How much childcare costs in Louisiana
Center-based infant care in Louisiana costs about $9,503 a year in 2026 dollars (estimate), or $792 a month. In 2022 federal data it was $7,774, 10.7% of the median family income and 1.5× the HHS 7% affordability benchmark.
Cost by age and care type
Annual prices for full-time care, averaged across Louisiana'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) | $7,774 | $9,503 | $6,853 | $8,377 |
| Toddler (24 to 35 months) | $7,530 | $9,204 | $6,815 | $8,330 |
| Preschool (36 to 54 months) | $7,313 | $8,939 | $6,845 | $8,367 |
Family child care, in a provider's home, costs about $6,853 a year for an infant in Louisiana (2022 data): $921, or 12% less than a center.
Childcare cost by county in Louisiana
LaSalle Parish has the highest center-based infant price in Louisiana, $8,320 a year in 2022 data, and East Feliciana Parish and Pointe Coupee Parish the lowest, $6,240: a gap of $2,080 a year (33% 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LaSalle Parish | $8,320 | $7,887 | $7,627 | $7,227 | $74,525 | 11.2% |
| 3 countiesLivingston Parish, St. Tammany Parish, Tangipahoa Parish | $8,234 | $7,972 | $7,627 | $7,280 | $69,080 to $92,115 | 8.9 to 11.9% |
| 4 countiesAcadia Parish, Iberia Parish, Lafayette Parish, St. Martin Parish | $8,233 | $7,903 | $7,627 | $7,280 | $61,506 to $86,315 | 9.5 to 13.4% |
| 4 countiesBossier Parish, Caddo Parish, De Soto Parish, Natchitoches Parish | $8,164 | $7,887 | $7,627 | $7,127 | $59,472 to $81,271 | 10.0 to 13.7% |
| 2 countiesLincoln Parish, Ouachita Parish | $8,147 | $7,768 | $7,465 | $7,107 | $58,542 to $67,253 | 12.1 to 13.9% |
| Rapides Parish | $8,147 | $7,887 | $7,627 | $7,227 | $67,923 | 12.0% |
| 3 countiesCalcasieu Parish, Cameron Parish, Jefferson Davis Parish | $7,973 | $7,658 | $7,326 | $7,107 | $71,556 to $79,749 | 10.0 to 11.1% |
| 4 countiesJefferson Parish, Orleans Parish, Plaquemines Parish, St. Bernard Parish | $7,887 | $7,540 | $7,284 | $6,933 | $66,964 to $84,478 | 9.3 to 11.8% |
7 countiesAscension Parish, Assumption Parish, Lafourche Parish, St. Charles Parish, St. James Parish, St. John the Baptist Parish, Terrebonne Parish | $7,800 | $7,540 | $7,280 | $7,401 | $69,477 to $107,966 | 7.2 to 11.2% |
| 4 countiesEast Baton Rouge Parish, Iberville Parish, West Baton Rouge Parish, West Feliciana Parish | $7,453 | $7,280 | $7,138 | $6,933 | $69,352 to $95,918 | 7.8 to 10.7% |
| 5 countiesAvoyelles Parish, Catahoula Parish, Concordia Parish, Vernon Parish, Winn Parish | $6,933 | $6,847 | $6,888 | $5,494 | $48,982 to $65,394 | 10.6 to 14.2% |
| 2 countiesSt. Helena Parish, Washington Parish | $6,932 | $6,932 | $6,888 | $5,547 | $54,649 to $56,836 | 12.2 to 12.7% |
| 4 countiesEvangeline Parish, St. Landry Parish, St. Mary Parish, Vermilion Parish | $6,863 | $6,863 | $6,888 | $5,547 | $46,912 to $70,308 | 9.8 to 14.6% |
| 6 countiesBienville Parish, Claiborne Parish, Jackson Parish, Red River Parish, Sabine Parish, Webster Parish | $6,847 | $6,847 | $6,888 | $5,393 | $39,791 to $57,847 | 11.8 to 17.2% |
| Grant Parish | $6,847 | $6,847 | $6,888 | $5,494 | $65,681 | 10.4% |
9 countiesCaldwell Parish, East Carroll Parish, Franklin Parish, Madison Parish, Morehouse Parish, Richland Parish, Tensas Parish, Union Parish, West Carroll Parish | $6,760 | $6,728 | $6,720 | $5,373 | $36,875 to $67,383 | 10.0 to 18.3% |
| 2 countiesAllen Parish, Beauregard Parish | $6,618 | $6,618 | $6,573 | $5,373 | $61,779 to $82,550 | 8.0 to 10.7% |
| 2 countiesEast Feliciana Parish, Pointe Coupee Parish | $6,240 | $6,240 | $6,400 | $5,200 | $71,425 to $85,571 | 7.3 to 8.7% |
Annual median prices in 2022 data, not quotes. Counties with identical prices are grouped. All 64 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
See how Louisiana compares in the full ranking of childcare costs by state.
Frequently asked questions
How much is daycare in Louisiana per month?
Center-based infant care in Louisiana costs about $792 a month in estimated 2026 dollars ($648 a month in 2022 federal data). In a center, toddler care runs about $767 and preschool about $745 a month in 2026 dollars, and home-based infant care about $698. These are population-weighted averages across Louisiana's counties; actual prices vary by provider.
What is the cheapest county for childcare in Louisiana?
LaSalle Parish has the highest center-based infant price in Louisiana, $8,320 a year in 2022 data, and East Feliciana Parish and Pointe Coupee Parish the lowest, $6,240: a gap of $2,080 a year (33% 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 Louisiana?
Center-based infant care takes about 10.7% of the median family income in Louisiana ($7,774 against $72,866, 2022 data), 1.5× the HHS 7% affordability benchmark. That ranks 38 of 49 for burden, where 1 is the heaviest. Across counties it ranges from 7.2% in Ascension Parish to 18.3% in East Carroll Parish.
Source: National Database of Childcare Prices, U.S. Department of Labor, Women's Bureau, county file NDCP2022.xlsx (2022 data for Louisiana). 2026 estimates use the BLS CPI-U day care and preschool index (series CUUR0000SEEB03) to August 2026. Methodology · Download every county (CSV)