Is it worth going back to work?
See what a second income leaves after taxes, childcare and commuting.
Open calculator: Worth workingChildcare planning, with the numbers in view.
A clearer picture of
childcare costs.
Local daycare prices. Honest sources.
A budget you can plan around.
Start with your place
Everyday decisions.
Local numbers.
The price of care changes with your child’s age, your care setting and where you live. See them together, then work out what fits.
Here’s a real county example. Your local page includes income context, nearby counties and the source behind each figure.
Explore Harris CountyA local cost snapshot
Harris County, Texas
Infant care in a center
$980/ month
Source 2022 · CPI adjusted to August 2026
| Age group | Center | Home-based |
|---|---|---|
| Infant | $9802022 source | $8692022 source |
| Toddler | $9112022 source | $8212022 source |
| Preschool | $8852022 source | $8102022 source |
| School-age | $8262022 source | $7632022 source |
One child. Weekly × 52 ÷ 12 for monthly; weekly × 52 for annual. School-age coverage varies and often means care around school hours. Age definitions.
15.7%of median household income
$74,983 median household income · 2024 ACS
Good decisions start
with good data.
Public sources for prices, inflation, income and tax rules.
Every estimate keeps its dates in view.
Department of LaborCounty childcare estimatesBureau of Labor StatisticsChildcare inflation indexU.S. Census BureauLocal income contextInternal Revenue ServiceCare benefits & payroll taxes
Independent planning tool. Agency sources do not imply endorsement.
Daycare costs by state
Different places.
Different prices.
Find your state, then get closer to home with county and city estimates.
CaliforniaTexasFloridaNew YorkIllinoisPennsylvaniaOhioGeorgiaNorth CarolinaMichiganNew JerseyWashington
Browse all 50 states and Washington, DC
AlabamaAlaskaArizonaArkansasCaliforniaColoradoConnecticutDelawareDistrict of ColumbiaFloridaGeorgiaHawaiiIdahoIllinoisIndianaIowaKansasKentuckyLouisianaMaineMarylandMassachusettsMichiganMinnesotaMississippiMissouriMontanaNebraskaNevadaNew HampshireNew JerseyNew MexicoNew YorkNorth CarolinaNorth DakotaOhioOklahomaOregonPennsylvaniaRhode IslandSouth CarolinaSouth DakotaTennesseeTexasUtahVermontVirginiaWashingtonWest VirginiaWisconsinWyoming
$1,362 per month is the national population-weighted estimate for infant center care.
Mean of available county medians; 2013–2025 sources, adjusted to August 2026. Compare state estimates.
Your next calculation
Put the numbers
to work.
Move from a local price to the question on your mind. No account, no spreadsheet required.
Daycare vs. nanny
Compare center, home-based care, a nanny and a nanny share—including employer taxes.
Open calculator: Daycare vs. nannyDependent care FSA vs. tax credit
Compare federal tax benefits with the rules for 2025 and 2026.
Open calculator: FSA vs. tax creditChildcare subsidy income check
Compare your income with published state limits and find the application.
Open calculator: Subsidy income check01
Start with a published price
Dated county medians from official data.
02
Adjust for childcare inflation
The BLS day-care and preschool index.
03
Put it beside local income
Census income, with its own source period.
How we calculate
No mystery
in the math.
You should be able to see where a number comes from—and what it can tell you. Our estimates include the original year, the exact inflation factor and the limits of the data.
See the methodologyBeyond the monthly price
A little clarity for
the next step.
Practical questions to ask before you commit to care.
All planning guidesWhat’s included in a daycare price?
A checklist for comparing tuition, deposits, closures and extra fees.
Read guide: What’s included in a daycare price?Planning for a daycare waitlist
Questions to ask before paying a waitlist fee or arranging a start date.
Read guide: Planning for a daycare waitlistChildcare tax benefits in 2026
How the dependent care FSA and care credit fit together.
Read guide: Childcare tax benefits in 2026A few common questions
Before you start.
How much does daycare cost per month?
It depends on your location, your child’s age and the care setting. Search your county for a dated estimate. We convert weekly prices to monthly amounts using 52 paid weeks divided by 12; provider billing schedules vary.
Are these current provider quotes?
These are estimates from published county data, adjusted using the childcare CPI. They can include imputed values. They are a starting point for planning; ask providers for their current tuition and fee schedule.
Why are the price and income years different?
County price surveys and Census income estimates arrive on different schedules. The site shows both periods and does not inflate income to match prices. The share of income is an illustrative comparison.
Can I compare daycare with a nanny?
Yes. The nanny calculator compares center and home-based care with a nanny and a nanny share. You can edit rates, hours, paid weeks, the sharing premium and extra annual costs.
How do I find help paying for childcare?
Open the subsidy income checker for published state screening limits and a link to the current application. Work or education rules, child age, funding and local policies may affect eligibility.
Start with the place you call home.
Find the local numbers, then make them your own.