How much childcare costs in North Dakota
Center-based infant care in North Dakota costs about $13,685 a year in 2026 dollars (estimate), or $1,140 a month. In 2022 federal data it was $11,196, 11.4% of the median family income and 1.6× the HHS 7% affordability benchmark.
Cost by age and care type
Annual prices for full-time care, averaged across North Dakota'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) | $11,196 | $13,685 | $8,235 | $10,066 |
| Toddler (24 to 35 months) | $10,215 | $12,486 | $7,764 | $9,490 |
| Preschool (36 to 54 months) | $9,478 | $11,585 | $7,823 | $9,562 |
Family child care, in a provider's home, costs about $8,235 a year for an infant in North Dakota (2022 data): $2,961, or 26% less than a center.
Childcare cost by county in North Dakota
Divide County has the highest center-based infant price in North Dakota, $12,484 a year in 2022 data, and Eddy County the lowest, $10,145: a gap of $2,339 a year (23% higher). These county prices are Department of Labor estimates: estimated from the state's surveys in other years; modelled from statewide survey data rather than surveyed county by county.
| County | Center infant | Toddler | Preschool | Home infant | Family income | Infant share |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Divide County | $12,484 | $11,402 | $10,569 | $9,178 | $106,298 | 11.7% |
| McKenzie County | $12,464 | $11,368 | $10,552 | $9,170 | $102,045 | 12.2% |
| Williams County | $11,977 | $10,928 | $10,140 | $8,810 | $104,948 | 11.4% |
| Dunn County | $11,967 | $10,921 | $10,131 | $8,802 | $124,688 | 9.6% |
| Mercer County | $11,630 | $10,623 | $9,846 | $8,549 | $105,944 | 11.0% |
| Morton County | $11,604 | $10,588 | $9,824 | $8,535 | $105,513 | 11.0% |
| Ransom County | $11,528 | $10,537 | $9,759 | $8,471 | $89,663 | 12.9% |
| Sargent County | $11,471 | $10,483 | $9,711 | $8,429 | $93,309 | 12.3% |
| Burleigh County | $11,468 | $10,459 | $9,709 | $8,437 | $108,272 | 10.6% |
| Ward County | $11,444 | $10,432 | $9,688 | $8,422 | $101,212 | 11.3% |
| Bowman County | $11,425 | $10,438 | $9,672 | $8,397 | $95,278 | 12.0% |
| Stark County | $11,415 | $10,411 | $9,664 | $8,398 | $101,972 | 11.2% |
| Renville County | $11,407 | $10,420 | $9,656 | $8,384 | $94,167 | 12.1% |
| Bottineau County | $11,357 | $10,372 | $9,615 | $8,349 | $101,422 | 11.2% |
| Golden Valley County | $11,285 | $10,308 | $9,553 | $8,294 | $95,625 | 11.8% |
| Burke County | $11,249 | $10,273 | $9,523 | $8,270 | $111,552 | 10.1% |
| Mountrail County | $11,238 | $10,262 | $9,514 | $8,263 | $96,833 | 11.6% |
| McLean County | $11,184 | $10,219 | $9,468 | $8,219 | $94,481 | 11.8% |
| Hettinger County | $11,163 | $10,201 | $9,450 | $8,203 | $85,000 | 13.1% |
| Cass County | $11,118 | $10,139 | $9,412 | $8,181 | $104,847 | 10.6% |
| McHenry County | $11,063 | $10,113 | $9,365 | $8,129 | $95,268 | 11.6% |
| Grand Forks County | $11,029 | $10,059 | $9,338 | $8,115 | $94,149 | 11.7% |
| Logan County | $11,027 | $10,074 | $9,335 | $8,104 | $73,667 | 15.0% |
| Pierce County | $10,892 | $9,948 | $9,221 | $8,006 | $97,689 | 11.1% |
| Traill County | $10,889 | $9,947 | $9,219 | $8,004 | $108,958 | 10.0% |
| Foster County | $10,879 | $9,941 | $9,210 | $7,996 | $105,000 | 10.4% |
| Barnes County | $10,843 | $9,898 | $9,179 | $7,973 | $90,800 | 11.9% |
| Richland County | $10,813 | $9,879 | $9,154 | $7,947 | $98,290 | 11.0% |
| Cavalier County | $10,771 | $9,843 | $9,118 | $7,914 | $94,583 | 11.4% |
| Stutsman County | $10,727 | $9,794 | $9,081 | $7,887 | $94,967 | 11.3% |
| Slope County | $10,635 | $9,707 | $9,003 | $7,820 | $80,972 | 13.1% |
| Pembina County | $10,600 | $9,684 | $8,974 | $7,791 | $89,104 | 11.9% |
| Walsh County | $10,576 | $9,661 | $8,954 | $7,775 | $81,595 | 13.0% |
| Dickey County | $10,558 | $9,640 | $8,938 | $7,763 | $88,906 | 11.9% |
| Billings County | $10,556 | $9,626 | $8,936 | $7,767 | $104,688 | 10.1% |
| Steele County | $10,556 | $9,642 | $8,936 | $7,759 | $105,417 | 10.0% |
| Ramsey County | $10,449 | $9,545 | $8,846 | $7,680 | $89,722 | 11.6% |
| Towner County | $10,443 | $9,543 | $8,841 | $7,674 | $84,063 | 12.4% |
| Sheridan County | $10,432 | $9,533 | $8,831 | $7,666 | $90,104 | 11.6% |
| Griggs County | $10,417 | $9,519 | $8,819 | $7,656 | $87,656 | 11.9% |
| Grant County | $10,393 | $9,498 | $8,798 | $7,638 | $78,864 | 13.2% |
| Emmons County | $10,370 | $9,476 | $8,779 | $7,621 | $93,275 | 11.1% |
| McIntosh County | $10,369 | $9,474 | $8,778 | $7,620 | $85,833 | 12.1% |
| Oliver County | $10,369 | $9,473 | $8,778 | $7,622 | $82,321 | 12.6% |
| Nelson County | $10,350 | $9,458 | $8,762 | $7,607 | $94,102 | 11.0% |
| Wells County | $10,338 | $9,445 | $8,752 | $7,599 | $88,810 | 11.6% |
| Benson County | $10,337 | $9,446 | $8,751 | $7,597 | $68,523 | 15.1% |
| Kidder County | $10,310 | $9,421 | $8,728 | $7,577 | $76,765 | 13.4% |
| LaMoure County | $10,308 | $9,416 | $8,727 | $7,578 | $94,313 | 10.9% |
| Adams County | $10,285 | $9,394 | $8,707 | $7,560 | $99,038 | 10.4% |
| Rolette County | $10,244 | $9,360 | $8,673 | $7,529 | $59,853 | 17.1% |
| Sioux County | $10,215 | $9,334 | $8,648 | $7,507 | $46,719 | 21.9% |
| Eddy County | $10,145 | $9,267 | $8,588 | $7,457 | $76,964 | 13.2% |
Annual median prices in 2022 data, not quotes. Counties with identical prices are grouped. All 53 center-based infant prices here are Department of Labor estimates: estimated from the state's surveys in other years; modelled from statewide survey data rather than surveyed county by county. How prices are estimated.
Neighboring states
- Minnesota$1,711/mo infant, 2026 est.
- Montana$1,180/mo infant, 2026 est.
- South Dakota$791/mo infant, 2026 est.
See how North Dakota compares in the full ranking of childcare costs by state.
Frequently asked questions
How much is daycare in North Dakota per month?
Center-based infant care in North Dakota costs about $1,140 a month in estimated 2026 dollars ($933 a month in 2022 federal data). In a center, toddler care runs about $1,041 and preschool about $965 a month in 2026 dollars, and home-based infant care about $839. These are population-weighted averages across North Dakota's counties; actual prices vary by provider.
What is the cheapest county for childcare in North Dakota?
Divide County has the highest center-based infant price in North Dakota, $12,484 a year in 2022 data, and Eddy County the lowest, $10,145: a gap of $2,339 a year (23% higher). These county prices are Department of Labor estimates: estimated from the state's surveys in other years; modelled from statewide survey data rather than surveyed county by county.
How much of a family's income does childcare take in North Dakota?
Center-based infant care takes about 11.4% of the median family income in North Dakota ($11,196 against $97,853, 2022 data), 1.6× the HHS 7% affordability benchmark. That ranks 36 of 49 for burden, where 1 is the heaviest. Across counties it ranges from 9.6% in Dunn County to 21.9% in Sioux County.
Source: National Database of Childcare Prices, U.S. Department of Labor, Women's Bureau, county file NDCP2022.xlsx (2022 data for North Dakota). 2026 estimates use the BLS CPI-U day care and preschool index (series CUUR0000SEEB03) to August 2026. Methodology · Download every county (CSV)