How much childcare costs in Tennessee
Center-based infant care in Tennessee costs about $11,994 a year in 2026 dollars (estimate), or $999 a month. In 2022 federal data it was $9,812, 12.1% of the median family income and 1.7× the HHS 7% affordability benchmark.
Cost by age and care type
Annual prices for full-time care, averaged across Tennessee'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) | $9,812 | $11,994 | $7,110 | $8,691 |
| Toddler (24 to 35 months) | $7,071 | $8,643 | $6,214 | $7,596 |
| Preschool (36 to 54 months) | $7,071 | $8,643 | $6,214 | $7,596 |
Family child care, in a provider's home, costs about $7,110 a year for an infant in Tennessee (2022 data): $2,702, or 28% less than a center.
Childcare cost by county in Tennessee
Anderson County, Blount County and 22 other counties have the highest center-based infant price in Tennessee, $11,007 a year in 2022 data, and Decatur County the lowest, $5,807: a gap of $5,200 a year (90% 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
24 countiesAnderson County, Blount County, Bradley County, Cheatham County, Davidson County, Fayette County, Greene County, Hamilton County, Henry County, Knox County, Loudon County, Madison County, Maury County, Montgomery County, Putnam County, Robertson County, Rutherford County, Sevier County, Shelby County, Sullivan County, Sumner County, Washington County, Williamson County, Wilson County | $11,007 | $7,610 | $7,610 | $8,060 | $62,917 to $145,896 | 7.5 to 17.5% |
70 countiesBedford County, Benton County, Bledsoe County, Campbell County, Cannon County, Carroll County, Carter County, Chester County, Claiborne County, Clay County, Cocke County, Coffee County, Crockett County, Cumberland County, DeKalb County, Dickson County, Dyer County, Fentress County, Franklin County, Gibson County, Giles County, Grainger County, Grundy County, Hamblen County, Hancock County, Hardeman County, Hardin County, Hawkins County, Haywood County, Henderson County, Hickman County, Houston County, Humphreys County, Jackson County, Jefferson County, Johnson County, Lake County, Lauderdale County, Lawrence County, Lewis County, Lincoln County, Macon County, Marion County, Marshall County, McMinn County, McNairy County, Meigs County, Monroe County, Moore County, Morgan County, Obion County, Overton County, Perry County, Pickett County, Polk County, Rhea County, Roane County, Scott County, Sequatchie County, Smith County, Stewart County, Tipton County, Trousdale County, Unicoi County, Union County, Van Buren County, Warren County, Wayne County, Weakley County, White County | $6,811 | $5,720 | $5,720 | $4,723 | $45,250 to $82,391 | 8.3 to 15.1% |
| Decatur County | $5,807 | $5,068 | $5,068 | $4,195 | $63,795 | 9.1% |
Annual median prices in 2022 data, not quotes. Counties with identical prices are grouped. All 95 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
- Alabama$718/mo infant, 2026 est.
- Arkansas$709/mo infant, 2026 est.
- Georgia$886/mo infant, 2026 est.
- Kentucky$844/mo infant, 2026 est.
- Mississippi$697/mo infant, 2026 est.
- Missouri$1,270/mo infant, 2026 est.
- North Carolina$1,160/mo infant, 2026 est.
- Virginia$1,382/mo infant, 2026 est.
See how Tennessee compares in the full ranking of childcare costs by state.
Frequently asked questions
How much is daycare in Tennessee per month?
Center-based infant care in Tennessee costs about $999 a month in estimated 2026 dollars ($818 a month in 2022 federal data). In a center, toddler care runs about $720 and preschool about $720 a month in 2026 dollars, and home-based infant care about $724. These are population-weighted averages across Tennessee's counties; actual prices vary by provider.
What is the cheapest county for childcare in Tennessee?
Anderson County, Blount County and 22 other counties have the highest center-based infant price in Tennessee, $11,007 a year in 2022 data, and Decatur County the lowest, $5,807: a gap of $5,200 a year (90% 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 Tennessee?
Center-based infant care takes about 12.1% of the median family income in Tennessee ($9,812 against $80,910, 2022 data), 1.7× the HHS 7% affordability benchmark. That ranks 33 of 49 for burden, where 1 is the heaviest. Across counties it ranges from 7.5% in Williamson County to 17.5% in Henry County.
Source: National Database of Childcare Prices, U.S. Department of Labor, Women's Bureau, county file NDCP2022.xlsx (2022 data for Tennessee). 2026 estimates use the BLS CPI-U day care and preschool index (series CUUR0000SEEB03) to August 2026. Methodology · Download every county (CSV)