How much childcare costs in Minnesota
Center-based infant care in Minnesota costs about $20,531 a year in 2026 dollars (estimate), or $1,711 a month. In 2022 federal data it was $16,796, 15.9% of the median family income and 2.3× the HHS 7% affordability benchmark.
Cost by age and care type
Annual prices for full-time care, averaged across Minnesota'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) | $16,796 | $20,531 | $9,319 | $11,391 |
| Toddler (24 to 35 months) | $15,087 | $18,442 | $8,295 | $10,139 |
| Preschool (36 to 54 months) | $13,563 | $16,579 | $8,423 | $10,296 |
Family child care, in a provider's home, costs about $9,319 a year for an infant in Minnesota (2022 data): $7,477, or 45% less than a center.
Childcare cost by county in Minnesota
Stearns County has the highest center-based infant price in Minnesota, $22,395 a year in 2022 data, and Kittson County and Murray County the lowest, $8,684: a gap of $13,711 a year (158% 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stearns County | $22,395 | $19,850 | $17,507 | $7,453 | $91,097 | 24.6% |
| Anoka County | $20,280 | $18,073 | $16,068 | $8,580 | $110,651 | 18.3% |
| 6 countiesCarver County, Dakota County, Hennepin County, Ramsey County, Scott County, Washington County | $20,280 | $18,073 | $16,068 | $10,660 | $103,235 to $141,884 | 14.3 to 19.6% |
| Olmsted County | $20,280 | $18,073 | $16,068 | $9,187 | $114,612 | 17.7% |
| Beltrami County | $13,260 | $11,839 | $11,111 | $7,453 | $80,795 | 16.4% |
| Lake of the Woods County | $13,260 | $11,839 | $11,111 | $9,793 | $77,237 | 17.2% |
| Martin County | $13,260 | $11,839 | $11,111 | $6,673 | $82,631 | 16.0% |
| 4 countiesBenton County, Hubbard County, Lake County, Mille Lacs County | $12,844 | $11,353 | $10,695 | $7,453 | $80,515 to $90,540 | 14.2 to 16.0% |
| Cook County | $12,844 | $11,353 | $10,695 | $10,660 | $91,315 | 14.1% |
| 3 countiesGoodhue County, Rice County, Wright County | $12,844 | $11,353 | $10,695 | $9,187 | $98,475 to $118,209 | 10.9 to 13.0% |
| 3 countiesChisago County, Isanti County, Sherburne County | $12,203 | $11,050 | $10,435 | $9,187 | $93,773 to $114,968 | 10.6 to 13.0% |
| Steele County | $12,203 | $11,050 | $10,435 | $6,413 | $102,451 | 11.9% |
| 6 countiesClearwater County, Lincoln County, Lyon County, Marshall County, Nobles County, Polk County | $11,388 | $10,729 | $9,863 | $6,413 | $76,035 to $92,869 | 12.3 to 15.0% |
| 6 countiesHouston County, Kanabec County, Nicollet County, Otter Tail County, Pennington County, Waseca County | $11,388 | $10,729 | $9,863 | $7,453 | $81,983 to $103,117 | 11.0 to 13.9% |
| Itasca County | $11,388 | $10,729 | $9,863 | $9,187 | $82,653 | 13.8% |
| 2 countiesKoochiching County, Norman County | $11,388 | $10,729 | $9,863 | $6,673 | $77,000 to $91,597 | 12.4 to 14.8% |
10 countiesBecker County, Blue Earth County, Crow Wing County, Douglas County, Kandiyohi County, McLeod County, Mower County, Pine County, Wabasha County, Winona County | $10,972 | $10,244 | $9,447 | $7,453 | $79,482 to $96,492 | 11.4 to 13.8% |
| 3 countiesCarlton County, Clay County, St. Louis County | $10,972 | $10,244 | $9,447 | $9,187 | $90,120 to $103,513 | 10.6 to 12.2% |
| Dodge County | $10,972 | $10,244 | $9,447 | $7,107 | $108,281 | 10.1% |
| 3 countiesFreeborn County, Grant County, Meeker County | $10,972 | $10,244 | $9,447 | $6,413 | $81,502 to $92,929 | 11.8 to 13.5% |
| Pope County | $10,972 | $10,244 | $9,447 | $7,713 | $94,375 | 11.6% |
| Roseau County | $10,972 | $10,244 | $9,447 | $6,673 | $85,129 | 12.9% |
| Yellow Medicine County | $10,331 | $9,941 | $9,187 | $6,673 | $86,214 | 12.0% |
| 2 countiesBig Stone County, Mahnomen County | $9,246 | $8,466 | $7,894 | $7,453 | $63,462 to $81,836 | 11.3 to 14.6% |
| Aitkin County | $9,100 | $8,372 | $7,644 | $9,187 | $72,769 | 12.5% |
| 5 countiesBrown County, Cass County, Cottonwood County, Redwood County, Traverse County | $9,100 | $8,372 | $7,644 | $7,453 | $76,195 to $89,432 | 10.2 to 11.9% |
10 countiesChippewa County, Jackson County, Pipestone County, Red Lake County, Renville County, Rock County, Swift County, Wadena County, Watonwan County, Wilkin County | $9,100 | $8,372 | $7,644 | $6,673 | $75,333 to $94,484 | 9.6 to 12.1% |
| 2 countiesFaribault County, Stevens County | $9,100 | $8,372 | $7,644 | $7,713 | $85,360 to $95,129 | 9.6 to 10.7% |
| 3 countiesFillmore County, Le Sueur County, Sibley County | $9,100 | $8,372 | $7,644 | $7,107 | $90,270 to $103,116 | 8.8 to 10.1% |
| 3 countiesLac qui Parle County, Morrison County, Todd County | $9,100 | $8,372 | $7,644 | $6,413 | $76,440 to $83,958 | 10.8 to 11.9% |
| 2 countiesKittson County, Murray County | $8,684 | $7,887 | $7,228 | $6,673 | $91,389 to $91,948 | 9.4 to 9.5% |
Annual median prices in 2022 data, not quotes. Counties with identical prices are grouped. All 87 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
- Iowa$880/mo infant, 2026 est.
- North Dakota$1,140/mo infant, 2026 est.
- South Dakota$791/mo infant, 2026 est.
- Wisconsin$1,362/mo infant, 2026 est.
See how Minnesota compares in the full ranking of childcare costs by state.
Frequently asked questions
How much is daycare in Minnesota per month?
Center-based infant care in Minnesota costs about $1,711 a month in estimated 2026 dollars ($1,400 a month in 2022 federal data). In a center, toddler care runs about $1,537 and preschool about $1,382 a month in 2026 dollars, and home-based infant care about $949. These are population-weighted averages across Minnesota's counties; actual prices vary by provider.
What is the cheapest county for childcare in Minnesota?
Stearns County has the highest center-based infant price in Minnesota, $22,395 a year in 2022 data, and Kittson County and Murray County the lowest, $8,684: a gap of $13,711 a year (158% 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 Minnesota?
Center-based infant care takes about 15.9% of the median family income in Minnesota ($16,796 against $105,324, 2022 data), 2.3× the HHS 7% affordability benchmark. That ranks 12 of 49 for burden, where 1 is the heaviest. Across counties it ranges from 8.8% in Le Sueur County to 24.6% in Stearns County.
Source: National Database of Childcare Prices, U.S. Department of Labor, Women's Bureau, county file NDCP2022.xlsx (2022 data for Minnesota). 2026 estimates use the BLS CPI-U day care and preschool index (series CUUR0000SEEB03) to August 2026. Methodology · Download every county (CSV)