How much childcare costs in Arkansas
Center-based infant care in Arkansas costs about $8,511 a year in 2026 dollars (estimate), or $709 a month. In 2021 federal data it was $6,698, 10.1% of the median family income and 1.4× the HHS 7% affordability benchmark.
Cost by age and care type
Annual prices for full-time care, averaged across the 68 of Arkansas's 75 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, 2021 | Center, 2026 est. | Home, 2021 | Home, 2026 est. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Infant (0 to 23 months) | $6,698 | $8,511 | $5,494 | $6,981 |
| Toddler (24 to 35 months) | $6,587 | $8,370 | $5,157 | $6,553 |
| Preschool (36 to 54 months) | $5,878 | $7,469 | $4,873 | $6,192 |
Family child care, in a provider's home, costs about $5,494 a year for an infant in Arkansas (2021 data): $1,204, or 18% less than a center.
Childcare cost by county in Arkansas
Benton County, Craighead County and 16 other counties have the highest center-based infant price in Arkansas, $7,670 a year in 2021 data, and Sebastian County the lowest, $4,550: a gap of $3,120 a year (69% 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 68 of Arkansas's 75 counties in 2021. The state figures above average only those counties.
| County | Center infant | Toddler | Preschool | Home infant | Family income | Infant share |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
18 countiesBenton County, Craighead County, Crawford County, Crittenden County, Faulkner County, Garland County, Grant County, Jefferson County, Lincoln County, Little River County, Lonoke County, Madison County, Miller County, Perry County, Poinsett County, Pulaski County, Saline County, Washington County | $7,670 | $7,412 | $6,630 | $5,980 | $52,192 to $87,682 | 8.7 to 14.7% |
49 countiesArkansas County, Ashley County, Baxter County, Boone County, Bradley County, Carroll County, Chicot County, Clark County, Clay County, Cleburne County, Columbia County, Conway County, Cross County, Dallas County, Desha County, Drew County, Franklin County, Fulton County, Greene County, Hempstead County, Hot Spring County, Howard County, Independence County, Izard County, Jackson County, Johnson County, Lafayette County, Lawrence County, Lee County, Logan County, Marion County, Mississippi County, Monroe County, Nevada County, Ouachita County, Phillips County, Pike County, Polk County, Pope County, Randolph County, Scott County, Searcy County, Sevier County, Sharp County, Stone County, Union County, Van Buren County, White County, Yell County | $5,330 | $5,421 | $4,810 | $4,810 | $44,359 to $67,745 | 7.9 to 12.0% |
| Sebastian County | $4,550 | $4,810 | $4,290 | $4,420 | $59,328 | 7.7% |
Annual median prices in 2021 data, not quotes. Counties with identical prices are grouped. All 68 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
- Louisiana$792/mo infant, 2026 est.
- Mississippi$697/mo infant, 2026 est.
- Missouri$1,270/mo infant, 2026 est.
- Oklahoma$1,124/mo infant, 2026 est.
- Tennessee$999/mo infant, 2026 est.
- Texas$921/mo infant, 2026 est.
See how Arkansas compares in the full ranking of childcare costs by state.
Frequently asked questions
How much is daycare in Arkansas per month?
Center-based infant care in Arkansas costs about $709 a month in estimated 2026 dollars ($558 a month in 2021 federal data). In a center, toddler care runs about $697 and preschool about $622 a month in 2026 dollars, and home-based infant care about $582. These are population-weighted averages across the 68 of Arkansas's 75 counties with a price; actual prices vary by provider.
What is the cheapest county for childcare in Arkansas?
Benton County, Craighead County and 16 other counties have the highest center-based infant price in Arkansas, $7,670 a year in 2021 data, and Sebastian County the lowest, $4,550: a gap of $3,120 a year (69% 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 Arkansas?
Center-based infant care takes about 10.1% of the median family income in Arkansas ($6,698 against $66,148, 2021 data), 1.4× the HHS 7% affordability benchmark. That ranks 42 of 49 for burden, where 1 is the heaviest. Across counties it ranges from 7.7% in Sebastian County to 14.7% in Poinsett County.
Source: National Database of Childcare Prices, U.S. Department of Labor, Women's Bureau, county file NDCP2022.xlsx (2021 data for Arkansas). 2026 estimates use the BLS CPI-U day care and preschool index (series CUUR0000SEEB03) to August 2026. Methodology · Download every county (CSV)