Average daycare costs, city comparisons, subsidy eligibility, and cost-saving strategies for California families.
Quick answer: $1,923 per month is this page’s statewide planning estimate for full-time, center-based infant care in California ($23,076 per year, or about $444 per week). Provider tuition is local and can vary by city, age, schedule, and program type.
The reference figure is the published 2025 statewide annual average for center-based infant care ($23,071), divided by 12. It is a planning benchmark, not a provider quote. View the source and methodology.
Prices vary substantially across California communities. City, neighborhood, provider type, child age, hours, registration fees, and availability can all change a family’s actual tuition. Compare current quotes from licensed providers before choosing care.
California families may have access to child care assistance through state or local programs. Income, work or education activity, child age, provider participation, funding, and waitlists can affect eligibility. Use the subsidy calculator as a preliminary screen, then confirm requirements with the responsible state or local agency.
In 2026, eligible families may claim the Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit (CDCTC) on up to $3,000 of qualifying expenses for one qualifying person or $6,000 for two or more. The credit rate ranges from 20% to 50%, so the maximum credit is $1,500 for one qualifying person or $3,000 for two or more, before tax-liability limits. A Dependent Care FSA may generally exclude up to $7,500 of employer-provided dependent-care assistance from income ($3,750 for married employees filing separately). The same expense cannot be used for both benefits. Eligibility, filing status, earned income, and tax liability matter, so review IRS Form 2441 instructions or a tax professional before relying on an estimate.
2026 planning estimate: $1,923 per month for full-time, center-based infant care
Annual planning equivalent: $23,076
Weekly planning equivalent: $444
Methodology: The reference figure is the published 2025 statewide annual average for center-based infant care ($23,071), divided by 12. It is a planning benchmark, not a provider quote.
Source: Child Care Aware of America 2025 Price & Supply state fact sheet (2025).
Child care costs in California vary by location. Here are the major cities where families search for child care: Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego, San Jose, Sacramento, Fresno, Oakland, Long Beach, Bakersfield, Anaheim.
Our data covers child care providers across California's major counties: Los Angeles County, San Diego County, Orange County, Riverside County, San Bernardino County, Santa Clara County, Alameda County, Sacramento County, San Francisco County, Contra Costa County.
This page uses a statewide planning equivalent of approximately $444 per week for full-time, center-based infant care. Actual weekly tuition can be higher or lower based on the provider, location, child age, and schedule.
The statewide planning estimate on this page is $1,923 per month for full-time, center-based infant care. Request current fee schedules from local licensed providers for a decision-ready price.
Eligibility depends on current state and local rules, household income, work or education activity, child age, available funding, and provider participation. Use our subsidy eligibility calculator for a preliminary screen, then confirm with the responsible agency.
A licensed family child care home, a part-time schedule, a public-school program, or a community-based program may be less expensive in some local markets. Compare current prices, hours, age eligibility, transportation, and availability rather than relying on a statewide percentage difference.
The latest Child Care Aware of America national benchmark is $13,184 annually, or about $1,099 monthly, across its calculation methods. This page’s $1,923 figure is a statewide planning estimate for full-time, center-based infant care, so it should not be treated as a direct provider-to-provider comparison.
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