How much childcare costs in Montana
Center-based infant care in Montana costs about $14,155 a year in 2026 dollars (estimate), or $1,180 a month. In 2022 federal data it was $11,580, 13.9% of the median family income and 2.0× the HHS 7% affordability benchmark.
Cost by age and care type
Annual prices for full-time care, averaged across Montana'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) | $11,580 | $14,155 | $9,315 | $11,386 |
| Toddler (24 to 35 months) | $12,111 | $14,804 | $9,532 | $11,651 |
| Preschool (36 to 54 months) | $10,352 | $12,654 | $9,532 | $11,651 |
Family child care, in a provider's home, costs about $9,315 a year for an infant in Montana (2022 data): $2,265, or 20% less than a center.
Childcare cost by county in Montana
Treasure County has the highest center-based infant price in Montana, $13,216 a year in 2022 data, and Daniels County the lowest, $10,225: a gap of $2,991 a year (29% 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Treasure County | $13,216 | $13,642 | $11,795 | $10,374 | $79,792 | 16.6% |
| Wibaux County | $12,807 | $13,297 | $11,439 | $10,070 | $90,000 | 14.2% |
| Teton County | $12,515 | $12,959 | $11,174 | $9,833 | $77,000 | 16.3% |
| Custer County | $12,427 | $12,869 | $11,096 | $10,028 | $81,549 | 15.2% |
| Musselshell County | $12,373 | $12,786 | $11,045 | $9,715 | $60,000 | 20.6% |
| Gallatin County | $12,340 | $13,005 | $11,043 | $10,009 | $106,394 | 11.6% |
| Madison County | $12,264 | $12,772 | $10,958 | $9,652 | $72,652 | 16.9% |
| Fallon County | $12,203 | $12,664 | $10,899 | $9,594 | $112,540 | 10.8% |
| Stillwater County | $12,202 | $12,688 | $10,901 | $9,599 | $95,190 | 12.8% |
| Sheridan County | $12,003 | $12,471 | $10,721 | $9,439 | $88,510 | 13.6% |
| Powder River County | $11,923 | $12,365 | $10,648 | $9,372 | $79,000 | 15.1% |
| Jefferson County | $11,893 | $12,450 | $10,633 | $9,374 | $89,914 | 13.2% |
| Yellowstone County | $11,788 | $12,341 | $10,540 | $9,543 | $92,083 | 12.8% |
| Lake County | $11,733 | $12,214 | $10,482 | $9,232 | $72,147 | 16.3% |
| Dawson County | $11,728 | $12,152 | $10,472 | $9,466 | $87,784 | 13.4% |
| Ravalli County | $11,716 | $12,239 | $10,473 | $9,229 | $80,623 | 14.5% |
| Lincoln County | $11,651 | $12,115 | $10,407 | $9,165 | $56,198 | 20.7% |
| Prairie County | $11,646 | $12,118 | $10,405 | $9,163 | $68,405 | 17.0% |
| Golden Valley County | $11,617 | $12,175 | $10,388 | $9,160 | $66,406 | 17.5% |
| Flathead County | $11,547 | $12,104 | $10,326 | $9,351 | $82,539 | 14.0% |
| Wheatland County | $11,495 | $11,896 | $10,262 | $9,030 | $59,766 | 19.2% |
| Broadwater County | $11,482 | $11,963 | $10,260 | $9,038 | $77,206 | 14.9% |
| Carbon County | $11,473 | $12,032 | $10,260 | $9,047 | $85,625 | 13.4% |
| Cascade County | $11,445 | $11,926 | $10,227 | $9,253 | $79,780 | 14.3% |
| Mineral County | $11,428 | $11,832 | $10,203 | $8,978 | $59,917 | 19.1% |
| Rosebud County | $11,390 | $11,796 | $10,169 | $8,949 | $66,975 | 17.0% |
| Missoula County | $11,363 | $11,961 | $10,167 | $9,213 | $89,466 | 12.7% |
| Liberty County | $11,347 | $11,737 | $10,129 | $8,912 | $52,721 | 21.5% |
| Big Horn County | $11,331 | $11,797 | $10,124 | $8,917 | $59,188 | 19.1% |
| Pondera County | $11,319 | $11,735 | $10,107 | $9,136 | $74,806 | 15.1% |
| Powell County | $11,273 | $11,675 | $10,065 | $9,096 | $66,725 | 16.9% |
| Sweet Grass County | $11,262 | $11,750 | $10,065 | $8,868 | $83,854 | 13.4% |
| Blaine County | $11,258 | $11,642 | $10,050 | $8,841 | $69,949 | 16.1% |
| Park County | $11,246 | $11,781 | $10,056 | $9,105 | $90,483 | 12.4% |
| Phillips County | $11,245 | $11,632 | $10,039 | $8,832 | $73,692 | 15.3% |
| Silver Bow County | $11,241 | $11,688 | $10,042 | $9,039 | $74,509 | 15.1% |
| Lewis and Clark County | $11,228 | $11,819 | $10,046 | $9,104 | $97,500 | 11.5% |
| Garfield County | $11,189 | $11,590 | $9,990 | $8,792 | $83,304 | 13.4% |
| Petroleum County | $11,163 | $11,552 | $9,965 | $8,769 | $77,500 | 14.4% |
| Sanders County | $11,114 | $11,572 | $9,930 | $8,746 | $61,530 | 18.1% |
| Chouteau County | $11,100 | $11,504 | $9,912 | $8,724 | $76,058 | 14.6% |
| Richland County | $11,100 | $11,620 | $9,925 | $8,986 | $85,947 | 12.9% |
| McCone County | $11,071 | $11,493 | $9,888 | $8,705 | $85,417 | 13.0% |
| Beaverhead County | $11,053 | $11,517 | $9,877 | $8,935 | $74,615 | 14.8% |
| Granite County | $11,039 | $11,460 | $9,859 | $8,679 | $65,885 | 16.8% |
| Carter County | $10,992 | $11,479 | $9,825 | $8,657 | $61,181 | 18.0% |
| Hill County | $10,957 | $11,385 | $9,787 | $8,850 | $74,702 | 14.7% |
| Roosevelt County | $10,900 | $11,272 | $9,730 | $8,792 | $60,457 | 18.0% |
| Fergus County | $10,890 | $11,390 | $9,736 | $8,814 | $83,279 | 13.1% |
| Valley County | $10,883 | $11,284 | $9,718 | $8,785 | $83,179 | 13.1% |
| Judith Basin County | $10,853 | $11,294 | $9,696 | $8,539 | $76,406 | 14.2% |
| Meagher County | $10,847 | $11,301 | $9,692 | $8,537 | $72,357 | 15.0% |
| Deer Lodge County | $10,814 | $11,193 | $9,655 | $8,725 | $62,575 | 17.3% |
| Glacier County | $10,786 | $11,164 | $9,629 | $8,702 | $51,601 | 20.9% |
| Toole County | $10,721 | $11,127 | $9,575 | $8,657 | $74,635 | 14.4% |
| Daniels County | $10,225 | $10,751 | $9,147 | $8,070 | $83,580 | 12.2% |
Annual median prices in 2022 data, not quotes. Counties with identical prices are grouped. All 56 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
- Idaho$876/mo infant, 2026 est.
- North Dakota$1,140/mo infant, 2026 est.
- South Dakota$791/mo infant, 2026 est.
- Wyoming$907/mo infant, 2026 est.
See how Montana compares in the full ranking of childcare costs by state.
Frequently asked questions
How much is daycare in Montana per month?
Center-based infant care in Montana costs about $1,180 a month in estimated 2026 dollars ($965 a month in 2022 federal data). In a center, toddler care runs about $1,234 and preschool about $1,054 a month in 2026 dollars, and home-based infant care about $949. These are population-weighted averages across Montana's counties; actual prices vary by provider.
What is the cheapest county for childcare in Montana?
Treasure County has the highest center-based infant price in Montana, $13,216 a year in 2022 data, and Daniels County the lowest, $10,225: a gap of $2,991 a year (29% 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 Montana?
Center-based infant care takes about 13.9% of the median family income in Montana ($11,580 against $83,580, 2022 data), 2.0× the HHS 7% affordability benchmark. That ranks 24 of 49 for burden, where 1 is the heaviest. Across counties it ranges from 10.8% in Fallon County to 21.5% in Liberty County.
Source: National Database of Childcare Prices, U.S. Department of Labor, Women's Bureau, county file NDCP2022.xlsx (2022 data for Montana). 2026 estimates use the BLS CPI-U day care and preschool index (series CUUR0000SEEB03) to August 2026. Methodology · Download every county (CSV)