How much childcare costs in Idaho
Center-based infant care in Idaho costs about $10,515 a year in 2026 dollars (estimate), or $876 a month. In 2022 federal data it was $8,602, 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 Idaho'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) | $8,602 | $10,515 | $6,617 | $8,088 |
| Toddler (24 to 35 months) | $8,284 | $10,126 | $6,535 | $7,988 |
| Preschool (36 to 54 months) | $7,593 | $9,281 | $6,054 | $7,400 |
Family child care, in a provider's home, costs about $6,617 a year for an infant in Idaho (2022 data): $1,985, or 23% less than a center.
Childcare cost by county in Idaho
Ada County, Blaine County and 2 other counties have the highest center-based infant price in Idaho, $10,816 a year in 2022 data, and Custer County the lowest, $5,520: a gap of $5,296 a year (96% 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 countiesAda County, Blaine County, Latah County, Teton County | $10,816 | $10,789 | $9,912 | $7,536 | $86,186 to $109,286 | 9.9 to 12.5% |
| Bear Lake County | $8,995 | $8,322 | $7,585 | $6,960 | $81,926 | 11.0% |
7 countiesBonner County, Bonneville County, Canyon County, Clearwater County, Kootenai County, Lemhi County, Nez Perce County | $8,653 | $8,031 | $7,294 | $6,760 | $73,194 to $88,522 | 9.8 to 11.8% |
| 2 countiesBoise County, Valley County | $7,913 | $7,432 | $6,694 | $6,208 | $81,897 to $87,595 | 9.0 to 9.7% |
18 countiesAdams County, Bannock County, Bingham County, Butte County, Camas County, Caribou County, Clark County, Fremont County, Gooding County, Idaho County, Jefferson County, Jerome County, Lincoln County, Madison County, Minidoka County, Power County, Twin Falls County, Washington County | $6,602 | $6,322 | $5,855 | $5,680 | $58,276 to $84,941 | 7.8 to 11.3% |
11 countiesBenewah County, Boundary County, Cassia County, Elmore County, Franklin County, Gem County, Lewis County, Oneida County, Owyhee County, Payette County, Shoshone County | $6,260 | $6,031 | $5,565 | $5,480 | $60,893 to $78,478 | 8.0 to 10.3% |
| Custer County | $5,520 | $5,432 | $4,965 | $4,928 | $75,257 | 7.3% |
Annual median prices in 2022 data, not quotes. Counties with identical prices are grouped. All 44 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
- Montana$1,180/mo infant, 2026 est.
- Nevada$1,386/mo infant, 2026 est.
- Oregon$1,689/mo infant, 2026 est.
- Utah$1,199/mo infant, 2026 est.
- Washington$1,959/mo infant, 2026 est.
- Wyoming$907/mo infant, 2026 est.
See how Idaho compares in the full ranking of childcare costs by state.
Frequently asked questions
How much is daycare in Idaho per month?
Center-based infant care in Idaho costs about $876 a month in estimated 2026 dollars ($717 a month in 2022 federal data). In a center, toddler care runs about $844 and preschool about $773 a month in 2026 dollars, and home-based infant care about $674. These are population-weighted averages across Idaho's counties; actual prices vary by provider.
What is the cheapest county for childcare in Idaho?
Ada County, Blaine County and 2 other counties have the highest center-based infant price in Idaho, $10,816 a year in 2022 data, and Custer County the lowest, $5,520: a gap of $5,296 a year (96% 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 Idaho?
Center-based infant care takes about 10.1% of the median family income in Idaho ($8,602 against $85,193, 2022 data), 1.4× the HHS 7% affordability benchmark. That ranks 43 of 49 for burden, where 1 is the heaviest. Across counties it ranges from 7.3% in Custer County to 12.5% in Latah County.
Source: National Database of Childcare Prices, U.S. Department of Labor, Women's Bureau, county file NDCP2022.xlsx (2022 data for Idaho). 2026 estimates use the BLS CPI-U day care and preschool index (series CUUR0000SEEB03) to August 2026. Methodology · Download every county (CSV)