How much childcare costs in Kansas
Center-based infant care in Kansas costs about $9,957 a year in 2026 dollars (estimate), or $830 a month. In 2022 federal data it was $8,146, 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 Kansas'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) | $8,146 | $9,957 | $6,439 | $7,871 |
| Toddler (24 to 35 months) | $7,740 | $9,461 | $5,347 | $6,536 |
| Preschool (36 to 54 months) | $7,063 | $8,633 | $5,347 | $6,536 |
Family child care, in a provider's home, costs about $6,439 a year for an infant in Kansas (2022 data): $1,707, or 21% less than a center.
Childcare cost by county in Kansas
Johnson County has the highest center-based infant price in Kansas, $11,634 a year in 2022 data, and Allen County, Anderson County and 83 other counties the lowest, $4,971: a gap of $6,663 a year (134% 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Johnson County | $11,634 | $11,080 | $9,512 | $8,410 | $126,651 | 9.2% |
12 countiesCheyenne County, Clark County, Douglas County, Ellis County, Geary County, Harvey County, Jefferson County, Norton County, Rush County, Scott County, Seward County, Shawnee County | $9,651 | $8,611 | $7,502 | $6,781 | $64,276 to $101,379 | 9.5 to 15.0% |
| Butler County | $8,181 | $7,696 | $7,155 | $6,379 | $94,028 | 8.7% |
| 6 countiesLeavenworth County, Miami County, Pottawatomie County, Riley County, Sedgwick County, Wyandotte County | $8,181 | $7,696 | $7,155 | $6,254 | $69,819 to $104,211 | 7.9 to 11.7% |
85 countiesAllen County, Anderson County, Atchison County, Barber County, Barton County, Bourbon County, Brown County, Chase County, Chautauqua County, Cherokee County, Clay County, Cloud County, Coffey County, Comanche County, Cowley County, Crawford County, Decatur County, Dickinson County, Doniphan County, Edwards County, Elk County, Ellsworth County, Finney County, Ford County, Franklin County, Gove County, Graham County, Grant County, Gray County, Greeley County, Greenwood County, Hamilton County, Harper County, Haskell County, Hodgeman County, Jackson County, Jewell County, Kearny County, Kingman County, Kiowa County, Labette County, Lane County, Lincoln County, Linn County, Logan County, Lyon County, Marion County, Marshall County, McPherson County, Meade County, Mitchell County, Montgomery County, Morris County, Morton County, Nemaha County, Neosho County, Ness County, Osage County, Osborne County, Ottawa County, Pawnee County, Phillips County, Pratt County, Rawlins County, Reno County, Republic County, Rice County, Rooks County, Russell County, Saline County, Sheridan County, Sherman County, Smith County, Stafford County, Stanton County, Stevens County, Sumner County, Thomas County, Trego County, Wabaunsee County, Wallace County, Washington County, Wichita County, Wilson County, Woodson County | $4,971 | $5,075 | $5,075 | $5,117 | $55,556 to $101,000 | 4.9 to 8.9% |
Annual median prices in 2022 data, not quotes. Counties with identical prices are grouped. All 105 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
- Colorado$1,912/mo infant, 2026 est.
- Missouri$1,270/mo infant, 2026 est.
- Nebraska$1,163/mo infant, 2026 est.
- Oklahoma$1,124/mo infant, 2026 est.
See how Kansas compares in the full ranking of childcare costs by state.
Frequently asked questions
How much is daycare in Kansas per month?
Center-based infant care in Kansas costs about $830 a month in estimated 2026 dollars ($679 a month in 2022 federal data). In a center, toddler care runs about $788 and preschool about $719 a month in 2026 dollars, and home-based infant care about $656. These are population-weighted averages across Kansas's counties; actual prices vary by provider.
What is the cheapest county for childcare in Kansas?
Johnson County has the highest center-based infant price in Kansas, $11,634 a year in 2022 data, and Allen County, Anderson County and 83 other counties the lowest, $4,971: a gap of $6,663 a year (134% 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 Kansas?
Center-based infant care takes about 9.1% of the median family income in Kansas ($8,146 against $89,712, 2022 data), 1.3× the HHS 7% affordability benchmark. That ranks 47 of 49 for burden, where 1 is the heaviest. Across counties it ranges from 4.9% in Sheridan County to 15.0% in Scott County.
Source: National Database of Childcare Prices, U.S. Department of Labor, Women's Bureau, county file NDCP2022.xlsx (2022 data for Kansas). 2026 estimates use the BLS CPI-U day care and preschool index (series CUUR0000SEEB03) to August 2026. Methodology · Download every county (CSV)