DaycareCalc
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Daycare Cost Calculator 2026 — Can I Afford Childcare?
National average: $1,230/month for infant care. Enter your state and income to see your exact cost.
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Daycare Cost: Baltimore vs Colorado Springs (2026)

Baltimore infant center care runs $1760/month — $0/month less than Colorado Springs's $1760/month. That's $0/year per child.

Baltimore, MD

$1760

infant/month

+$530 vs national avg

Colorado Springs, CO

$1760

infant/month

+$530 vs national avg

Baltimore vs Colorado Springs — All Care Types

Monthly costs. Green = lower cost. National average shown for context.

Care Type Baltimore Colorado Springs
Infant — Center $1,760/mo $1,760/mo
Toddler — Center $1,540/mo $1,540/mo
Preschool — Center $1,320/mo $1,320/mo
School Age $1,100/mo $1,100/mo
Infant — Home $1,380/mo $1,320/mo
Nanny (Full-Time) $3,520/mo $3,520/mo

Source: ACF Child Care Market Rate Survey + metro cost-of-living adjustment. 2026 estimates.

Annual Cost Impact

For infant center-based care, Baltimore costs $21,120/year vs Colorado Springs's $21,120/year.

Monthly savings

$0

Annual savings

$0

2-year infant care

$0

% difference

0%

Savings = Colorado Springs cost minus Baltimore cost. Infant center-based care only.

Affordability Index

Infant center care as a % of state median household income. Under 7% is considered affordable; over 10% is a heavy burden.

Baltimore

19.5%

of $108k median income

Colorado Springs

21.7%

of $97k median income

National Avg

18.3%

of $80.6k median income

Subsidy Availability (CCDF)

Federal Child Care and Development Fund eligibility thresholds by state. Families below the income limit may qualify for reduced-cost or free care.

Baltimore, MD — CCDF

Check eligibility →

Colorado Springs, CO — CCDF

Check eligibility →

CCDF thresholds vary by state and are updated annually. Verify current limits at childcare.gov.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is daycare cheaper in Baltimore or Colorado Springs?

Baltimore is cheaper for infant center-based care at $1760/month, vs. $1760/month in Colorado Springs — a $0/month gap. Colorado Springs wins on 1 of 6 care categories.

How much can I save on daycare moving from Colorado Springs to Baltimore?

Infant center-based care in Baltimore runs $0/month less than in Colorado Springs. Over a typical two-year infant care period, that's $0 saved — not counting toddler or preschool years.

How do both cities compare to the national average?

The national average for infant center-based care is $1230/month. Baltimore is $530 above the national average, and Colorado Springs is $530 above.