Average daycare cost per week in 2026 is $260 to $560 nationally. Per month, $1,100 to $2,400. Per year, $13,200 to $28,800. Infants cost the most. Major metros (NYC, SF, Boston, DC) run 30 to 60 percent above these ranges. You pay by enrollment, not by attendance.
Parents searching for the average daycare cost per week usually want to know two things: what should I expect to pay, and how does that compare across different ages and parts of the country. This page answers both, broken into per-day, per-week, per-month, and per-year tables, sourced from the 2025 Child Care Aware national survey, the BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey, and our 2026 operator submission database.
| Age group | National weekly average | Low-cost metros | High-cost metros |
|---|---|---|---|
| Infant (under 12 mo) | $400 to $740 | $220 to $380 | $580 to $1,000 |
| Toddler (12 to 36 mo) | $300 to $560 | $170 to $320 | $460 to $820 |
| Preschool (3 to 5 yr) | $230 to $480 | $140 to $260 | $380 to $720 |
| Family child care home | $200 to $420 | $120 to $220 | $340 to $640 |
| Part-time (3 days/wk) | $160 to $320 | $95 to $190 | $240 to $480 |
| Age group | National monthly average | Low-cost metros | High-cost metros |
|---|---|---|---|
| Infant | $1,600 to $3,200 | $900 to $1,600 | $2,400 to $4,200 |
| Toddler | $1,200 to $2,400 | $700 to $1,400 | $1,900 to $3,500 |
| Preschool | $1,000 to $2,100 | $600 to $1,200 | $1,600 to $3,100 |
| Family child care home | $850 to $1,800 | $500 to $950 | $1,450 to $2,750 |
Multiply monthly by 12 for the all-in annual figure. You do not get a credit for holidays or vacation weeks; programs charge full tuition year-round.
| Age group | National annual average | Low-cost metros | High-cost metros |
|---|---|---|---|
| Infant | $19,200 to $38,400 | $10,800 to $19,200 | $28,800 to $50,400 |
| Toddler | $14,400 to $28,800 | $8,400 to $16,800 | $22,800 to $42,000 |
| Preschool | $12,000 to $25,200 | $7,200 to $14,400 | $19,200 to $37,200 |
Most centers do not bill by the day. They bill by the enrolled week or month, regardless of attendance. The "per day" figure is useful for budgeting and comparing programs but is not what shows up on most invoices.
| Enrollment type | Effective daily rate | True hourly rate (10-hour day) |
|---|---|---|
| Full-time infant care | $80 to $160 | $8.00 to $16.00 |
| Full-time toddler care | $60 to $120 | $6.00 to $12.00 |
| Drop-in or hourly | $96 to $224 | $12.00 to $28.00 |
State-level pricing varies more than people expect. The same infant care job in Mississippi and Massachusetts can have a $25,000-per-year price gap, driven by labor cost, regulation, and overall cost of living.
| State | Infant monthly average | Toddler monthly average |
|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts | $2,400 to $3,800 | $1,800 to $2,800 |
| California | $1,900 to $3,200 | $1,500 to $2,400 |
| New York | $1,800 to $3,200 | $1,400 to $2,400 |
| Washington | $1,700 to $2,800 | $1,300 to $2,100 |
| Illinois | $1,500 to $2,400 | $1,150 to $1,800 |
| Texas | $1,100 to $1,900 | $900 to $1,500 |
| Florida | $1,000 to $1,800 | $800 to $1,400 |
| Mississippi | $700 to $1,200 | $600 to $1,000 |
| South Dakota | $650 to $1,100 | $550 to $950 |
Find your state's full picture at daycare cost by state.
Standard tuition usually includes care during posted hours, snacks, basic art and curriculum supplies, daily app updates, and one parent conference per year. Standard tuition usually does not include diapers and wipes, breast milk or formula, occasional field trip fees, photography days, late-pickup fees, registration deposits, or vacation-week make-ups. Ask for a written rate sheet before signing.
Run the math: our daycare cost calculator takes your zip code, child's age, and schedule and returns an annualized estimate with subsidies and tax credits applied.
Average tuition has risen roughly 4 percent per year since 2020, with sharper jumps in 2022 and 2023. Three drivers: minimum-wage increases that raised the floor on lead-teacher pay, supply contractions as smaller home-based programs closed during 2020 to 2022, and rising commercial insurance costs. Some states (Washington, Vermont, New Mexico) have offset prices with subsidized universal pre-K rollouts; in those states preschool pricing has flattened.
The 2026 US average is $260 to $560 per week for full-time daycare, depending on age and metro. Infant care averages $400 to $740 per week; toddler and preschool care average $230 to $480 per week.
Roughly $1,100 to $2,400 per month nationally for full-time care across all ages. Infant care averages $1,600 to $3,200; toddler and preschool care average $1,000 to $2,100. Major metros run 30 to 60 percent above these ranges.
Full-day enrollment works out to $52 to $112 per day at national averages, but you do not pay daily — you pay weekly or monthly even if your child is absent. Drop-in hourly rates are different and run $12 to $28 per hour.
$13,200 to $28,800 per year for full-time care at national averages. Two children in full-time care commonly costs $26,000 to $50,000 per year, which is why many families consider a nanny or au pair once the second child arrives.
Daycare is priced for enrollment, not attendance. You hold a slot Monday through Friday, the program staffs to that slot, and you pay the slot price whether your child attends every day or not. Holidays and your sick days do not get refunded.
Yes, modestly. Year-over-year increases averaged 3 to 6 percent in 2025 to 2026, driven mostly by wage costs as states raise minimum-wage floors for early childhood educators. Most centers post January or September rate updates.
Next reads: 2026 cost guide, daycare prices near me, cost by state, and cost calculator.
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