How much childcare costs in Ohio
Center-based infant care in Ohio costs about $16,850 a year in 2026 dollars (estimate), or $1,404 a month. In 2022 federal data it was $13,785, 16.0% 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 Ohio'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) | $13,785 | $16,850 | $9,798 | $11,977 |
| Toddler (24 to 35 months) | $12,419 | $15,180 | $9,378 | $11,463 |
| Preschool (36 to 54 months) | $10,886 | $13,307 | $8,669 | $10,597 |
Family child care, in a provider's home, costs about $9,798 a year for an infant in Ohio (2022 data): $3,987, or 29% less than a center.
Childcare cost by county in Ohio
Athens County, Belmont County and 27 other counties have the highest center-based infant price in Ohio, $15,340 a year in 2022 data, and Adams County, Allen County and 33 other counties the lowest, $9,025: a gap of $6,315 a year (70% higher).
| County | Center infant | Toddler | Preschool | Home infant | Family income | Infant share |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
29 countiesAthens County, Belmont County, Butler County, Clermont County, Cuyahoga County, Defiance County, Delaware County, Fairfield County, Franklin County, Geauga County, Greene County, Hamilton County, Hancock County, Holmes County, Jefferson County, Knox County, Lake County, Lorain County, Lucas County, Marion County, Medina County, Monroe County, Montgomery County, Morrow County, Portage County, Summit County, Trumbull County, Union County, Warren County | $15,340 | $13,780 | $12,064 | $10,400 | $69,176 to $146,567 | 10.5 to 22.2% |
24 countiesAshtabula County, Auglaize County, Clark County, Clinton County, Erie County, Fayette County, Guernsey County, Hardin County, Huron County, Lawrence County, Licking County, Logan County, Madison County, Mahoning County, Morgan County, Noble County, Ottawa County, Perry County, Preble County, Sandusky County, Stark County, Tuscarawas County, Wayne County, Wood County | $11,537 | $10,400 | $9,100 | $8,840 | $61,007 to $96,410 | 12.0 to 18.9% |
35 countiesAdams County, Allen County, Ashland County, Brown County, Carroll County, Champaign County, Columbiana County, Coshocton County, Crawford County, Darke County, Fulton County, Gallia County, Harrison County, Henry County, Highland County, Hocking County, Jackson County, Meigs County, Mercer County, Miami County, Muskingum County, Paulding County, Pickaway County, Pike County, Putnam County, Richland County, Ross County, Scioto County, Seneca County, Shelby County, Van Wert County, Vinton County, Washington County, Williams County, Wyandot County | $9,025 | $8,320 | $7,384 | $8,060 | $58,977 to $97,190 | 9.3 to 15.3% |
Annual median prices in 2022 data, not quotes. Counties with identical prices are grouped. None of these center-based infant prices is flagged as estimated in the federal file. How prices are estimated.
Neighboring states
- Kentucky$844/mo infant, 2026 est.
- Michigan$879/mo infant, 2026 est.
- Pennsylvania$1,240/mo infant, 2026 est.
- West Virginia$891/mo infant, 2026 est.
See how Ohio compares in the full ranking of childcare costs by state.
Frequently asked questions
How much is daycare in Ohio per month?
Center-based infant care in Ohio costs about $1,404 a month in estimated 2026 dollars ($1,149 a month in 2022 federal data). In a center, toddler care runs about $1,265 and preschool about $1,109 a month in 2026 dollars, and home-based infant care about $998. These are population-weighted averages across Ohio's counties; actual prices vary by provider.
What is the cheapest county for childcare in Ohio?
Athens County, Belmont County and 27 other counties have the highest center-based infant price in Ohio, $15,340 a year in 2022 data, and Adams County, Allen County and 33 other counties the lowest, $9,025: a gap of $6,315 a year (70% higher).
How much of a family's income does childcare take in Ohio?
Center-based infant care takes about 16.0% of the median family income in Ohio ($13,785 against $86,001, 2022 data), 2.3× the HHS 7% affordability benchmark. That ranks 9 of 49 for burden, where 1 is the heaviest. Across counties it ranges from 9.3% in Putnam County to 22.2% in Jefferson County.
Source: National Database of Childcare Prices, U.S. Department of Labor, Women's Bureau, county file NDCP2022.xlsx (2022 data for Ohio). 2026 estimates use the BLS CPI-U day care and preschool index (series CUUR0000SEEB03) to August 2026. Methodology · Download every county (CSV)