Average Infant Daycare Cost 2026: $1,230/Month by State
$1,230/month is the national average for full-time infant center-based care. That’s $14,760/year. Mississippi runs as low as $650/month. Washington DC tops out at $2,400/month. Infants are the most expensive age group in any daycare — by a significant margin.
2026 Infant Care Costs at a Glance
Infant Daycare Cost by State (2026)
Full-time center-based care. 0–12 months. Source: HHS/ACF Child Care Market Rate Survey.
| State | Per Month | Per Year |
|---|---|---|
| Washington DC | $2,400 | $28,800 |
| Massachusetts | $2,200 | $26,400 |
| New York | $1,900 | $22,800 |
| California | $1,800 | $21,600 |
| Connecticut | $1,800 | $21,600 |
| Washington | $1,800 | $21,600 |
| Rhode Island | $1,700 | $20,400 |
| New Jersey | $1,700 | $20,400 |
| Maryland | $1,600 | $19,200 |
| Colorado | $1,600 | $19,200 |
| New Hampshire | $1,500 | $18,000 |
| Hawaii | $1,500 | $18,000 |
| Oregon | $1,500 | $18,000 |
| Vermont | $1,500 | $18,000 |
| Minnesota | $1,400 | $16,800 |
| Virginia | $1,400 | $16,800 |
| Illinois | $1,400 | $16,800 |
| Alaska | $1,400 | $16,800 |
| Delaware | $1,200 | $14,400 |
| Wisconsin | $1,200 | $14,400 |
| Maine | $1,200 | $14,400 |
| Pennsylvania | $1,200 | $14,400 |
| Michigan | $1,100 | $13,200 |
| Nevada | $1,000 | $12,000 |
| Nebraska | $1,000 | $12,000 |
| Ohio | $1,000 | $12,000 |
| North Dakota | $1,000 | $12,000 |
| Montana | $1,000 | $12,000 |
| Indiana | $1,000 | $12,000 |
| Iowa | $1,000 | $12,000 |
| Florida | $1,000 | $12,000 |
| Arizona | $1,000 | $12,000 |
| North Carolina | $950 | $11,400 |
| Utah | $950 | $11,400 |
| Texas | $900 | $10,800 |
| Wyoming | $900 | $10,800 |
| Missouri | $900 | $10,800 |
| Kansas | $900 | $10,800 |
| Idaho | $900 | $10,800 |
| Georgia | $900 | $10,800 |
| New Mexico | $850 | $10,200 |
| South Carolina | $850 | $10,200 |
| South Dakota | $850 | $10,200 |
| Tennessee | $850 | $10,200 |
| Kentucky | $800 | $9,600 |
| Oklahoma | $750 | $9,000 |
| West Virginia | $750 | $9,000 |
| Louisiana | $700 | $8,400 |
| Alabama | $700 | $8,400 |
| Arkansas | $680 | $8,160 |
| Mississippi | $650 | $7,800 |
Why Infant Care Costs So Much
The answer is staff-to-child ratios. Most states require one caregiver for every 3–4 infants. For preschoolers, one teacher can cover 8–10 kids. The math is simple: infant care needs 2–3x as many caregivers per slot. Labor is ~70% of a daycare’s operating cost, so the ratio nearly doubles the price.
There’s no way around it. If a center isn’t charging more for infants, it’s either cutting corners on staffing or subsidizing infant care with profit from older age groups.
Infant Care vs. a Nanny
A full-time nanny averages $2,700/month nationally. Center infant care averages $1,230/month. Nannies are more expensive for one child. The math changes with two: two daycare slots cost $2,460/month, while a nanny watching both runs $2,700–$3,000. For two infants, a nanny is often cheaper.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does infant daycare cost per month in 2026?
Infant center-based daycare averages $1,230/month nationally in 2026. Low-cost states like Mississippi run $650/month; Washington DC averages $2,400/month and Massachusetts $2,200/month. Home-based infant care runs about $970/month nationally. Infants are the most expensive age group due to strict 1:3–4 caregiver ratios required by state law.
Why is infant daycare more expensive than toddler or preschool care?
State licensing requires more caregivers per infant than per older children. Most states require 1 caregiver per 3–4 infants versus 1 per 8–10 preschoolers. Since labor is ~70% of daycare operating costs, the ratio nearly doubles the per-child cost. There is no way to reduce this without cutting staffing below legal minimums.
How much does infant daycare cost per year?
Full-time infant center-based care averages $14,760/year nationally ($1,230 x 12 months). Low-cost states average $7,800–$8,400/year. Washington DC averages $28,800/year. Most families keep infants in full-time care for 12–18 months before transitioning to the lower-cost toddler rate.
When does the infant daycare rate drop to toddler rates?
Most daycare centers transition children from the infant room to the toddler room between 12 and 18 months. The specific trigger is often developmental (walking independently) rather than strictly age-based. Ask your center exactly when the rate changes — you may be paying the higher infant rate longer than necessary.
Data: ACF Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF) Market Rate Surveys, BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey, ACF CCDF Policy Database
Last updated: January 2026
How we calculate this · Subsidy eligibility estimates are indicative only. Contact your state's childcare resource agency for current availability.