How much does daycare cost in California?
In California’s most recent child care price survey, the typical licensed center charged $1,535 a month for full-time infant care and $1,109 a month for preschoolers. Adjusted for price increases since then, that is about $1,940 and $1,400 a month today. Prices depend heavily on the county: infant care costs $2,084 a month in San Francisco County and $975 in Alpine and Amador counties (2021 prices).
Typical full-time prices at California daycare centers
| Age | Median per month (2021) | About today | Median per week (2021) | 1 in 4 centers charged more than |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Infants (under 2) | $1,535 | $1,940 | $395 | $1,767 |
| Preschool (ages 2–4) | $1,109 | $1,400 | $302 | $1,319 |
| School age (5 and up) | $788 | $990 | $218 | $1,052 |
Statewide figures are each county’s median, averaged with weights for the number of licensed centers in the county. “Today” figures are our estimate: the 2021 survey price raised by the 26% increase in the national consumer price index for day care and preschool between the survey period and August 2026 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics). California has not run a newer price survey since 2021.
Daycare prices in every California county
Median full-time monthly price at licensed child care centers, most expensive first. Open a county to compare every center’s inspection record.
| County | Infants (2021) | Infants today | Preschool (2021) | Preschool today | School age (2021) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco | $2,084 | $2,630 | $1,735 | $2,190 | $792 |
| Marin | $2,051 | $2,590 | $1,683 | $2,120 | $777 |
| San Mateo | $1,947 | $2,460 | $1,619 | $2,040 | $730 |
| Santa Clara | $1,940 | $2,450 | $1,599 | $2,020 | $724 |
| Alameda | $1,874 | $2,360 | $1,547 | $1,950 | $798 |
| Contra Costa | $1,730 | $2,180 | $1,287 | $1,620 | $800 |
| Yolo | $1,698 | $2,140 | $1,197 | $1,510 | $818 |
| Santa Cruz | $1,678 | $2,120 | $1,183 | $1,490 | $725 |
| Sonoma | $1,610 | $2,030 | $1,150 | $1,450 | $830 |
| Santa Barbara | $1,593 | $2,010 | $1,099 | $1,390 | $861 |
| Orange | $1,584 | $2,000 | $1,098 | $1,390 | $820 |
| Los Angeles | $1,555 | $1,960 | $1,087 | $1,370 | $821 |
| Placer | $1,502 | $1,890 | $1,060 | $1,340 | $897 |
| Solano | $1,498 | $1,890 | $1,003 | $1,270 | $822 |
| San Diego | $1,462 | $1,840 | $1,013 | $1,280 | $800 |
| San Luis Obispo | $1,407 | $1,780 | $973 | $1,230 | $820 |
| Napa | $1,407 | $1,770 | $1,025 | $1,290 | $838 |
| Sacramento | $1,400 | $1,770 | $984 | $1,240 | $840 |
| El Dorado | $1,400 | $1,770 | $964 | $1,220 | $797 |
| Mono | $1,394 | $1,760 | $1,000 | $1,260 | $832 |
| Ventura | $1,358 | $1,710 | $945 | $1,190 | $820 |
| San Benito | $1,341 | $1,690 | $899 | $1,130 | $851 |
| Monterey | $1,274 | $1,610 | $878 | $1,110 | $723 |
| Kern | $1,272 | $1,610 | $837 | $1,060 | $717 |
| Nevada | $1,257 | $1,590 | $908 | $1,150 | $745 |
| Colusa | $1,253 | $1,580 | $900 | $1,130 | $800 |
| San Bernardino | $1,250 | $1,580 | $835 | $1,050 | $716 |
| Riverside | $1,249 | $1,580 | $856 | $1,080 | $767 |
| Fresno | $1,249 | $1,580 | $858 | $1,080 | $767 |
| Kings | $1,234 | $1,560 | $831 | $1,050 | $724 |
| Madera | $1,216 | $1,530 | $823 | $1,040 | $718 |
| Mendocino | $1,216 | $1,530 | $800 | $1,010 | $699 |
| Glenn | $1,200 | $1,510 | $799 | $1,010 | $718 |
| Lake | $1,199 | $1,510 | $799 | $1,010 | $717 |
| Yuba | $1,199 | $1,510 | $800 | $1,010 | $696 |
| San Joaquin | $1,199 | $1,510 | $798 | $1,010 | $718 |
| Plumas | $1,199 | $1,510 | $799 | $1,010 | $699 |
| Trinity | $1,198 | $1,510 | $799 | $1,010 | $695 |
| Tulare | $1,198 | $1,510 | $750 | $950 | $699 |
| Humboldt | $1,198 | $1,510 | $798 | $1,010 | $712 |
| Calaveras | $1,195 | $1,510 | $797 | $1,010 | $696 |
| Shasta | $1,185 | $1,500 | $775 | $980 | $713 |
| Merced | $1,177 | $1,490 | $730 | $920 | $711 |
| Imperial | $1,156 | $1,460 | $725 | $910 | $700 |
| Modoc | $1,155 | $1,460 | $728 | $920 | $704 |
| Stanislaus | $1,141 | $1,440 | $710 | $900 | $699 |
| Inyo | $1,139 | $1,440 | $699 | $880 | $698 |
| Lassen | $1,139 | $1,440 | $710 | $900 | $699 |
| Sutter | $1,133 | $1,430 | $697 | $880 | $705 |
| Butte | $1,105 | $1,390 | $695 | $880 | $699 |
| Tuolumne | $1,021 | $1,290 | $689 | $870 | $699 |
| Siskiyou | $999 | $1,260 | $690 | $870 | $699 |
| Alpine | $975 | $1,230 | $681 | $860 | $698 |
| Amador | $975 | $1,230 | $681 | $860 | $698 |
| Del Norte | $975 | $1,230 | $681 | $860 | $698 |
| Mariposa | $975 | $1,230 | $681 | $860 | $698 |
| Sierra | $975 | $1,230 | $681 | $860 | $698 |
| Tehama | $975 | $1,230 | $681 | $860 | $698 |
Some rural counties share the same figures because the survey groups providers into regional markets.
Daycare costs in California’s biggest cities
| City | County | Infants (2021) | Infants today | Preschool (2021) | Preschool today |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles | Los Angeles | $1,555 | $1,960 | $1,087 | $1,370 |
| San Francisco | San Francisco | $2,084 | $2,630 | $1,735 | $2,190 |
| San Diego | San Diego | $1,462 | $1,840 | $1,013 | $1,280 |
| Sacramento | Sacramento | $1,400 | $1,770 | $984 | $1,240 |
| San Jose | Santa Clara | $1,940 | $2,450 | $1,599 | $2,020 |
| Fresno | Fresno | $1,249 | $1,580 | $858 | $1,080 |
| Oakland | Alameda | $1,874 | $2,360 | $1,547 | $1,950 |
| Long Beach | Los Angeles | $1,555 | $1,960 | $1,087 | $1,370 |
| Bakersfield | Kern | $1,272 | $1,610 | $837 | $1,060 |
| Stockton | San Joaquin | $1,199 | $1,510 | $798 | $1,010 |
| Irvine | Orange | $1,584 | $2,000 | $1,098 | $1,390 |
| Riverside | Riverside | $1,249 | $1,580 | $856 | $1,080 |
| Fremont | Alameda | $1,874 | $2,360 | $1,547 | $1,950 |
| Santa Ana | Orange | $1,584 | $2,000 | $1,098 | $1,390 |
| Anaheim | Orange | $1,584 | $2,000 | $1,098 | $1,390 |
Each city uses its county’s survey figures.
Why infant care costs the most
Babies need more adults. California requires far more staff per child in infant rooms than in preschool rooms, so each infant space costs a center more to run. See California daycare ratios.
Help paying for child care
California helps eligible families pay for child care through subsidy programs run by county welfare departments and local Alternative Payment programs. Your county’s child care resource and referral agency can tell you what you qualify for and help you find openings (find your local agency).
Common questions
What is the average cost of daycare in California?
The typical licensed child care center charged $1,535 a month for full-time infant care, $1,109 for preschoolers (ages 2 to 4) and $788 for school-age children in the state’s 2021 Regional Market Rate Survey (averages of county medians, weighted by number of centers). Adjusted for inflation in child care prices since then, that is roughly $1,940, $1,400 and $990 a month today.
How much is daycare per week in California?
In 2021 the typical full-time weekly price at licensed centers was $395 for infants and $302 for preschoolers, about $500 and $380 today.
Where is daycare most expensive in California?
San Francisco County had the highest median price for infant care at licensed centers, $2,084 a month in 2021 (about $2,630 today), followed by Marin ($2,051), San Mateo ($1,947), Santa Clara ($1,940).
Where is daycare cheapest in California?
Rural counties: Alpine and Amador counties had the lowest median infant price at licensed centers, $975 a month in 2021.
Is a family child care home cheaper than a daycare center in California?
Usually, for babies. The typical licensed family child care home charged $1,097 a month for full-time infant care in 2021, compared with $1,535 at centers. For preschoolers the gap is smaller: $986 at homes and $1,109 at centers.
How do I find out what a specific daycare charges?
California does not publish individual centers’ prices. Call or visit and ask for monthly tuition, the registration fee and any meal or supply fees. While you compare, check each center’s inspection record on Daycare Record.
Prices: 2021 Regional Market Rate Survey of California Child Care Providers (California Department of Social Services; survey run by the American Institutes for Research, June 18 - December 31, 2021; county data). Figures are full-time rates for licensed child care centers unless noted. Age groups follow the survey: infants are under 2, preschoolers are 2 to 4, school-age children are 5 and older. “Today” figures are our estimate: the 2021 survey price raised by the 26% increase in the national consumer price index for day care and preschool between the survey period and August 2026 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics). California has not run a newer price survey since 2021.