Average Daycare Costs Across the United States (2026)

The average daycare costs in the United States hit $13,184 a year in 2025, according to the latest data from Child Care Aware of America. You probably know what your own facility charges — but how does it compare to the state and national picture? This guide breaks down current daycare costs across the country, the factors that drive them, and what the data means for childcare operators setting tuition.

What Drives the Average Daycare Costs

Child care prices vary widely from one center to the next, and a handful of factors do most of the work explaining the spread. The biggest drivers include:

• Cost of living in the local market — urban centers run dramatically higher than rural areas
• Location type — large city, suburb, or small town
• Extended or non-traditional hours
• Additional services like enrichment programs, transportation, or meals
• State-mandated staff-to-child ratios
• Age of the child — infant care is the most expensive, and costs drop as children get older and ratios loosen

For example, traditional-hour care for a typically developing toddler in a general classroom will cost meaningfully less than evening care with enrichment programming for an infant. As a result, the same metro area can show a 2x price range across centers depending on age served and hours of operation.

What It Costs to Operate a Daycare Center

Operating costs vary just as much as tuition. However, the cost structure is consistent: child care is labor-intensive, and employee wages typically account for 60-70% of total expenses. On top of payroll, providers absorb rent or mortgage, utilities, equipment, supplies, food, licensing fees, insurance, and software.

The Center for American Progress has long estimated that providing center-based care for a single infant costs the operator well over $14,000 annually — and current data shows that figure is even higher in most markets. For owners building their own pricing model, our guides on setting daycare prices and calculating your break-even point walk through how to translate operating costs into sustainable tuition.

Current Average Daycare Costs by Age

According to Child Care Aware of America’s 2024 Price & Supply Report, the national average price of child care reached $13,128 in 2024 — a $1,546 jump from $11,582 in 2023. The 2025 figure climbed again to $13,184, marking a 23% increase from 2021 to 2025.

Infant care continues to lead the market. Toddler care runs slightly less. Preschool-age care is the most affordable of the three categories because lower ratios allow centers to spread labor costs across more children per classroom. In addition, families often face extra line items beyond base tuition — registration fees, supply fees, diaper fees, food charges, and premium services like live classroom viewing.

Most and Least Affordable States

Affordability isn’t just the sticker price — it’s the share of a family’s income that goes to child care. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services considers child care affordable at no more than 7% of household income. The current national average runs at 10% for married-couple households and 35% for single-parent households.

The Economic Policy Institute publishes ongoing rankings of the most and least affordable states for center-based infant care:

Least affordable (highest annual infant cost):

1. District of Columbia
2. Massachusetts
3. California
4. Minnesota
5. Connecticut
6. New York
7. Maryland
8. Colorado
9. Washington
10. Virginia

Most affordable (lowest annual infant cost):

1. Mississippi
2. South Dakota
3. North Dakota
4. Alabama
5. Louisiana

For example, infant care in Mississippi averages around $572 per month, while the same care in Washington, D.C. averages $2,363 per month — a more than 4x spread within the same country.

Average Daycare Costs by State

Costs vary as much within states as they do between them. For instance, in Washington state the average annual price of infant child care in a center is roughly $14,554. However, urban regions like the Puget Sound and Vancouver areas run materially higher, while rural counties run far lower. Meanwhile, in many states, the gap between the highest- and lowest-priced county can exceed 2x.

For state-by-state detail, the Child Care Aware of America interactive map is the best starting point. The Census Bureau’s National Database of Childcare Prices goes deeper, with cost data for 2,360 U.S. counties.

What This Means for Childcare Operators

Knowing the average daycare costs in your state and county is the foundation of a smart pricing decision. Finally, pair national and state data with your own KPI tracking and a current financial dashboard, and you’ll have everything you need to set rates that cover your real costs while staying competitive in your local market.

For expert advice on your daycare fees and child care center expenses, the Honest Buck team specializes in childcare. Get in touch through our new client questionnaire and we’ll set up a conversation.