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Childcare calculator

Which childcare option really costs less?

The sticker price rarely tells the whole story. Add the closed days, the extra hours, and the fees, and compare the true yearly cost of each option side by side.

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First, what childcare typically costs

A feel for the going rates before you compare your real quotes. Daycare prices fall as kids get older; a nanny costs about the same at every age.

What full-time care typically costs per month

Each bar spans the usual U.S. range; the dot marks a typical price

Chart of typical full-time childcare prices per month in the United States, by care type and age. Daycare centers charge about $1,000 to $2,300 a month for infants, easing to $800 to $1,600 by preschool. In-home daycare runs about $700 to $1,600 for infants. A nanny costs $2,900 to $4,300 a month at any age, a nanny share $1,700 to $2,700 per family, and an au pair about $1,600 to $2,100 counting the stipend and program fees.
Full-time care for one infant typically runs about $1,000 to $2,300 a month at a daycare center, $700 to $1,600 with an in-home provider, and $2,900 or more for a nanny. Daycare prices drop as your child gets older, but a nanny costs about the same at every age and only a little more per extra child. That is why the math can flip once two or three kids need care at the same time.

Ranges are planning estimates assembled from the U.S. Department of Labor's National Database of Childcare Prices ↗, Child Care Aware of America's annual price reports, and national nanny pay surveys. Prices vary a lot by area: big metros often run well above these ranges, and lower-cost regions below them. Nanny figures are pay before employer payroll taxes. A planning guide, not financial advice.

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Compare your real options

Enter each option's real quote and its extras. Every number below updates as you type.
New to this? Start from an example, then swap in your own quotes.

The cheaper sticker price is often the pricier year.

Closed days, extra hours, and the food and supplies you send add up quietly, and they land differently at every provider. Counting them is what turns two quotes into a real comparison.

Rates, fees, and closed-day calendars come from each provider. This tool organizes and totals them; it doesn't rank providers or judge quality of care.

Start from an example

Loads example options with typical prices. Edit anything to match your quotes.

Your schedule (shared by every option)

Days and hours convert hourly and daily rates to a yearly total. Weekly and monthly rates are used as quoted. Backup care is what a day of coverage costs you when a provider is closed, like a babysitter or a drop-in center.

Your comparison

Totals update as you type. Planning tool only.

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Now the bigger question: is stepping out of work worth it?

Childcare is usually the largest cost of working, and it is temporary. Carry your total over and weigh it against what stepping out of work costs across a career.

Project it →

Everything is calculated in your browser and nothing you enter is stored. Totals are yearly planning estimates: one-time fees are counted in the first year, and nanny payroll costs are a rule-of-thumb percentage, not a tax calculation. Confirm real rates, fees, and closed-day calendars with each provider. Not financial or tax advice.

Childcare cost FAQ

How much does daycare cost per month?

Full-time center care for one infant typically runs $1,000 to $2,300 a month in the U.S., easing as your child gets older: toddler rooms usually cost a bit less, and preschool rooms less again. In-home (family) daycare usually runs a few hundred dollars less than a center. Where you live is the biggest driver, and big metros often run well above these ranges.

Is a nanny or daycare cheaper?

For one child, daycare is almost always cheaper: a full-time nanny typically costs $35,000 to $55,000 a year once employer payroll taxes are counted, versus roughly $10,000 to $28,000 for a daycare spot. But a nanny costs only a little more per additional child while daycare charges close to full price for each spot. With two or three kids in care at once, or in an expensive metro, a nanny or nanny share can come out ahead. Run your real quotes in the calculator to see where your crossover is.

What hidden childcare costs should I ask about?

The big ones: how many days the provider closes each year (10 to 20 is common, and each one can mean a day of paid backup care), registration and deposit fees, whether meals and snacks are included or sent from home, supplies and diapers, late-pickup fees, and charges for early drop-off or extended hours. Also ask exactly how the sibling discount works. A lower weekly rate with lots of extras can end up costing more than a pricier all-inclusive option.

What does a nanny really cost beyond the hourly rate?

When you hire a nanny you become a household employer. Budget roughly 10 to 12 percent on top of gross pay for the employer share of Social Security and Medicare, unemployment insurance, and workers' compensation where required. Most nannies also expect guaranteed hours (you pay for the agreed schedule even in weeks you need less), paid time off, and paid holidays, and you will need backup care when your nanny is sick or on vacation.

Does this calculator store my information?

No. Everything is calculated in your browser, and nothing you enter is stored or sent anywhere. The numbers are planning estimates to help you compare options, not financial or tax advice: always confirm real rates, fees, and closed-day calendars with each provider.