Estimate your daycare tuition by ZIP code, age, and care type. Updated with 2026 data from 50,000+ providers across the US.
Monthly cost estimates for the same child, same location, different care models.
Group setting, structured curriculum, multiple teachers per classroom.
Smaller group, mixed ages, in a provider's home. Typically 20 to 35% less.
One-on-one care in your home. Varies sharply by metro and experience.
We are explicit about our sources, methodology, and limits so you can use the estimate as a starting point for your real planning.
We start with a local base cost from our metro tuition table, then apply multipliers for child age, care type, and hours per week. The result is a range covering roughly the 25th to 75th percentile of providers in your area.
US Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS wage data, Child Care Aware state market surveys, and our own 2026 survey of 8,247 licensed providers. The state cost averages are updated quarterly. See our editorial standards.
Two daycares on the same street can charge very different rates. Differences in staff credentials, ratios, hours, curriculum, and overhead all push the price up or down. The range we show captures that real-world spread, not an artificial buffer.
Most working families qualify for the federal Child and Dependent Care Credit (20 to 35% of up to $3,000 in care expenses for one child). Many states layer their own credit on top, and a Dependent Care FSA can be more valuable than the credit. Full tax credit explainer.
A printable 28-page PDF with state-by-state averages, tax credit worksheets, and the questions to ask about pricing on every tour.