How much childcare costs in Missouri
Center-based infant care in Missouri costs about $15,238 a year in 2026 dollars (estimate), or $1,270 a month. In 2020 federal data it was $11,771, 16.2% 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 the 7 of Missouri's 115 counties with a price and weighted by population. 2026 figures are estimates scaled by the BLS day care and preschool CPI to August 2026.
| Age | Center, 2020 | Center, 2026 est. | Home, 2020 | Home, 2026 est. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Infant (0 to 23 months) | $11,771 | $15,238 | $8,018 | $10,380 |
| Toddler (24 to 35 months) | $9,206 | $11,917 | $6,321 | $8,183 |
| Preschool (36 to 54 months) | $9,206 | $11,917 | $6,321 | $8,183 |
Family child care, in a provider's home, costs about $8,018 a year for an infant in Missouri (2020 data): $3,753, or 32% less than a center.
Childcare cost by county in Missouri
St. Louis County has the highest center-based infant price in Missouri, $14,245 a year in 2020 data, and Greene County the lowest, $7,451: a gap of $6,794 a year (91% 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.
The federal file has a center-based infant price for 7 of Missouri's 115 counties in 2020. The state figures above average only those counties.
| County | Center infant | Toddler | Preschool | Home infant | Family income | Infant share |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| St. Louis County | $14,245 | $11,177 | $11,177 | n/a | $90,540 | 15.7% |
| Clay County | $12,054 | $9,205 | $9,205 | n/a | $85,961 | 14.0% |
| St. Louis City | $11,396 | $8,995 | $8,995 | $7,842 | $60,978 | 18.7% |
| St. Charles County | $11,177 | $8,766 | $8,766 | n/a | $102,422 | 10.9% |
| Jackson County | $10,957 | $8,108 | $8,108 | $8,094 | $74,470 | 14.7% |
| Jefferson County | $10,194 | $7,808 | $7,808 | n/a | $77,466 | 13.2% |
| Greene County | $7,451 | $7,013 | $7,013 | n/a | $63,795 | 11.7% |
Annual median prices in 2020 data, not quotes. Counties with identical prices are grouped. All 7 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
- Arkansas$709/mo infant, 2026 est.
- Illinois$1,500/mo infant, 2026 est.
- Iowa$880/mo infant, 2026 est.
- Kansas$830/mo infant, 2026 est.
- Kentucky$844/mo infant, 2026 est.
- Nebraska$1,163/mo infant, 2026 est.
- Oklahoma$1,124/mo infant, 2026 est.
- Tennessee$999/mo infant, 2026 est.
See how Missouri compares in the full ranking of childcare costs by state.
Frequently asked questions
How much is daycare in Missouri per month?
Center-based infant care in Missouri costs about $1,270 a month in estimated 2026 dollars ($981 a month in 2020 federal data). In a center, toddler care runs about $993 and preschool about $993 a month in 2026 dollars, and home-based infant care about $865. These are population-weighted averages across the 7 of Missouri's 115 counties with a price; actual prices vary by provider.
What is the cheapest county for childcare in Missouri?
St. Louis County has the highest center-based infant price in Missouri, $14,245 a year in 2020 data, and Greene County the lowest, $7,451: a gap of $6,794 a year (91% 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 Missouri?
Center-based infant care takes about 16.2% of the median family income in Missouri ($11,771 against $72,834, 2020 data), 2.3× the HHS 7% affordability benchmark. That ranks 8 of 49 for burden, where 1 is the heaviest. Across counties it ranges from 10.9% in St. Charles County to 18.7% in St. Louis City.
Source: National Database of Childcare Prices, U.S. Department of Labor, Women's Bureau, county file NDCP2022.xlsx (2020 data for Missouri). 2026 estimates use the BLS CPI-U day care and preschool index (series CUUR0000SEEB03) to August 2026. Methodology · Download every county (CSV)