.8% |
| 2 countiesGila County, Pinal County | $10,855 | $8,419 | $8,419 | $10,920 | $64,786 to $80,809 | 13.4 to 16.8% |
| 3 countiesLa Paz County, Mohave County, Yuma County | $9,750 | $8,060 | $8,060 | $9,100 | $58,960 to $64,283 | 15.2 to 16.5% |
Annual median prices in 2022 data, not quotes. Counties with identical prices are grouped. None of these center-based infant prices is flagged as estimated in the federal file. How prices are estimated.
Neighboring states
- California$1,963/mo infant, 2026 est.
- Nevada$1,386/mo infant, 2026 est.
- Utah$1,199/mo infant, 2026 est.
See how Arizona compares in the full ranking of childcare costs by state.
Frequently asked questions
How much is daycare in Arizona per month?
Center-based infant care in Arizona costs about $1,339 a month in estimated 2026 dollars ($1,095 a month in 2022 federal data). In a center, toddler care runs about $1,033 and preschool about $1,033 a month in 2026 dollars, and home-based infant care about $956. These are population-weighted averages across Arizona's counties; actual prices vary by provider.
What is the cheapest county for childcare in Arizona?
Maricopa County has the highest center-based infant price in Arizona, $14,040 a year in 2022 data, and La Paz County, Mohave County and Yuma County the lowest, $9,750: a gap of $4,290 a year (44% higher).
How much of a family's income does childcare take in Arizona?
Center-based infant care takes about 14.8% of the median family income in Arizona ($13,143 against $88,679, 2022 data), 2.1× the HHS 7% affordability benchmark. That ranks 17 of 49 for burden, where 1 is the heaviest. Across counties it ranges from 13.4% in Pinal County to 25.1% in Apache County.
Source: National Database of Childcare Prices, U.S. Department of Labor, Women's Bureau, county file NDCP2022.xlsx (2022 data for Arizona). 2026 estimates use the BLS CPI-U day care and preschool index (series CUUR0000SEEB03) to August 2026. Methodology · Download every county (CSV)