How much childcare costs in Kentucky
Center-based infant care in Kentucky costs about $10,132 a year in 2026 dollars (estimate), or $844 a month. In 2022 federal data it was $8,289, 10.9% of the median family income and 1.6× the HHS 7% affordability benchmark.
Cost by age and care type
Annual prices for full-time care, averaged across Kentucky'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) | $8,289 | $10,132 | $6,367 | $7,783 |
| Toddler (24 to 35 months) | $7,311 | $8,937 | $5,848 | $7,148 |
| Preschool (36 to 54 months) | $7,311 | $8,937 | $5,848 | $7,148 |
Family child care, in a provider's home, costs about $6,367 a year for an infant in Kentucky (2022 data): $1,922, or 23% less than a center.
Childcare cost by county in Kentucky
Gallatin County, Nicholas County and 2 other counties have the highest center-based infant price in Kentucky, $11,555 a year in 2022 data, and Wayne County the lowest, $4,704: a gap of $6,851 a year (146% higher). These county prices are Department of Labor estimates: estimated from the state's surveys in other years; estimated from a different reported price percentile.
| County | Center infant | Toddler | Preschool | Home infant | Family income | Infant share |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 countiesGallatin County, Nicholas County, Owen County, Pendleton County | $11,555 | $9,829 | $9,829 | $9,689 | $64,229 to $75,687 | 15.3 to 18.0% |
| Jefferson County | $11,236 | $9,564 | $9,564 | $6,122 | $86,214 | 13.0% |
| 4 countiesCarroll County, Grant County, Harrison County, Scott County | $11,048 | $9,389 | $9,389 | $9,615 | $60,917 to $94,286 | 11.7 to 18.1% |
| 3 countiesEstill County, Garrard County, Lincoln County | $10,603 | $9,083 | $9,083 | $7,829 | $54,479 to $68,351 | 15.5 to 19.5% |
| 3 countiesBoone County, Campbell County, Kenton County | $10,342 | $8,834 | $8,834 | $8,736 | $95,611 to $109,060 | 9.5 to 10.8% |
| Bourbon County | $10,182 | $8,695 | $8,695 | $8,662 | $71,530 | 14.2% |
| 2 countiesMercer County, Powell County | $10,126 | $8,666 | $8,666 | $7,765 | $67,610 to $78,846 | 12.8 to 15.0% |
| Fayette County | $9,584 | $8,104 | $8,104 | $6,868 | $91,263 | 10.5% |
| 4 countiesBoyle County, Clark County, Jessamine County, Madison County | $9,433 | $7,973 | $7,973 | $6,805 | $71,110 to $84,844 | 11.1 to 13.3% |
| 6 countiesBreckinridge County, Grayson County, Larue County, Marion County, Meade County, Washington County | $8,789 | $7,735 | $7,735 | $6,775 | $58,638 to $86,053 | 10.2 to 15.0% |
| Nelson County | $8,388 | $7,378 | $7,378 | $6,719 | $81,152 | 10.3% |
| 3 countiesHenry County, Spencer County, Trimble County | $8,269 | $7,215 | $7,215 | $6,428 | $71,234 to $109,672 | 7.5 to 11.6% |
| 5 countiesAnderson County, Bullitt County, Oldham County, Shelby County, Woodford County | $7,868 | $6,858 | $6,858 | $6,373 | $83,482 to $131,807 | 6.0 to 9.4% |
| Hardin County | $7,868 | $6,685 | $6,685 | $6,373 | $79,590 | 9.9% |
11 countiesAllen County, Butler County, Edmonson County, Hancock County, Hart County, Logan County, McLean County, Metcalfe County, Monroe County, Ohio County, Webster County | $7,388 | $6,989 | $6,989 | $6,402 | $56,463 to $85,669 | 8.6 to 13.1% |
| 2 countiesSimpson County, Union County | $7,031 | $6,655 | $6,655 | $6,348 | $66,250 to $68,252 | 10.3 to 10.6% |
| Franklin County | $7,001 | $6,165 | $6,165 | $5,333 | $79,416 | 8.8% |
9 countiesBallard County, Carlisle County, Crittenden County, Hickman County, Livingston County, Lyon County, Marshall County, Todd County, Trigg County | $6,642 | $6,242 | $6,242 | $6,215 | $66,250 to $80,052 | 8.3 to 10.0% |
| 4 countiesBarren County, Daviess County, Henderson County, Warren County | $6,511 | $5,962 | $5,962 | $6,001 | $58,262 to $80,290 | 8.1 to 11.2% |
| 4 countiesCaldwell County, Fulton County, Hopkins County, Muhlenberg County | $6,309 | $5,932 | $5,932 | $6,162 | $44,534 to $69,150 | 9.1 to 14.2% |
21 countiesBath County, Bracken County, Breathitt County, Carter County, Elliott County, Fleming County, Floyd County, Johnson County, Knott County, Lawrence County, Lee County, Leslie County, Letcher County, Lewis County, Magoffin County, Martin County, Menifee County, Morgan County, Owsley County, Robertson County, Wolfe County | $5,895 | $5,868 | $5,868 | $4,175 | $34,705 to $77,524 | 7.6 to 17.0% |
| 2 countiesPerry County, Pike County | $5,895 | $5,868 | $5,868 | $4,348 | $54,252 to $55,680 | 10.6 to 10.9% |
| 4 countiesCalloway County, Christian County, Graves County, McCracken County | $5,789 | $5,239 | $5,239 | $5,815 | $59,110 to $76,931 | 7.5 to 9.8% |
| 3 countiesBoyd County, Greenup County, Mason County | $5,586 | $5,571 | $5,571 | $4,306 | $64,817 to $72,842 | 7.7 to 8.6% |
| 2 countiesMontgomery County, Rowan County | $5,586 | $5,571 | $5,571 | $4,132 | $66,125 to $67,925 | 8.2 to 8.4% |
| 3 countiesClay County, Jackson County, Rockcastle County | $5,521 | $5,121 | $5,121 | $5,868 | $43,927 to $58,289 | 9.5 to 12.6% |
| 2 countiesPulaski County, Taylor County | $5,423 | $4,989 | $4,989 | $4,775 | $61,737 to $76,582 | 7.1 to 8.8% |
| Bell County | $5,224 | $4,848 | $4,848 | $5,989 | $44,936 | 11.6% |
| 4 countiesHarlan County, Knox County, Laurel County, Whitley County | $5,224 | $4,848 | $4,848 | $5,815 | $45,147 to $62,278 | 8.4 to 11.6% |
7 countiesAdair County, Casey County, Clinton County, Cumberland County, Green County, McCreary County, Russell County | $5,001 | $4,601 | $4,601 | $5,868 | $41,797 to $64,233 | 7.8 to 12.0% |
| Wayne County | $4,704 | $4,328 | $4,328 | $5,815 | $55,951 | 8.4% |
Annual median prices in 2022 data, not quotes. Counties with identical prices are grouped. All 120 center-based infant prices here are Department of Labor estimates: estimated from the state's surveys in other years; estimated from a different reported price percentile. How prices are estimated.
Neighboring states
- Illinois$1,500/mo infant, 2026 est.
- Missouri$1,270/mo infant, 2026 est.
- Ohio$1,404/mo infant, 2026 est.
- Tennessee$999/mo infant, 2026 est.
- Virginia$1,382/mo infant, 2026 est.
- West Virginia$891/mo infant, 2026 est.
See how Kentucky compares in the full ranking of childcare costs by state.
Frequently asked questions
How much is daycare in Kentucky per month?
Center-based infant care in Kentucky costs about $844 a month in estimated 2026 dollars ($691 a month in 2022 federal data). In a center, toddler care runs about $745 and preschool about $745 a month in 2026 dollars, and home-based infant care about $649. These are population-weighted averages across Kentucky's counties; actual prices vary by provider.
What is the cheapest county for childcare in Kentucky?
Gallatin County, Nicholas County and 2 other counties have the highest center-based infant price in Kentucky, $11,555 a year in 2022 data, and Wayne County the lowest, $4,704: a gap of $6,851 a year (146% higher). These county prices are Department of Labor estimates: estimated from the state's surveys in other years; estimated from a different reported price percentile.
How much of a family's income does childcare take in Kentucky?
Center-based infant care takes about 10.9% of the median family income in Kentucky ($8,289 against $76,119, 2022 data), 1.6× the HHS 7% affordability benchmark. That ranks 37 of 49 for burden, where 1 is the heaviest. Across counties it ranges from 6.0% in Oldham County to 19.5% in Estill County.
Source: National Database of Childcare Prices, U.S. Department of Labor, Women's Bureau, county file NDCP2022.xlsx (2022 data for Kentucky). 2026 estimates use the BLS CPI-U day care and preschool index (series CUUR0000SEEB03) to August 2026. Methodology · Download every county (CSV)