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Childcare Cost Statistics 2026

Full-time child care in the US cost an average of $13,184 a year in 2025, according to Child Care Aware of America, equal to 10% of median income for a married couple and 33% for a single parent; center-based infant care averaged $15,636. The Federal Reserve found the median paying family spent $1,083 a month on childcare in 2025, more than half its housing payment, while the Bureau of Labor Statistics puts the median childcare worker wage at $16.82 an hour.

Download CSV Cite this pageUpdated November 6, 2026 · 17 sources

$13,184The national average annual price of full-time child care in the US was $13,184 in 2025, up from $13,128 in 2024, according to Child Care Aware of America.Child Care Aware of America
$15,636Full-time center-based infant care averaged $15,636 a year across US states in 2025, against $11,673 in a family child care home, using Child Care Aware of America's simple average of state averages.Child Care Aware of America
10%The 2025 national average child care price of $13,184 equaled 10% of median income for a two-parent household in the US, according to Child Care Aware of America.Child Care Aware of America
33%For a single-parent household, the same average price took 33% of median income in 2025, per Child Care Aware of America.Child Care Aware of America
$1,083US parents who paid for both childcare and housing in 2025 had a median monthly childcare payment of $1,083, against a median housing payment of $1,900, according to the Federal Reserve.Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System
$16.82The median hourly wage for US childcare workers was $16.82 in May 2025, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
15%Only 15% of US children eligible for federal child care subsidies receive them, according to Child Care Aware of America.Child Care Aware of America
$435Canadian parents paid an average of $435 a month for full-time centre-based care for children aged 0 to 5 in 2025, down from $663 in 2022, according to Statistics Canada.Statistics Canada

This page collects what families pay for child care and why. It covers average annual prices by age and setting, childcare as a share of family income, how prices differ by county, how many parents pay for care, what childcare workers earn, and public spending, with comparisons for England, Canada, Australia and the OECD. Most figures describe 2024 to 2026; the Labor Department's county-level prices and the OECD comparisons are older and are labeled with their data years.

The headline US price is about $13,000 a year. Child Care Aware of America puts the 2025 national average at $13,184, with center-based infant care at $15,636 on its simple state average, and the Census Bureau finds households that paid for care spent $10,520 on average in 2024. Prices rose 23% from 2021 to 2025, close to general inflation, so the shock of the pandemic years has turned into a high plateau rather than a continuing spike.

Affordability depends on household type. The same average price is 10% of median income for a two-parent household and 33% for a single parent, against the 7% benchmark HHS set in 2016. The Labor Department's county data show the range runs from 8.9% to 16% of median family income for one child, and up to 19.3% for infant center care in the largest counties. The Federal Reserve's 2025 survey adds a simple comparison: paying families' median childcare bill of $1,083 a month is more than half their housing payment.

The workforce side explains why prices stay high without raising pay. BLS reports a median childcare worker wage of $16.82 an hour in May 2025, and the Center for the Study of Child Care Employment finds 43% of early educator families use public assistance. Licensed center numbers fell 1% in 2025 according to Child Care Aware of America, and Census data show households with care problems lost 65.8 days of work on average.

Other countries show what public funding changes. England's expanded funded hours cut the cost of a full-time nursery place for an eligible under-two to £148.82 a week, while ineligible families still pay £189 for part-time care. Canada's average centre-based fee fell from $663 a month in 2022 to $435 in 2025, according to Statistics Canada, but more parents report difficulty finding a place. OECD data put US net childcare costs among the highest in the OECD, above 10% of average earnings.

What childcare costs in the US

Child Care Aware of America puts the national average annual price of full-time care at $13,184 in 2025, an average of three weighting methods across 47 states. Prices depend heavily on age and setting: center-based infant care is the most expensive option and family child care homes are usually cheaper. The Census Bureau's figure of $10,520 is lower because it is what households actually spent, including part-time and school-age care, rather than a posted full-time price. Care.com figures are weekly posted rates on its own platform, so they describe the market families shop in rather than a national survey of providers.

Average annual price of full-time care by age and setting, US, 2025

Simple average of state average prices across states with data, Child Care Aware of America, 2025.

Infant, center$15,636
Infant, family child care home$11,673
4-year-old, center$12,555
4-year-old, family child care home$10,572

Source: Child Care Aware of America, Child Care in America: 2025 Price & Supply

$13,184
The national average annual price of full-time child care in the US was $13,184 in 2025, up from $13,128 in 2024, according to Child Care Aware of America.
Child Care Aware of America · Child Care in America: 2025 Price & Supply (May 2026)
Exact quote
According to CCAoA’s analysis, the national price of child care rose again in 2025, to $13,184 (up from $13,128 in 2024).
23%
US child care prices rose 23% from 2021 to 2025, close to the 24% rise in overall prices over the same period, per Child Care Aware of America.
Child Care Aware of America · Child Care in America: 2025 Price & Supply (May 2026)
Exact quote
From 2021 to 2025, child care prices increased by 23%. Over the same five-year period, overall prices rose by 24%, meaning child care prices increased at a rate that was close to inflation.
$15,636
Full-time center-based infant care averaged $15,636 a year across US states in 2025, against $11,673 in a family child care home, using Child Care Aware of America's simple average of state averages.
Child Care Aware of America · Child Care in America: 2025 Price & Supply (May 2026)
Exact quote
Method 1: Average of Averages Age group Center FCC Home Infants $15,636 $11,673 4-year-olds $12,555 $10,572 Overall Average: $12,609
$10,520
US households that paid for child care spent an average of $10,520 on it in 2024, according to the Census Bureau's first child care questions in the CPS ASEC.
U.S. Census Bureau · Child Care Challenges and Adaptations: Findings from the 2025 CPS ASEC (SEHSD Working Paper 2026-08) (2026)
Exact quote
Households that paid for child care spent approximately $10,520 on average, or about 5.6 percent of household income.
$12,030
Married-couple households in the US that paid for child care spent an average of $12,030 on it in 2024, more than other family types, per the Census Bureau.
U.S. Census Bureau · Child Care Challenges and Adaptations: Findings from the 2025 CPS ASEC (SEHSD Working Paper 2026-08) (2026)
Exact quote
The average amount spent on child care for married couple families was $12,030 on average, higher than the amount spent by households with other family structures.
$332
The average posted weekly daycare rate on Care.com was $332 in 2025, down 3% from $343 in 2024.
Care.com · This is how much child care costs in 2026 (Care.com 2026 Cost of Care Report) (Jan 2026)
Exact quote
Average weekly daycare cost: $332 (down 3% from $343 in 2024).
$870
The average posted weekly rate for a full-time nanny on Care.com was $870 in 2025, up 5% from $827 in 2024.
Care.com · This is how much child care costs in 2026 (Care.com 2026 Cost of Care Report) (Jan 2026)
Exact quote
Average weekly nanny cost: $870 (up 5% from $827 in 2024).

Childcare as a share of family income

The federal affordability benchmark is 7% of family income, set by HHS in 2016. Most measures of what families pay sit above it. Child Care Aware of America's average price equals 10% of median income for a married couple and a third of income for a single parent, while the Labor Department's county data put one child's full-day care at 8.9% to 16% of median family income in 2022. The Census Bureau's 5.6% is lower because it averages actual spending across all paying households, including those using only a few hours of care. The Federal Reserve shows the same burden in a different way: for parents paying for care, the monthly bill is more than half of their housing payment.

Median monthly childcare and housing payments, US parents, 2025

Parents with children under 13 who paid for both childcare and housing, Federal Reserve SHED, 2025.

$1,083

$1,900

$1,517

$2,000

Childcare, all paying parentsHousing, all paying parentsChildcare, 20+ hours a weekHousing, 20+ hours a week

Source: Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, Economic Well-Being of U.S. Households in 2025: Living Arrangements and Care Work

10%
The 2025 national average child care price of $13,184 equaled 10% of median income for a two-parent household in the US, according to Child Care Aware of America.
Child Care Aware of America · Child Care Prices Rival Major Household Expenses; Supply Fails to Keep Pace with Demand (May 2026)
Exact quote
This price takes up 10% of the median income in two-parent households, and 33% for a single-parent household.
33%
For a single-parent household, the same average price took 33% of median income in 2025, per Child Care Aware of America.
Child Care Aware of America · Child Care Prices Rival Major Household Expenses; Supply Fails to Keep Pace with Demand (May 2026)
Exact quote
This price takes up 10% of the median income in two-parent households, and 33% for a single-parent household.
16 percent
US families spent between 8.9% and 16% of county median family income on full-day care for one child in 2022, with annual prices from $6,552 to $15,600, according to the Labor Department's National Database of Childcare Prices.
U.S. Department of Labor, Women's Bureau · New data: Childcare costs remain an almost prohibitive expense (news release 24-2396-NAT) (Nov 2024)
Exact quote
Nationwide, the NDCP finds families spend between 8.9 percent and 16 percent of their median income for full-day care for one child with 2022 annual prices ranging from $6,552 to $15,600.
5.6 percent
Paid child care took about 5.6% of household income on average among US households that paid for it in 2024, per the Census Bureau.
U.S. Census Bureau · Child Care Challenges and Adaptations: Findings from the 2025 CPS ASEC (SEHSD Working Paper 2026-08) (2026)
Exact quote
Households that paid for child care spent approximately $10,520 on average, or about 5.6 percent of household income.
7 percent
The federal benchmark for affordable child care is 7% of family income, a level the Department of Health and Human Services set in 2016.
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families · Improving Child Care Access, Affordability, and Stability in the Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF), final rule (Mar 2024)
Exact quote
HHS established 7 percent of a family's income as the benchmark for an affordable co-payments in 2016
20%
US parents surveyed by Care.com for its 2026 Cost of Care Report said they spend 20% of household income on child care on average.
Care.com · This is how much child care costs in 2026 (Care.com 2026 Cost of Care Report) (Jan 2026)
Exact quote
the Care.com 2026 Cost of Care Report finds that the average parent says they spend 20% of their household income on child care costs.
$1,083
US parents who paid for both childcare and housing in 2025 had a median monthly childcare payment of $1,083, against a median housing payment of $1,900, according to the Federal Reserve.
Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System · Economic Well-Being of U.S. Households in 2025: Living Arrangements and Care Work (May 2026)
Exact quote
Median monthly childcare payments were $1,083, which is over half of the median housing payment (either a mortgage or rent) of $1,900 among families who paid for both housing and childcare.
$1,517
US families using at least 20 hours of paid childcare a week paid a median $1,517 a month in 2025, more than three-quarters of their median housing payment, per the Federal Reserve.
Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System · Economic Well-Being of U.S. Households in 2025: Living Arrangements and Care Work (May 2026)
Exact quote
Families who used at least 20 hours of childcare also paid substantially more, with a median of $1,517 per month, which is more than three-quarters of the median housing payment of $2,000 among families who paid for housing and who used at least 20 hours of childcare per week.

How prices vary by age, setting and county

The Labor Department's National Database of Childcare Prices is the only federal source of county-level prices. Its first published analysis uses 2018 prices, shown here in 2022 dollars, so the levels are older than the national averages above but the pattern holds: infants cost more than preschoolers, centers cost more than home-based providers, and big counties cost more than small ones. Infant center care in counties of a million people or more took 19.3% of median family income. The same research links higher local prices to lower employment among mothers.

$17,171
The median yearly price of center-based infant care ranged from $8,310 in small US counties to $17,171 in counties of a million or more people, in 2022 dollars, based on 2018 data from the Labor Department.
U.S. Department of Labor, Women's Bureau · Childcare Prices in Local Areas: Initial Findings from the National Database of Childcare Prices (Issue Brief) (Jan 2023)
Exact quote
The median yearly childcare price for one child in center-based infant care ranged from $7,461 ($8,310 in 2022 dollars) in small counties to $15,417 ($17,171 in 2022 dollars) in very large counties.
19.3%
Center-based infant care in very large US counties cost 19.3% of median family income in 2018, the highest share in the Labor Department's database.
U.S. Department of Labor, Women's Bureau · Childcare Prices in Local Areas: Initial Findings from the National Database of Childcare Prices (Issue Brief) (Jan 2023)
Exact quote
These price ranges are equivalent to between 8.0% to 19.3% of median family income.
$12,307
Center-based care for a preschool-age child ranged from $6,949 in small US counties to $12,307 in very large counties, in 2022 dollars, according to the Labor Department's 2018 data.
U.S. Department of Labor, Women's Bureau · Childcare Prices in Local Areas: Initial Findings from the National Database of Childcare Prices (Issue Brief) (Jan 2023)
Exact quote
Among preschool-aged children, center-based childcare prices per child ranged from $6,239 ($6,949 in 2022 dollars) in small counties to $11,050 ($12,307 in 2022 dollars) in very large counties.
$27,220
The highest county median price for center-based infant care in the US was in Arlington, Virginia, at $27,220 a year in 2022 dollars, per the Labor Department.
U.S. Department of Labor, Women's Bureau · Childcare Prices in Local Areas: Initial Findings from the National Database of Childcare Prices (Issue Brief) (Jan 2023)
Exact quote
Figure 2 displays the range in prices for infant center- based care across the country, with the highest median price of $24,440 ($27,220 in 2022 dollars) reported in Arlington, VA.
1 percentage point
A 10% increase in local childcare prices was associated with a 1 percentage point lower maternal employment rate across US counties, according to Labor Department analysis.
U.S. Department of Labor, Women's Bureau · Childcare Prices in Local Areas: Initial Findings from the National Database of Childcare Prices (Issue Brief) (Jan 2023)
Exact quote
a 10% increase in childcare prices (infant, toddler, and preschool-aged prices) was associated with a 1 percentage point reduction in county-level maternal employment rates.

Who pays for care, and what shortages cost

Most US parents of young children do not pay for care in a given week; many rely on relatives, partners or school. The Federal Reserve finds a quarter of parents of children under 13 used paid care, rising to about a third for children under six, and the Census Bureau finds about a quarter of households with children paid for care at some point in 2024. Where care is hard to find, the cost shows up as lost work: households that reported problems lost 65.8 days of work on average. ReadyNation's estimate of the national cost of infant and toddler care problems dates from 2023 and is a model estimate, not a measured figure.

one-fourth
One-fourth of US parents of children under 13 used paid childcare in the week before the Federal Reserve's 2025 survey.
Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System · Economic Well-Being of U.S. Households in 2025: Living Arrangements and Care Work (May 2026)
Exact quote
Specifically, one-fourth of parents of young children used paid childcare in the week before the survey.
34 percent
Among US parents living with children under six, 34% used paid childcare in the past week in 2025, per the Federal Reserve.
Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System · Economic Well-Being of U.S. Households in 2025: Living Arrangements and Care Work (May 2026)
Exact quote
Even among parents living with their children under age six, a modest 34 percent used paid childcare in the past week.
44 percent
44% of US parents with children under 13 used some form of unpaid childcare in 2025, more than used paid care, according to the Federal Reserve.
Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System · Economic Well-Being of U.S. Households in 2025: Living Arrangements and Care Work (May 2026)
Exact quote
Among those with children under age 13, 44 percent used some form of unpaid childcare.
23.9 percent
23.9% of the 30.4 million US households with a child aged 13 or younger paid a child care provider in 2024, per the Census Bureau.
U.S. Census Bureau · Child Care Challenges and Adaptations: Findings from the 2025 CPS ASEC (SEHSD Working Paper 2026-08) (2026)
Exact quote
In 2024, 30.4 million households in the United States reported having a child aged 13 or younger, 7. 3 million of which used a paid child care provider (23.9 percent).
65.8 days
US households that reported problems obtaining child care lost an average of 65.8 days of work in 2024, according to the Census Bureau.
U.S. Census Bureau · Child Care Challenges and Adaptations: Findings from the 2025 CPS ASEC (SEHSD Working Paper 2026-08) (2026)
Exact quote
Households that reported a problem lost 65.8 days of work time, on average, because of trouble finding child care.
1%
The number of licensed child care centers in the US fell 1% from 2024 to 2025, the first decrease after several years of growth, while family child care homes rose 1.4%, per Child Care Aware of America.
Child Care Aware of America · Child Care Prices Rival Major Household Expenses; Supply Fails to Keep Pace with Demand (May 2026)
Exact quote
The number of licensed child care centers declined slightly (1%) from 2024 to 2025—the first decrease after several years of growth—while family child care homes increased modestly (1.4%).
$122 billion
Problems with infant and toddler care cost the US economy an estimated $122 billion a year in lost earnings, productivity and revenue, up from $57 billion in 2018, according to ReadyNation.
ReadyNation (Council for a Strong America) · $122 Billion: The Growing, Annual Cost of the Infant-Toddler Child Care Crisis (Feb 2023)
Exact quote
ReadyNation’s updated study finds that the nation’s infant-toddler child care crisis now costs $122 billion in lost earnings, productivity, and revenue every year.
$78 billion
Families of infants and toddlers lose an estimated $78 billion a year in forgone earnings and job search costs because of child care problems, per ReadyNation.
ReadyNation (Council for a Strong America) · $122 Billion: The Growing, Annual Cost of the Infant-Toddler Child Care Crisis (Feb 2023)
Exact quote
As a result, families lose $78 billion per year in forgone earnings and job search expenses.

What childcare workers earn

High prices for parents do not translate into high pay for staff, because care for young children is labor intensive and ratios cap how many children each adult can look after. BLS puts the median childcare worker wage at $16.82 an hour in May 2025, about two-thirds of the all-occupation median. The Center for the Study of Child Care Employment uses a broader early educator definition and 2023 data, which is why its median of $13.07 is lower. Both sources point the same way: wages near the bottom of the labor market and heavy reliance on public assistance.

Median hourly wage, childcare workers vs all occupations, US, May 2025

Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics medians, May 2025.

All occupations$24.5
Other personal care and service workers$17.8
Childcare workers$16.8

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook: Childcare Workers

$16.82
The median hourly wage for US childcare workers was $16.82 in May 2025, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Occupational Outlook Handbook: Childcare Workers (2026)
Exact quote
The median hourly wage for childcare workers was $16.82 in May 2025.
$11.66
The lowest-paid 10% of US childcare workers earned less than $11.66 an hour in May 2025, per BLS.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Occupational Outlook Handbook: Childcare Workers (2026)
Exact quote
The lowest 10 percent earned less than $11.66, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $22.12.
2 percent
BLS projects employment of US childcare workers to decline 2% from 2025 to 2035.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Occupational Outlook Handbook: Childcare Workers (2026)
Exact quote
Employment of childcare workers is projected to decline 2 percent from 2025 to 2035.
150,300
Despite the projected decline, about 150,300 openings for childcare workers are expected each year in the US over the decade to 2035, mostly to replace workers who leave, per BLS.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Occupational Outlook Handbook: Childcare Workers (2026)
Exact quote
Despite declining employment, about 150,300 openings for childcare workers are projected each year, on average, over the decade.
$38,140
US preschool teachers had a median annual wage of $38,140 in 2025, according to BLS.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Occupational Outlook Handbook: Childcare Workers (2026)
Exact quote
Preschool teachers educate and care for children younger than age 5 who have not yet entered kindergarten. Associate's degree $38,140
$13.07
US early educators earned a median of $13.07 an hour, against $31.80 for elementary and middle school teachers, according to the Center for the Study of Child Care Employment's 2024 index.
Center for the Study of Child Care Employment, UC Berkeley · Early Childhood Workforce Index 2024 (2024)
Exact quote
Nationally, early educators are paid a median wage of $13.07 per hour, much less than hourly earnings for elementary and middle school teachers ($31.80) or the U.S. workforce across occupations ($22.92).
$10.60
Median early educator wages ranged from $10.60 an hour in Louisiana to $18.23 in the District of Columbia, per the Center for the Study of Child Care Employment.
Center for the Study of Child Care Employment, UC Berkeley · Early Childhood Workforce Index 2024 (2024)
Exact quote
Wages vary somewhat by location, ranging from $10.60 in Louisiana to $18.23 in the District of Columbia.
43 percent
43% of US early educator families rely on public safety net programs such as Medicaid and food stamps, according to the Center for the Study of Child Care Employment.
Center for the Study of Child Care Employment, UC Berkeley · Early Childhood Workforce Index 2024 (2024)
Exact quote
43 percent of early educator families must rely on public safety net programs like Medicaid and food stamps in order to get by and still struggle with financial insecurity and economic stress.

Public spending and subsidies

Public money reaches only part of the market. Child Care Aware of America says only 15% of children eligible for federal subsidies receive them, and state preschool, which NIEER tracks, mainly serves four-year-olds. OECD data show the US is among the countries where families pay the most after public support: net costs above 10% of average earnings, against an OECD average of just under 14% for a two-earner couple with two young children. OECD figures refer to 2021 for most countries and are the latest comparable international estimates.

15%
Only 15% of US children eligible for federal child care subsidies receive them, according to Child Care Aware of America.
Child Care Aware of America · Child Care Prices Rival Major Household Expenses; Supply Fails to Keep Pace with Demand (May 2026)
Exact quote
Only 15% of eligible children receive federal subsidies.
$14.4 billion
US states spent nearly $14.4 billion on state-funded preschool in the 2024 to 2025 school year, serving nearly 1.8 million children, according to NIEER.
National Institute for Early Education Research · The State of Preschool 2025 (Apr 2026)
Exact quote
Nearly 1.8 million children attended state-funded preschool and states invested nearly $14.4 billion, or an average of $8,124 per child enrolled.
$8,124
State spending per child enrolled in US state-funded preschool averaged $8,124 in the 2024 to 2025 school year, per NIEER.
National Institute for Early Education Research · The State of Preschool 2025 (Apr 2026)
Exact quote
Nearly 1.8 million children attended state-funded preschool and states invested nearly $14.4 billion, or an average of $8,124 per child enrolled.
0.7%
OECD countries spend an average of 0.7% of GDP on early childhood education and care, with France and the Nordic countries above 1%, according to the OECD Family Database.
OECD · OECD Family Database: PF3.1 Public spending on childcare and early education
Exact quote
OECD countries spend on average 0.7% of GDP on ECEC, with large variations across countries (Figure PF3.1.A).
USD PPP 15,000
Iceland, Luxembourg and Norway each spend more than USD PPP 15,000 of public money per child aged 0 to 5 on early childhood education and care, according to the OECD Family Database.
OECD · OECD Family Database: PF3.1 Public spending on childcare and early education
Exact quote
Several countries (Iceland, Luxembourg, Norway) spend more than USD PPP 15,000 per child aged 0-5
26%
Across OECD countries, the typical gross fee for two children aged 2 and 3 in full-time center care equals just under 26% of average earnings, according to the OECD Family Database.
OECD · OECD Family Database: PF3.4 Childcare support
Exact quote
On average across OECD countries, the ‘typical’ gross childcare fee paid for two children (aged 2 and 3) in full-time centre-based care equates to just under 26% of average earnings
5.1%
After public support, a full-time employed single parent on 67% of average earnings pays net childcare costs of 5.1% of average earnings for two young children, on average across the OECD, per the OECD Family Database.
OECD · OECD Family Database: PF3.4 Childcare support
Exact quote
On average across OECD countries, for a full -time employed single parent with earnings equal to 67% of average earnings, the net cost of childcare (for two children aged 2 and 3 in full- time centre-based care) works out at 5.1% of average earnings

Childcare costs in the UK, Canada and Australia

Large public programs have cut what many parents pay outside the US, but not for everyone. In England, the expansion of funded hours to working parents of children from nine months old roughly halved nursery bills for eligible families, while families who do not qualify face a part-time price of about £189 a week. In Canada, the national $10 a day plan has pushed average centre-based fees down for three straight surveys, yet more parents report trouble finding a place. In Australia, childcare prices rose far faster than overall inflation in 2025 before slowing in 2026.

Average monthly parent cost of full-time centre-based care, Canada (CAD)

Children aged 0 to 5, Canadian dollars, Survey on Early Learning and Child Care Arrangements.

$663

$508

$435

202220232025

Source: Statistics Canada, The Daily: Child care arrangements, 2025

£148.82
A 50-hour week of nursery care for an eligible child under two cost an average £148.82 in England in 2026 after the working parent entitlement, according to Coram Family and Childcare.
Coram Family and Childcare · Childcare Survey 2026 (Mar 2026)
Exact quote
For example, the average cost for 50 hours of nursery care per week for a child under two is £148.82, 22% more than for a childminder (£122.32) (see figure 8).
£189
Families in England who are not eligible for funded hours pay an average £189 a week for a part-time nursery place for a child under two in 2026, per Coram Family and Childcare.
Coram Family and Childcare · Childcare Survey 2026 (Mar 2026)
Exact quote
On average, that cost is £189 per week for a child under the age of two.
£160
The weekly price of a part-time nursery place for a child under two in England rose from £55 in 2001 to £160 in 2024, according to Coram Family and Childcare's 25-year series.
Coram Family and Childcare · Childcare Survey 2026 (Mar 2026)
Exact quote
The cost of a part-time place in a nursery for a child under the age of two in England grew by over £100 per week in the period between 2001 and 2024 (from £55 per week to £160 per week)
a quarter
Families in England who are ineligible for funded hours spend a quarter of household income on part-time childcare, according to Coram Family and Childcare's 2026 survey.
Coram Family and Childcare · Childcare Survey 2026 (Mar 2026)
Exact quote
ineligible families will today spend a quarter of their household income on part- time childcare.
75%
75% of local authorities in England reported enough childcare for children under two using the working parent entitlement in 2026, per Coram Family and Childcare.
Coram Family and Childcare · Childcare Survey 2026 (Mar 2026)
Exact quote
For the working parent entitlement, 75% of local authorities have enough childcare for under twos, increasing to 79% for two-year-olds and peaking at 83% for three- and four- year-olds.
$435
Canadian parents paid an average of $435 a month for full-time centre-based care for children aged 0 to 5 in 2025, down from $663 in 2022, according to Statistics Canada.
Statistics Canada · The Daily: Child care arrangements, 2025 (Oct 2025)
Exact quote
Nationally, expenses for children aged 0 to 5 attending centre-based child care full-time have continued to decrease from an average of $663 per month in 2022, to $508 in 2023 and to $435 in 2025, coinciding with the implementation of the CWELCC for participating centres.
58%
58% of children aged 0 to 5 in Canada were in child care in 2025, per Statistics Canada.
Statistics Canada · The Daily: Child care arrangements, 2025 (Oct 2025)
Exact quote
In 2025, 58% of children aged 0 to 5 years were in child care in Canada.
50%
The share of Canadian parents using child care who had difficulty finding it rose from 46% in 2023 to 50% in 2025, according to Statistics Canada.
Statistics Canada · The Daily: Child care arrangements, 2025 (Oct 2025)
Exact quote
The proportion of parents who used child care and who reported having difficulty finding it increased from 46% in 2023 to 50% in 2025.
31%
31% of Canadian parents of children aged 0 to 5 who were not using child care said their child was on a waitlist in 2025, up from 26% in 2023, per Statistics Canada.
Statistics Canada · The Daily: Child care arrangements, 2025 (Oct 2025)
Exact quote
For parents who were not using child care, 31% of parents of children aged 0 to 5 years reported that their child was on a waitlist in 2025, up from 26% in 2023.
4.4%
Child care prices in Australia's CPI rose 4.4% in the 12 months to September 2026, down from 10.3% in the year to September 2025, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics.
Australian Bureau of Statistics · Consumer Price Index, Australia, September 2026 (Oct 2026)
Exact quote
Child care rose 4.4% in the 12 months to September 2026, lower than the 10.3% outcome in the 12 months to September 2025.

FAQ

How much does child care cost per year in the US?

Child Care Aware of America puts the national average price of full-time care at $13,184 a year in 2025. Center-based infant care averaged $15,636 on its simple state average, and the Census Bureau found households that paid for care spent $10,520 on average in 2024.

What share of income do families spend on child care?

The 2025 average price equals 10% of median income for a two-parent household and 33% for a single parent, per Child Care Aware of America. The Labor Department's county data put one child's full-day care at 8.9% to 16% of median family income in 2022, above the 7% benchmark HHS uses for affordability.

Is child care more expensive than housing?

For many families it comes close. The Federal Reserve found the median paying family spent $1,083 a month on childcare in 2025 against a median housing payment of $1,900, and families using 20 or more hours a week paid $1,517, more than three-quarters of their housing payment.

How much do childcare workers earn?

The median hourly wage for US childcare workers was $16.82 in May 2025, according to BLS, compared with $24.51 for all occupations. The Center for the Study of Child Care Employment puts the median early educator wage at $13.07 and finds 43% of their families rely on public safety net programs.

Has child care become cheaper in Canada and the UK?

For many families, yes. Statistics Canada reports average full-time centre-based fees for children 0 to 5 fell from $663 a month in 2022 to $435 in 2025. In England, Coram Family and Childcare finds a full-time nursery place for an eligible under-two costs £148.82 a week after funded hours, while ineligible families pay £189 a week for part-time care.

Methodology note

Figures come from the organizations that collected the data: federal statistical agencies (BLS, Census Bureau, Labor Department Women's Bureau, Federal Reserve), national research bodies (Child Care Aware of America, NIEER, the Center for the Study of Child Care Employment, ReadyNation), the Care.com Cost of Care survey, and official sources for England, Canada, Australia and the OECD. The measures differ: Child Care Aware of America reports average posted full-time prices from state agencies and referral networks, the Census Bureau and Federal Reserve report what households actually spent, and Care.com reports rates posted on its platform. The Labor Department's county figures use 2018 prices expressed in 2022 dollars, and OECD comparisons mostly describe 2021. UK prices are in pounds and Canadian prices in Canadian dollars. Every quote was checked against the source page on the date shown. Every quote is re-fetched from the source by our checker. See how we rank and verify.

Sources

1Australian Bureau of Statistics: Consumer Price Index, Australia, September 2026
2Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System: Economic Well-Being of U.S. Households in 2025: Living Arrangements and Care Work
3Care.com: This is how much child care costs in 2026 (Care.com 2026 Cost of Care Report)
4Center for the Study of Child Care Employment, UC Berkeley: Early Childhood Workforce Index 2024
5Child Care Aware of America: Child Care in America: 2025 Price & Supply
6Child Care Aware of America: Child Care Prices Rival Major Household Expenses; Supply Fails to Keep Pace with Demand
7Coram Family and Childcare: Childcare Survey 2026
8National Institute for Early Education Research: The State of Preschool 2025
9OECD: OECD Family Database: PF3.1 Public spending on childcare and early education
10OECD: OECD Family Database: PF3.4 Childcare support
11ReadyNation (Council for a Strong America): $122 Billion: The Growing, Annual Cost of the Infant-Toddler Child Care Crisis
12Statistics Canada: The Daily: Child care arrangements, 2025
13U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Outlook Handbook: Childcare Workers
14U.S. Census Bureau: Child Care Challenges and Adaptations: Findings from the 2025 CPS ASEC (SEHSD Working Paper 2026-08)
15U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families: Improving Child Care Access, Affordability, and Stability in the Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF), final rule
16U.S. Department of Labor, Women's Bureau: New data: Childcare costs remain an almost prohibitive expense (news release 24-2396-NAT)
17U.S. Department of Labor, Women's Bureau: Childcare Prices in Local Areas: Initial Findings from the National Database of Childcare Prices (Issue Brief)

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Rankozo. (2026, November 6). Childcare Cost Statistics 2026. https://rankozo.com/childcare-cost-statistics

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