Childcare Costs by City: 44 U.S. Metro Areas Compared (2026)
Find average daycare, nanny, and au pair costs in your city
Childcare costs vary dramatically across the United States. A daycare center for an infant in San Francisco costs $26,000/year — nearly 2.5x more than the same care in cities like Memphis or El Paso. Below is a comparison of 44 major metro areas, sorted from most to least expensive for infant daycare.
Click any city to see a detailed cost breakdown by care type and age group, plus tips for reducing costs with tax benefits and state subsidies. Or use our calculator for personalized estimates based on your exact zip code.
All Cities — Sorted by Infant Daycare Cost
| City | State | Daycare (Infant) | Nanny (Infant) | Au Pair |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco Bay Area | CA | $26,000/yr | $45,000/yr | $22,000/yr |
| New York City | NY | $24,500/yr | $42,000/yr | $22,000/yr |
| San Jose | CA | $24,000/yr | $43,000/yr | $22,000/yr |
| Washington, DC | DC | $23,500/yr | $39,000/yr | $22,000/yr |
| Boston | MA | $23,000/yr | $40,000/yr | $22,000/yr |
| Seattle | WA | $21,500/yr | $39,000/yr | $22,000/yr |
| Hartford | CT | $21,000/yr | $38,000/yr | $22,000/yr |
| Los Angeles | CA | $20,000/yr | $38,000/yr | $22,000/yr |
| Sacramento | CA | $20,000/yr | $36,000/yr | $22,000/yr |
| San Diego | CA | $18,500/yr | $35,000/yr | $22,000/yr |
| Chicago | IL | $18,000/yr | $35,000/yr | $22,000/yr |
| Denver | CO | $18,000/yr | $34,000/yr | $22,000/yr |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul | MN | $17,500/yr | $33,000/yr | $22,000/yr |
| Miami | FL | $17,000/yr | $33,000/yr | $22,000/yr |
| Portland | OR | $17,000/yr | $33,000/yr | $22,000/yr |
| Baltimore | MD | $17,000/yr | $33,000/yr | $22,000/yr |
| Buffalo | NY | $17,000/yr | $34,000/yr | $22,000/yr |
| Philadelphia | PA | $16,500/yr | $33,000/yr | $22,000/yr |
| Milwaukee | WI | $16,500/yr | $32,000/yr | $22,000/yr |
| Richmond | VA | $15,500/yr | $31,000/yr | $22,000/yr |
| Austin | TX | $15,000/yr | $31,000/yr | $22,000/yr |
| Atlanta | GA | $14,500/yr | $30,000/yr | $22,000/yr |
| Dallas / Fort Worth | TX | $14,000/yr | $29,000/yr | $22,000/yr |
| Raleigh-Durham | NC | $14,000/yr | $29,000/yr | $22,000/yr |
| Pittsburgh | PA | $14,000/yr | $28,000/yr | $22,000/yr |
| Houston | TX | $13,500/yr | $28,000/yr | $22,000/yr |
| Nashville | TN | $13,500/yr | $28,000/yr | $22,000/yr |
| Salt Lake City | UT | $13,500/yr | $28,000/yr | $22,000/yr |
| Columbus | OH | $13,500/yr | $28,000/yr | $22,000/yr |
| Kansas City | MO | $13,500/yr | $27,000/yr | $22,000/yr |
| Charlotte | NC | $13,000/yr | $27,000/yr | $22,000/yr |
| Detroit | MI | $13,000/yr | $27,000/yr | $22,000/yr |
| Phoenix | AZ | $13,000/yr | $27,000/yr | $22,000/yr |
| Tampa / Orlando | FL | $13,000/yr | $28,000/yr | $22,000/yr |
| Indianapolis | IN | $13,000/yr | $27,000/yr | $22,000/yr |
| St. Louis | MO | $13,000/yr | $27,000/yr | $22,000/yr |
| Cincinnati | OH | $13,000/yr | $27,000/yr | $22,000/yr |
| Louisville | KY | $13,000/yr | $27,000/yr | $22,000/yr |
| Las Vegas | NV | $12,500/yr | $26,000/yr | $22,000/yr |
| San Antonio | TX | $12,500/yr | $26,000/yr | $22,000/yr |
| Cleveland | OH | $12,500/yr | $26,000/yr | $22,000/yr |
| Oklahoma City | OK | $12,500/yr | $26,000/yr | $22,000/yr |
| Jacksonville | FL | $12,000/yr | $25,000/yr | $22,000/yr |
| Memphis | TN | $12,000/yr | $25,000/yr | $22,000/yr |
Get Exact Costs for Your Zip Code
The figures above are metro-area averages. Actual costs vary by neighborhood and provider. Our free calculator uses your specific zip code for more precise estimates and shows your tax savings.
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