How much childcare costs in Michigan
Center-based infant care in Michigan costs about $10,543 a year in 2026 dollars (estimate), or $879 a month. In 2022 federal data it was $8,625, 10.0% 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 Michigan'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) | $8,625 | $10,543 | $10,066 | $12,304 |
| Toddler (24 to 35 months) | $8,691 | $10,623 | $9,763 | $11,934 |
| Preschool (36 to 54 months) | $7,990 | $9,767 | $9,237 | $11,291 |
Family child care, in a provider's home, costs about $10,066 a year for an infant in Michigan (2022 data): $1,441, or 17% more than a center. Michigan is one of 1 states in the index where home-based infant care costs more.
Childcare cost by county in Michigan
Washtenaw County has the highest center-based infant price in Michigan, $11,866 a year in 2022 data, and Tuscola County the lowest, $5,545: a gap of $6,321 a year (114% 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washtenaw County | $11,866 | $11,866 | $11,672 | $12,480 | $118,144 | 10.0% |
| Livingston County | $11,269 | $11,269 | $9,050 | $11,565 | $113,824 | 9.9% |
| Oakland County | $10,211 | $10,211 | $9,206 | $14,325 | $121,258 | 8.4% |
| Gogebic County | $9,443 | $9,443 | $9,302 | $8,320 | $67,215 | 14.0% |
| Macomb County | $9,303 | $9,303 | $9,211 | $9,942 | $92,227 | 10.1% |
| 3 countiesBaraga County, Iron County, Ontonagon County | $9,261 | $9,261 | $9,143 | $8,320 | $64,191 to $67,969 | 13.6 to 14.4% |
| Wayne County | $9,214 | $9,214 | $8,562 | $9,485 | $74,650 | 12.3% |
| Kent County | $9,006 | $9,006 | $7,080 | $10,771 | $93,711 | 9.6% |
| Bay County | $8,836 | $9,354 | $9,354 | $8,320 | $75,163 | 11.8% |
| Ingham County | $8,778 | $8,778 | $6,473 | $10,201 | $88,320 | 9.9% |
| Ottawa County | $8,549 | $8,549 | $6,886 | $10,023 | $100,174 | 8.5% |
| Lake County | $8,496 | $8,496 | $8,084 | $8,091 | $59,741 | 14.2% |
| St. Clair County | $8,441 | $8,441 | $7,490 | $8,736 | $81,992 | 10.3% |
| Manistee County | $8,427 | $8,995 | $8,995 | $8,320 | $75,342 | 11.2% |
| Grand Traverse County | $8,320 | $8,320 | $8,091 | $9,101 | $93,542 | 8.9% |
| Kalamazoo County | $8,320 | $8,320 | $7,028 | $9,674 | $91,978 | 9.0% |
| Leelanau County | $8,320 | $8,320 | $8,091 | $9,003 | $101,453 | 8.2% |
| Keweenaw County | $8,289 | $8,292 | $8,292 | $8,320 | $84,643 | 9.8% |
| Shiawassee County | $8,288 | $8,417 | $8,417 | $8,320 | $78,144 | 10.6% |
| Dickinson County | $8,145 | $8,167 | $8,167 | $8,320 | $75,121 | 10.8% |
| Clinton County | $8,091 | $8,091 | $7,370 | $9,476 | $99,996 | 8.1% |
| Eaton County | $8,091 | $8,091 | $7,532 | $9,599 | $93,602 | 8.6% |
| Genesee County | $7,919 | $8,094 | $8,094 | $8,320 | $75,461 | 10.5% |
| Saginaw County | $7,863 | $7,921 | $7,921 | $8,320 | $71,728 | 11.0% |
| Barry County | $7,800 | $7,800 | $6,159 | $9,376 | $91,816 | 8.5% |
| Oceana County | $7,763 | $7,763 | $7,443 | $8,091 | $69,450 | 11.2% |
| Newaygo County | $7,707 | $7,707 | $7,394 | $8,091 | $70,051 | 11.0% |
| Menominee County | $7,665 | $8,309 | $8,309 | $7,405 | $72,366 | 10.6% |
| Isabella County | $7,634 | $7,634 | $5,776 | $9,121 | $72,615 | 10.5% |
| Houghton County | $7,607 | $7,696 | $7,696 | $8,320 | $77,209 | 9.9% |
| Mason County | $7,570 | $7,570 | $7,274 | $8,091 | $76,568 | 9.9% |
| Lapeer County | $7,519 | $7,744 | $7,744 | $8,320 | $85,295 | 8.8% |
| Delta County | $7,470 | $8,137 | $8,137 | $7,405 | $72,385 | 10.3% |
| Marquette County | $7,417 | $7,530 | $7,530 | $10,325 | $82,182 | 9.0% |
| Gratiot County | $7,371 | $7,371 | $6,944 | $7,634 | $69,294 | 10.6% |
| Clare County | $7,230 | $7,230 | $6,820 | $7,634 | $57,063 | 12.7% |
| Schoolcraft County | $7,230 | $7,927 | $7,927 | $7,405 | $71,250 | 10.1% |
| Monroe County | $7,159 | $7,159 | $6,914 | $10,004 | $90,396 | 7.9% |
| Berrien County | $7,131 | $7,131 | $5,933 | $9,985 | $79,042 | 9.0% |
| Alger County | $7,052 | $7,772 | $7,772 | $7,405 | $66,829 | 10.6% |
| Mackinac County | $7,007 | $7,732 | $7,732 | $7,405 | $73,523 | 9.5% |
| Arenac County | $7,001 | $7,239 | $7,239 | $7,280 | $66,434 | 10.5% |
| Calhoun County | $6,985 | $7,022 | $7,022 | $9,701 | $74,187 | 9.4% |
| Antrim County | $6,926 | $6,926 | $6,926 | $7,634 | $85,201 | 8.1% |
| Cass County | $6,926 | $6,926 | $6,284 | $8,244 | $79,502 | 8.7% |
| Charlevoix County | $6,926 | $6,926 | $6,926 | $7,663 | $86,509 | 8.0% |
| Emmet County | $6,926 | $6,926 | $6,926 | $7,037 | $84,810 | 8.2% |
| Ionia County | $6,926 | $6,926 | $6,288 | $8,096 | $80,516 | 8.6% |
| Kalkaska County | $6,926 | $6,926 | $6,458 | $8,374 | $70,691 | 9.8% |
| Missaukee County | $6,926 | $6,926 | $6,033 | $8,058 | $70,793 | 9.8% |
| Montcalm County | $6,926 | $6,926 | $6,507 | $8,409 | $70,362 | 9.8% |
| Van Buren County | $6,926 | $6,926 | $6,389 | $8,323 | $80,321 | 8.6% |
| Benzie County | $6,906 | $7,665 | $7,665 | $10,329 | $85,054 | 8.1% |
| Midland County | $6,892 | $7,652 | $7,652 | $10,149 | $91,778 | 7.5% |
| Iosco County | $6,880 | $7,132 | $7,132 | $7,280 | $58,884 | 11.7% |
| Gladwin County | $6,858 | $7,114 | $7,114 | $7,280 | $67,953 | 10.1% |
| Chippewa County | $6,759 | $7,516 | $7,516 | $7,405 | $76,273 | 8.9% |
| Branch County | $6,698 | $6,698 | $5,253 | $7,896 | $73,648 | 9.1% |
| St. Joseph County | $6,698 | $6,698 | $5,327 | $7,952 | $74,224 | 9.0% |
| Roscommon County | $6,610 | $6,896 | $6,896 | $7,280 | $63,425 | 10.4% |
| Luce County | $6,581 | $7,360 | $7,360 | $9,175 | $65,966 | 10.0% |
| Alcona County | $6,469 | $6,469 | $5,385 | $7,680 | $67,107 | 9.6% |
| Cheboygan County | $6,469 | $6,469 | $5,305 | $7,621 | $71,685 | 9.0% |
| Crawford County | $6,469 | $6,469 | $6,240 | $7,231 | $74,982 | 8.6% |
| Hillsdale County | $6,469 | $6,469 | $5,354 | $7,515 | $71,224 | 9.1% |
| Lenawee County | $6,469 | $6,469 | $6,240 | $7,089 | $78,131 | 8.3% |
| Montmorency County | $6,469 | $6,469 | $5,664 | $7,887 | $59,899 | 10.8% |
| Oscoda County | $6,469 | $6,469 | $5,008 | $7,402 | $58,234 | 11.1% |
| Otsego County | $6,469 | $6,469 | $6,240 | $6,854 | $80,141 | 8.1% |
| Allegan County | $6,427 | $6,534 | $6,534 | $9,492 | $86,347 | 7.4% |
| Ogemaw County | $6,364 | $6,681 | $6,681 | $9,096 | $61,625 | 10.3% |
| Muskegon County | $6,296 | $6,570 | $6,570 | $9,141 | $73,824 | 8.5% |
| Huron County | $6,174 | $6,677 | $6,677 | $6,926 | $71,902 | 8.6% |
| Osceola County | $6,055 | $7,030 | $7,030 | $8,654 | $64,659 | 9.4% |
| Jackson County | $5,985 | $6,131 | $6,131 | $8,934 | $79,374 | 7.5% |
| Sanilac County | $5,792 | $6,342 | $6,342 | $8,627 | $70,172 | 8.3% |
| Mecosta County | $5,781 | $6,790 | $6,790 | $8,478 | $68,870 | 8.4% |
| Alpena County | $5,766 | $6,205 | $6,205 | $8,027 | $62,299 | 9.3% |
| Wexford County | $5,632 | $6,660 | $6,660 | $8,379 | $70,704 | 8.0% |
| Presque Isle County | $5,558 | $6,023 | $6,023 | $8,018 | $69,611 | 8.0% |
| Tuscola County | $5,545 | $6,126 | $6,126 | $8,467 | $73,920 | 7.5% |
Annual median prices in 2022 data, not quotes. Counties with identical prices are grouped. All 83 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 Michigan compares in the full ranking of childcare costs by state.
Frequently asked questions
How much is daycare in Michigan per month?
Center-based infant care in Michigan costs about $879 a month in estimated 2026 dollars ($719 a month in 2022 federal data). In a center, toddler care runs about $885 and preschool about $814 a month in 2026 dollars, and home-based infant care about $1,025. These are population-weighted averages across Michigan's counties; actual prices vary by provider.
What is the cheapest county for childcare in Michigan?
Washtenaw County has the highest center-based infant price in Michigan, $11,866 a year in 2022 data, and Tuscola County the lowest, $5,545: a gap of $6,321 a year (114% 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 Michigan?
Center-based infant care takes about 10.0% of the median family income in Michigan ($8,625 against $85,865, 2022 data), 1.4× the HHS 7% affordability benchmark. That ranks 44 of 49 for burden, where 1 is the heaviest. Across counties it ranges from 7.4% in Allegan County to 14.4% in Ontonagon County.
Source: National Database of Childcare Prices, U.S. Department of Labor, Women's Bureau, county file NDCP2022.xlsx (2022 data for Michigan). 2026 estimates use the BLS CPI-U day care and preschool index (series CUUR0000SEEB03) to August 2026. Methodology · Download every county (CSV)