2026 Childcare Cost Report
The national average for full-time infant center care is $1,230/month. That's $14,760 a year, before taxes, credits, or subsidies. Where you live determines more than anything else — the gap between the cheapest and most expensive states is $21,000/year.
Data source: HHS ACF National Database of Childcare Prices (NDCP), 2026 estimates based on 2024–2025 reporting period. Center-based rates; family home-based care runs 20–30% lower.
Key Findings
- →DC families pay $28,800/year for infant care — more than tuition at many state universities.
- →Mississippi families pay $7,800/year for the same care type. The 3.7x gap between cheapest and most expensive is the largest it's been in a decade.
- →Costs rose 4–6% in 2026, down from 10–15% annual increases in 2022–2024. The surge is slowing.
- →Moving from infant to preschool age saves $3,720/year on average nationally ($310/month). Age is the second-biggest cost driver after location.
- →7 states have a subsidy waitlist for families who qualify. Applying on day one matters.
National Averages by Age Group (2026)
Full-time center-based care, monthly cost. Full age-group breakdown →
| Age Group | Monthly | Annual | vs. 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Infant (under 12 months) | $1,230 | $14,760 | +5% |
| Toddler (1–3 years) | $1,080 | $12,960 | +5% |
| Preschool (3–5 years) | $920 | $11,040 | +4% |
| School-age (before/after) | $770 | $9,240 | +4% |
| Family home-based (infant avg) | $960 | $11,520 | +4% |
10 Most Expensive States for Childcare (2026)
Ranked by infant center-based monthly cost. Full expensive-states ranking →
| Rank | State | Monthly (Infant) | Annual |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington DC | $2,400 | $28,800 |
| 2 | Massachusetts | $2,200 | $26,400 |
| 3 | New York | $1,900 | $22,800 |
| 4 | California | $1,800 | $21,600 |
| 5 | Connecticut | $1,800 | $21,600 |
| 6 | Maryland | $1,750 | $21,000 |
| 7 | New Jersey | $1,700 | $20,400 |
| 8 | Washington | $1,650 | $19,800 |
| 9 | Colorado | $1,600 | $19,200 |
| 10 | Virginia | $1,550 | $18,600 |
10 Cheapest States for Childcare (2026)
Ranked by infant center-based monthly cost. Full cheapest-states ranking →
| Rank | State | Monthly (Infant) | Annual |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mississippi | $650 | $7,800 |
| 2 | Arkansas | $680 | $8,160 |
| 3 | Alabama | $700 | $8,400 |
| 4 | Louisiana | $700 | $8,400 |
| 5 | Oklahoma | $750 | $9,000 |
| 6 | South Dakota | $760 | $9,120 |
| 7 | West Virginia | $780 | $9,360 |
| 8 | Kentucky | $790 | $9,480 |
| 9 | South Carolina | $850 | $10,200 |
| 10 | Tennessee | $860 | $10,320 |
Infant Care Cost by Region (2026)
MA, NY, CT, NJ, PA, ME, NH, VT, RI
Highest-cost region. 1:3–1:4 infant ratios plus high wages.
CA, WA, OR, HI
California and Hawaii drive the regional average up significantly.
DC, MD, VA, DE
DC is the outlier; Virginia and Delaware run near national average.
IL, MN, WI, MO, IA, OH, IN, MI, KS, NE, ND, SD
Wide range. Minnesota ($1,400/mo) vs South Dakota ($760/mo).
CO, UT, AZ, NM, NV, MT, ID, WY
Colorado ($1,600) pulls the region up. Wyoming and Montana near $800.
TX, FL, GA, NC, SC, TN, AL, MS, LA, AR, OK, KY, WV
Lowest-cost region overall. Florida above regional avg due to Miami.
Year-Over-Year Trend: 2020–2026
National average, full-time infant center-based care. Full cost trends analysis →
| Year | Nat'l Avg (Infant) | YoY Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | $1,020 | — |
| 2021 | $1,040 | +2% |
| 2022 | $1,120 | +8% |
| 2023 | $1,150 | +3% |
| 2024 | $1,170 | +2% |
| 2025 | $1,180 | +1% |
| 2026 ★ | $1,230 | +4% |
Key Statistics for 2026
Data points for reporters, researchers, and policy writers.
That's $2,760 more than the average annual tuition at a public 4-year university ($12,000). Source: HHS ACF NDCP 2026.
DC infant care is 95% above the national average. A dual-income household earning $100,000 spends 29% of gross income on one child's care.
The $21,000/year gap between DC and Mississippi is the widest geographic spread in a decade. Both states have licensed, regulated centers — the difference is labor costs and real estate.
DC ($2,400/month) vs. Mississippi ($650/month). For families with two young children, this gap can exceed $42,000/year.
Based on U.S. median household income of ~$80,000. HHS defines "affordable" childcare as 7% of income. Most families are already above that threshold.
Down from 10–15% annual surges in 2022–2024. The slowdown reflects easing staffing shortages and some states implementing cost controls through their subsidy rate structures.
What Drives the Cost Differences Between States
Massachusetts and DC require 1:3 infant-to-caregiver ratios — the strictest in the country. Mississippi allows 1:5. More staff per child means higher labor costs, which providers pass through to families. A center operating at 1:3 needs 67% more infant staff than one at 1:5 for the same enrollment. That ratio difference alone accounts for $300–$500/month of the cost gap.
Childcare workers in California now earn a minimum of $20/hour. In Mississippi, median hourly wage is $10.50. The cost of care tracks closely with what workers earn. States that raised minimum wages in 2023–2025 saw corresponding price increases with roughly a 6–9 month lag.
Commercial rent for a licensed childcare center in San Francisco runs 4–6x what the same square footage costs in rural Mississippi. This directly affects what centers need to charge. Suburban and rural facilities often pay 40–60% less for space than urban centers in the same state.
Texas has 10,000+ licensed childcare facilities. The competition keeps prices in check. In many rural areas of high-cost states, supply is constrained — fewer options means less price competition. New center licensing in these markets is limited by the same economics that make them expensive.
Subsidy Access in 2026: State-by-State Gaps
The federal Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF) is the primary subsidy program. Every state runs its own version. The income threshold, copay amount, and waitlist status differ by state — sometimes dramatically.
Beyond CCDF: the Dependent Care FSA lets families set aside $5,000/year pre-tax. On a $70,000 household income, that's worth about $1,400 in tax savings. The federal Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit adds up to $600 for one child on top of that.
Calculate your net childcare cost after all credits and FSA →
State Childcare Cost Guides
Detailed breakdown by state: city-level costs, subsidy eligibility, and free pre-K programs.
Methodology & Sources
Primary source: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Administration for Children and Families (ACF) National Database of Childcare Prices (NDCP), 2024–2025 reporting period. NDCP collects market rate survey data from all 50 states and DC.
Supplemental: Economic Policy Institute Child Care Cost Database; Care.com Cost of Care Survey 2025–2026; state licensing agency published rate schedules; Urban Institute analysis of CCDF subsidy coverage.
What these numbers represent: Median or average market rate for full-time (40–50 hours/week) center-based care in licensed facilities. Home-based daycare typically runs 20–30% lower. Rates are reported at the state level; metro areas within a state can vary significantly from the state average.
Last updated: March 2026.