The most expensive state for daycare in the US is Hawaii, where median center-based infant care costs about $18,000 a year. The rest of the top tier is dominated by Alaska and the Northeast.
Estimate — verify with the source. Figures are 2018-era medians from the federal National Database of Childcare Prices. Prices have risen since; confirm current rates with providers.
The 10 most expensive states for infant daycare
| Rank | State | Infant care (center) / yr | % of median income |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hawaii | $18,000 | 22.9% |
| 2 | Alaska | $17,484 | 22.8% |
| 3 | Connecticut | $15,860 | 20.4% |
| 4 | Massachusetts | $15,860 | 20.1% |
| 5 | District of Columbia | $15,786 | 22.3% |
| 6 | California | $15,058 | 20.6% |
| 7 | New York | $11,429 | 16.5% |
See the full, sortable list on the most expensive states ranking.
Why these states?
Childcare is labor. Infant rooms typically require one caregiver for every three to four babies, so wages — the bulk of any childcare budget — are spread over very few families. In high-wage, high-cost-of-living states, that pushes prices to the top. It’s the same dynamic that drives why infant care costs the most of any age group everywhere.
Expensive isn’t the same as unaffordable
A high dollar cost can be offset by high incomes. To compare affordability fairly, look at childcare as a share of income: by that measure Hawaii, Alaska and DC still sit at the top, each eating more than 22% of median household income for infant care alone — far beyond the 7% federal affordability benchmark.
For the opposite end, see the cheapest states for daycare, or look up your own state on the cost-by-state index.