Most daycare projects cost between $8,000 and $25,000 per year, with a typical price near $15,000. Prices vary by state and city, so the range below is a planning guide rather than a quote.
Typical daycare cost
$8,000 – $25,000
per year · typical $15,000
A general planning range, not a quotation.
Daycare cost breakdown
- Home-based daycare$8,000 – $15,000typical $11,000
- Center-based daycare$12,000 – $25,000typical $18,000
- High-end preschool$20,000 – $40,000typical $28,000
What Daycare costs
Covers full-time care for infants through preschoolers. Costs vary by age (infants pricier), location, and type (center vs. home-based). Many families budget $12,000–$20,000 per child.
Costs by state
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Alberta
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- British Columbia
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- District of Columbia
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Manitoba
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Brunswick
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- Newfoundland and Labrador
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Northwest Territories
- Nova Scotia
- Nunavut
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Ontario
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Prince Edward Island
- Quebec
- Rhode Island
- Saskatchewan
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
- Yukon
Frequently asked questions
How much does daycare cost per month?
Expect $600 to $2,000 per month per child, depending on age, location, and type of care. Infant care is typically pricier.
Why is daycare so expensive?
Low child-to-staff ratios, licensing requirements, rent, and insurance drive costs. Staff wages and benefits are the biggest expense.
Are there ways to reduce daycare costs?
Yes: use a dependent care FSA, ask about sibling discounts, consider a nanny share, or choose a home-based provider. Also check state subsidies.