US childcare cost rankings

The most expensive state for center-based infant care is Hawaii ($18,000/yr); the cheapest is Mississippi ($3,526/yr). The heaviest burden relative to local income is in Hawaii, where infant care eats roughly 22.9% of median household income. Explore the full rankings below.

Source: U.S. DOL Women's Bureau — National Database of Childcare Prices. Data as of June 2026.

Rankings

Most expensive states

Highest median center-based infant-care cost.

Cheapest states

Lowest median infant-care cost.

Biggest income burden

Where childcare takes the largest share of income.

Center vs family price gap

Where centers cost the most over home-based care.

Rankings use median center-based infant care, the most expensive and most-searched age group, from the federal National Database of Childcare Prices (latest year per state). See methodology.

Last updated: 2026-06-20