California Daycare Costs 2026: What Parents Actually Pay

California has some of the highest childcare costs in the nation. If you're budgeting for daycare in 2026, here's exactly what to expect—and how to reduce what you pay.

Quick Answer: California Daycare Costs 2026

| Care Type | Monthly Cost | Annual Cost | |-----------|-------------|-------------| | Infant Center Care | $1,890 | $22,680 | | Toddler Center Care | $1,460 | $17,520 | | Preschool (3-5 years) | $1,275 | $15,300 | | Family Home Daycare | $1,200 | $14,400 |

The range: Depending on your city, you'll pay anywhere from $1,100 to $3,200/month for infant care.

California Daycare Costs by City

Location matters enormously in California. Here's what parents are paying across the state:

San Francisco Bay Area

The most expensive region in California—and one of the most expensive in the country.

| City | Infant Center | Toddler Center | Preschool | |------|---------------|----------------|-----------| | San Francisco | $2,800/mo | $2,400/mo | $2,100/mo | | San Jose | $2,350/mo | $1,950/mo | $1,700/mo | | Oakland | $2,200/mo | $1,850/mo | $1,600/mo | | Palo Alto | $2,900/mo | $2,500/mo | $2,200/mo | | Fremont | $2,100/mo | $1,750/mo | $1,500/mo | | Berkeley | $2,400/mo | $2,000/mo | $1,750/mo |

Why so expensive? Extreme real estate costs, high staff wages ($55,000+ for lead teachers), and strict regulations combine to create premium pricing.

Los Angeles Area

Slightly more affordable than the Bay Area, but still above national averages.

| City | Infant Center | Toddler Center | Preschool | |------|---------------|----------------|-----------| | Santa Monica | $2,500/mo | $2,100/mo | $1,850/mo | | West Hollywood | $2,300/mo | $1,900/mo | $1,700/mo | | Pasadena | $1,950/mo | $1,650/mo | $1,450/mo | | Downtown LA | $1,800/mo | $1,500/mo | $1,300/mo | | Long Beach | $1,600/mo | $1,350/mo | $1,200/mo | | Burbank | $1,750/mo | $1,450/mo | $1,300/mo | | Glendale | $1,700/mo | $1,400/mo | $1,250/mo |

LA tip: Inland areas like the San Fernando Valley offer savings of 20-30% compared to Westside neighborhoods.

San Diego Area

| City | Infant Center | Toddler Center | Preschool | |------|---------------|----------------|-----------| | La Jolla | $2,200/mo | $1,850/mo | $1,600/mo | | Downtown San Diego | $1,850/mo | $1,550/mo | $1,350/mo | | North County | $1,750/mo | $1,450/mo | $1,250/mo | | East County | $1,450/mo | $1,200/mo | $1,050/mo |

Central Valley & Inland Empire

California's most affordable childcare regions.

| City | Infant Center | Toddler Center | Preschool | |------|---------------|----------------|-----------| | Fresno | $1,100/mo | $950/mo | $850/mo | | Bakersfield | $1,050/mo | $900/mo | $800/mo | | Sacramento | $1,400/mo | $1,150/mo | $1,000/mo | | Riverside | $1,350/mo | $1,100/mo | $950/mo | | Stockton | $1,200/mo | $1,000/mo | $900/mo | | Modesto | $1,150/mo | $950/mo | $850/mo |

Central Valley advantage: Families can save $15,000+ annually compared to Bay Area prices for the same quality of care.

California Daycare Costs by Age

Infant care costs significantly more due to stricter staff-to-child ratios.

California staff ratio requirements:

• Infants (0-18 months): 1 teacher per 4 children
• Toddlers (18-30 months): 1 teacher per 6 children
• Preschool (2.5-5 years): 1 teacher per 12 children

What this means for costs:

| Age Group | Statewide Average | Compared to Preschool | |-----------|-------------------|----------------------| | Infant (0-12 months) | $1,890/mo | +48% | | Toddler (12-24 months) | $1,575/mo | +24% | | Older Toddler (2 years) | $1,460/mo | +14% | | Preschool (3-5 years) | $1,275/mo | baseline |

Family Home Daycare vs. Center-Based Care

Licensed family childcare homes offer significant savings:

| Care Type | Monthly Average | Annual Savings vs. Center | |-----------|-----------------|--------------------------| | Center (Infant) | $1,890 | — | | Family Home (Infant) | $1,350 | $6,480/year | | Center (Preschool) | $1,275 | — | | Family Home (Preschool) | $950 | $3,900/year |

Is family home care right for you?

Pros:

• 20-30% cost savings
• Smaller group sizes (6-14 children)
• Often more flexible schedules
• Home-like environment

Cons:

• One provider (no backup if they're sick)
• Mixed-age groupings
• Less structured curriculum (typically)
• May close for vacations

California Childcare Subsidies

California has multiple programs to help families afford care:

CalWORKs Stage 1, 2, and 3

• Who qualifies: Families receiving or transitioning off TANF
• Income limit: Up to 85% of State Median Income
• What it covers: Full or partial subsidy based on income

Alternative Payment (AP) Programs

• Who qualifies: Working families meeting income guidelines
• Income limit: 85% SMI (approximately $96,000 for family of 4)
• What it covers: Subsidized care at licensed centers or family homes
• How to apply: Through your county's Resource and Referral agency

California State Preschool Program (CSPP)

• Who qualifies: Children ages 3-5; income up to 100% SMI
• What it covers: Free part-day preschool (3-4 hours)
• Extended day option: Available at reduced cost

Head Start / Early Head Start

• Who qualifies: Families at or below Federal Poverty Level ($31,200 for family of 4)
• What it covers: Free full-day or part-day programs
• Apply: Head Start Locator

Transitional Kindergarten (TK)

• Who qualifies: All 4-year-olds (free, public school-based)
• Expansion: By 2025-2026, all 4-year-olds eligible statewide
• What it covers: Free school-day program; after-school care at added cost

Tax Benefits for California Families

Dependent Care FSA

• Maximum: $5,000/year pre-tax
• Savings: $1,500-$2,000 depending on tax bracket
• How to enroll: During your employer's open enrollment

Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit (Federal)

• Maximum expenses: $3,000 (one child) or $6,000 (two+)
• Credit: 20-35% of expenses = $600-$2,100 tax reduction

California Earned Income Tax Credit (CalEITC)

• For: Lower-income working families
• Amount: Up to $3,529 for families with 3+ children
• Plus: Young Child Tax Credit adds up to $1,117

How to Reduce California Daycare Costs

1. Apply for Subsidies Early

Waitlists can be 6-18 months. Apply as soon as you're pregnant or know you'll need care.

Where to apply:

• California Child Care Resource & Referral Network
• Your county's social services department

2. Consider Family Home Daycare

Licensed family childcare homes save 20-30% compared to centers. Quality varies, so tour carefully.

3. Look at Employer Benefits

Ask your HR department about:

• Childcare stipends
• On-site or near-site care
• Backup care programs
• Enhanced Dependent Care FSA

4. Explore Part-Time Options

Some centers offer 3-day or 4-day schedules at prorated rates. Combined with a work-from-home day, this can reduce costs 20-40%.

5. Stack Multiple Benefits

You can combine:

• State subsidy (reduces base cost)
• Dependent Care FSA (for copays)
• Federal tax credit (for remaining expenses)

Example: A Bay Area family earning $85,000 might reduce their $2,400/month infant care to $1,200/month through subsidies, then save another $150/month through FSA and tax credits.

6. Consider Location Flexibility

If remote work allows, you might:

• Live in a lower-cost area (Central Valley, Inland Empire)
• Use daycare near grandparents (even if further from you)
• Commute from a suburb with 30% lower childcare costs

California Childcare Licensing

Verify any provider is properly licensed:

Community Care Licensing Division

• Phone: 1-844-NEED-CCL (1-844-633-3225)
• Website: cdss.ca.gov/inforesources/child-care-licensing
• License Lookup: ccld.dss.ca.gov/carefacilitysearch

What to verify:

• Current license status
• Facility capacity
• Any complaints or violations
• Inspection history

California Quality Rating: Quality Counts

California's quality rating system helps identify high-quality programs:

• Tier 1: Meets licensing requirements
• Tier 2: Progressing toward quality
• Tier 3: Meeting quality standards
• Tier 4: Exceeding quality standards
• Tier 5: Exemplary quality

Find rated programs: qualitycountsca.net

The Bottom Line

California daycare in 2026 costs between $1,100-$3,200/month depending on location and care type. The statewide average for infant center care is $1,890/month—among the highest in the nation.

Key takeaways:

• Location affects cost more than any other factor
• Family home care saves 20-30%
• Subsidies are available for incomes up to ~$96,000 (family of 4)
• Apply early—waitlists are long

Next steps:

1. Calculate your specific costs with our daycare cost calculator
2. Search for daycares in California
3. Apply for subsidies through your local R&R agency

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Last updated: December 2025. Costs reflect 2026 projections based on 2024-2025 data and regional trends.