Childcare Costs by State 2026

Annual cost of center-based infant childcare across all 50 states. Sourced from the Child Care Aware of America "Price of Care" report and the DOL Women's Bureau National Database of Childcare Prices. Figures are list prices and do not reflect CCDBG subsidies.

Cheapest 10 states

Lowest annual childcare cost

Rank	State	Annual infant care	% of median income
1	Mississippi	$7,530	16.2%
2	Arkansas	$7,560	14.4%
3	Kentucky	$7,910	14.2%
4	Louisiana	$8,580	16.4%
5	South Dakota	$8,580	13.4%
6	Alabama	$8,730	15.3%
7	Oklahoma	$8,830	15.5%
8	South Carolina	$9,220	15.5%
9	Georgia	$9,420	14.5%
10	Tennessee	$9,540	16.0%

Most expensive 10 states

Highest annual childcare cost

Rank	State	Annual infant care	% of median income
1	Massachusetts	$21,250	23.7%
2	Washington	$19,850	24.1%
3	California	$19,550	23.0%
4	New York	$17,820	24.0%
5	Colorado	$17,400	21.2%
6	Minnesota	$17,070	22.0%
7	Oregon	$16,700	23.8%
8	Hawaii	$16,700	19.7%
9	Connecticut	$16,650	19.9%
10	New Jersey	$16,450	19.3%

Sources: Child Care Aware of America "Price of Care" 2024 report, DOL Women's Bureau National Database of Childcare Prices, Census ACS median household income.

The 7% benchmark

No state meets the affordability benchmark.

The Department of Health and Human Services defines childcare as "affordable" when it costs less than 7% of household income. Across all 50 states and DC, center-based infant care is between 13% (South Dakota) and 25% (Vermont, NY, Washington) of median household income. No state meets the federal benchmark for infant care; nearly all states fail it by a factor of two or more.

Why is childcare structurally expensive? Regulated child-to-teacher ratios (typically 1:3 or 1:4 for infants) make labour the dominant cost. Labour cannot scale via productivity gains the way other services can. Centers also face fixed costs in licensing, facility compliance and insurance. The result is a market where prices closely track local wages and rent.

Federal CCDBG (Child Care and Development Block Grant) subsidies and state supplements help low-income families. Eligibility thresholds and copay schedules vary by state; the Child Care Aware report tracks these annually.

All 50 States

Full cost index.

Housing Costs

Median home + rent.

Family-Friendly States

Composite ranking.

Compare Two States

Run your own numbers.

Frequently Asked

Childcare costs, answered

Which state has the most expensive childcare?

Massachusetts at approximately $21,250/year for center-based infant care, followed by Washington ($19,850), California ($19,550) and New York ($17,820). Childcare cost correlates with state minimum wage, regulatory ratio requirements (lower child-to-teacher ratios for infants are mandated more strictly in some states) and the cost of teacher salaries. The District of Columbia (not a state) is the most expensive jurisdiction nationally at over $25,000/year.

Which states have the cheapest childcare?

Mississippi at $7,530/year, Arkansas $7,560, Kentucky $7,910, South Dakota and Louisiana $8,580, Alabama $8,730 and Oklahoma $8,830. The cheap states cluster in the South and Plains, mirroring the overall cost of living pattern. As a percentage of median income, the cheapest are still 13-16% of household income; the federal benchmark for 'affordable' childcare is 7%.

Is any state's childcare affordable by the federal 7% benchmark?

No. Across all 50 states, center-based infant care is between 13% (South Dakota at 13.4%) and 25% (Vermont 24.6%, Washington 24.1%, New York 24.0%) of median household income. The Department of Health and Human Services has set 7% as the affordability threshold; no state meets it for infant center-based care.

How does childcare cost compare to other major household expenses?

In 19 states, annual infant childcare exceeds in-state public university tuition. In 35 states, it exceeds median rent. The Child Care Aware 'Price of Care' report tracks both comparisons. Childcare is structurally expensive because regulated ratios make labour the dominant cost and labour cannot scale via productivity gains.

What does 'center-based' infant care mean?

Licensed daycare centers, typically caring for infants age 6 weeks to 12 months in regulated ratios (1:3 or 1:4 in most states). 'Center-based' is the most expensive form of care; family home-based care is typically 20-30% cheaper. The figures here are center-based because that is the most consistent data point across states.

Are there subsidies that change the picture?

Federal CCDBG (Child Care and Development Block Grant) subsidies plus state-level supplements help low-income families. Income thresholds, copays and benefit amounts vary widely by state. The Child Care Aware report tracks these state by state. The figures on this page are unsubsidized list prices; effective cost for eligible families can be substantially lower.