How much does daycare cost in Pennsylvania?
The typical certified center in Pennsylvania charges $67.70 a day for an infant and $56.21 a day for a preschooler, full time. That is about $340 and $280 a week. These are the rates 3,803 centers report to the state, by age and county.
Daycare prices by age
| Age group | Typical daily rate | Middle half of centers | About per week | About per year | Centers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Infants (6 weeks to 12 months) | $67.70 | $55–$77 | $340 | $17,600 | 2,639 |
| Toddlers (13 to 36 months) | $61.52 | $50–$71 | $310 | $16,000 | 3,008 |
| Preschool (3 years to kindergarten) | $56.21 | $45–$65 | $280 | $14,600 | 3,248 |
| School age (kindergarten to 3rd grade) | $48.00 | $40–$59 | $240 | $12,500 | 3,090 |
Full-time daily rates for families paying privately. “Per week” is five days; “per year” is 52 weeks. Half of centers charge less than the typical rate and half charge more.
Daycare costs by county
The typical full-time daily rate at centers in each county with at least 8 centers reporting. Chester County is the most expensive ($68.60 a day for preschool) and Warren County the least ($29.77).
| County | Infant, per day | Preschool, per day | Preschool, per week | Centers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chester | $80.60 | $68.60 | $340 | 173 |
| Montgomery | $80.00 | $67.60 | $340 | 278 |
| Bucks | $74.00 | $64.00 | $320 | 173 |
| Allegheny | $69.00 | $60.00 | $300 | 350 |
| Philadelphia | $70.00 | $58.00 | $290 | 995 |
| Dauphin | $66.50 | $56.50 | $280 | 76 |
| Delaware | $68.00 | $56.50 | $280 | 163 |
| Lancaster | $71.00 | $55.50 | $280 | 115 |
| Erie | $58.91 | $55.00 | $280 | 55 |
| Centre | $70.00 | $54.95 | $270 | 52 |
| Cumberland | $64.50 | $54.00 | $270 | 67 |
| Washington | $59.00 | $53.00 | $270 | 48 |
| Lebanon | $62.40 | $51.00 | $260 | 19 |
| Butler | $62.00 | $50.00 | $250 | 37 |
| York | $59.60 | $49.20 | $250 | 70 |
| Berks | $58.00 | $49.00 | $250 | 130 |
| Fayette | $55.00 | $49.00 | $250 | 27 |
| Westmoreland | $54.80 | $48.20 | $240 | 84 |
| Lehigh | $55.50 | $47.20 | $240 | 146 |
| Adams | — | $47.00 | $240 | 17 |
| Northumberland | $50.00 | $47.00 | $240 | 19 |
| Venango | — | $46.50 | $230 | 8 |
| Mercer | $52.67 | $46.17 | $230 | 10 |
| Beaver | $49.50 | $46.00 | $230 | 24 |
| Lawrence | $48.90 | $46.00 | $230 | 18 |
| Northampton | $55.00 | $46.00 | $230 | 89 |
| Lackawanna | $50.00 | $44.00 | $220 | 53 |
| Monroe | $50.00 | $44.00 | $220 | 42 |
| Luzerne | $51.60 | $43.00 | $220 | 97 |
| Lycoming | $46.80 | $42.20 | $210 | 18 |
| Armstrong | $45.00 | $41.62 | $210 | 10 |
| Wayne | $50.00 | $41.50 | $210 | 12 |
| Crawford | $49.50 | $41.11 | $210 | 13 |
| Columbia | $43.50 | $39.00 | $200 | 17 |
| Blair | $42.00 | $38.80 | $190 | 34 |
| Bradford | $44.00 | $38.50 | $190 | 14 |
| Franklin | $44.20 | $38.00 | $190 | 28 |
| Cambria | $40.56 | $36.16 | $180 | 32 |
| Clearfield | $42.00 | $36.00 | $180 | 11 |
| Schuylkill | $41.00 | $36.00 | $180 | 29 |
| Somerset | $40.00 | $35.00 | $180 | 13 |
| Tioga | — | $35.00 | $180 | 11 |
| Bedford | — | $34.00 | $170 | 9 |
| Carbon | $39.00 | $32.00 | $160 | 11 |
| Warren | — | $29.77 | $150 | 8 |
The largest cities
| City | Infant, per day | Preschool, per day | Centers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia | $70.00 | $58.00 | 993 |
| Pittsburgh | $70.00 | $60.00 | 194 |
| Allentown | $56.00 | $48.00 | 80 |
| Reading | $60.00 | $50.00 | 79 |
| Lancaster | $75.00 | $58.40 | 58 |
| Harrisburg | $67.00 | $58.30 | 55 |
| Bethlehem | $55.50 | $46.20 | 38 |
| Erie | $62.70 | $55.28 | 37 |
| Easton | $57.00 | $46.60 | 33 |
| State College | $70.00 | $54.90 | 28 |
| West Chester | $81.40 | $72.20 | 28 |
| York | $63.00 | $51.50 | 26 |
Prices by Keystone STARS level
Keystone STARS is Pennsylvania’s quality rating for child care, from STAR 1 to STAR 4 (PA Keys).
| STAR level | Infant, per day | Preschool, per day | Centers |
|---|---|---|---|
| STAR 1 | $65.00 | $53.55 | 1,029 |
| STAR 2 | $67.83 | $56.23 | 587 |
| STAR 3 | $65.13 | $54.80 | 148 |
| STAR 4 | $68.60 | $57.00 | 1,372 |
Why infant care costs the most
Pennsylvania requires one staff person for every 4 infants, every 5 young toddlers, every 6 older toddlers and every 10 preschoolers (55 Pa. Code §3270.51). Fewer children per adult means a higher price per child.
Common questions
How much is daycare in Pennsylvania per week?
About $340 a week for an infant and $280 for a preschooler at a typical certified center, based on the full-time daily rates 3,803 centers report to the state ($67.70 and $56.21 a day). Prices are highest in Chester, Montgomery and Bucks counties.
How much does infant care cost in Pennsylvania?
The typical center charges $67.70 a day for full-time infant care, about $17,600 a year at five days a week. Half of centers charge between $55 and $77 a day.
Why does infant care cost more than preschool-age care?
Care for 3- and 4-year-olds costs less than infant care because staff can care for more children at once: the state’s ratio is one adult to 10 preschoolers, against one to 4 infants. The typical daily rate is $56.21 for preschoolers and $67.70 for infants. Eligible families can get free pre-K through PA Pre-K Counts.
Do Keystone STARS centers cost more?
A little. The typical STAR 4 center charges $57.00 a day for preschool, compared with $53.55 at STAR 1 centers. Price depends more on where a center is than on its rating, so compare centers near you.
How can I get help paying for daycare in Pennsylvania?
Child Care Works, the state’s child care subsidy, helps eligible families pay for care: the family pays a weekly co-payment instead of the full price. Call 1-877-4-PA-KIDS (1-877-472-5437) (DHS). PA Pre-K Counts is free for eligible children from age 3 until kindergarten age who are at risk of school failure, in families earning up to 300% of the federal poverty level. Head Start is free for eligible families. A dependent care FSA or the child and dependent care credit (and Pennsylvania’s refundable match of it) can lower the cost for working parents.
Where do these prices come from?
Each certified center can list its daily rates for families paying privately in Pennsylvania’s COMPASS child care search. 77% of certified centers list at least one full-time rate. Centers don’t have to keep them current, so ask for a written rate sheet before you enroll.
Sources: daily rates centers report in the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services’ COMPASS child care search, collected Oct 16, 2026 (values below $8 or above $200 a day are left out as likely entry errors); Keystone STARS levels as shown in the same search; PA Pre-K Counts (Pennsylvania Department of Education).