New York Daycare Costs 2026: NYC, Long Island & Upstate Prices

New York childcare is among the most expensive in the nation—especially in New York City. Here's what families across the state are actually paying in 2026, plus how to access free and subsidized programs.

Quick Answer: New York Daycare Costs 2026

| Care Type | NYC Average | NYS Average | |-----------|------------|-------------| | Infant Center Care | $2,450/mo | $1,790/mo | | Toddler Center Care | $2,100/mo | $1,580/mo | | Preschool (3-5 years) | $1,850/mo | $1,420/mo | | Family Home Daycare | $1,600/mo | $1,100/mo |

The range: NYC families pay $1,800-$3,500/month, while upstate families pay $900-$1,400/month.

New York City Daycare Costs by Borough

Manhattan

The most expensive childcare in the country.

| Neighborhood | Infant Center | Toddler Center | Preschool | |--------------|---------------|----------------|-----------| | Upper East Side | $3,500/mo | $3,000/mo | $2,700/mo | | Upper West Side | $3,300/mo | $2,850/mo | $2,550/mo | | Tribeca/SoHo | $3,400/mo | $2,900/mo | $2,600/mo | | Midtown | $2,800/mo | $2,400/mo | $2,100/mo | | Harlem | $2,200/mo | $1,900/mo | $1,700/mo | | Washington Heights | $1,800/mo | $1,550/mo | $1,350/mo | | Lower East Side | $2,400/mo | $2,050/mo | $1,850/mo |

Brooklyn

Wide price variation across neighborhoods.

| Neighborhood | Infant Center | Toddler Center | Preschool | |--------------|---------------|----------------|-----------| | Brooklyn Heights | $3,000/mo | $2,600/mo | $2,300/mo | | Park Slope | $2,900/mo | $2,500/mo | $2,200/mo | | DUMBO | $3,100/mo | $2,700/mo | $2,400/mo | | Williamsburg | $2,700/mo | $2,350/mo | $2,050/mo | | Cobble Hill/Carroll Gardens | $2,800/mo | $2,400/mo | $2,100/mo | | Crown Heights | $1,800/mo | $1,550/mo | $1,350/mo | | Bed-Stuy | $1,650/mo | $1,400/mo | $1,200/mo | | Bay Ridge | $1,700/mo | $1,450/mo | $1,250/mo | | Bushwick | $1,550/mo | $1,350/mo | $1,150/mo |

Queens

Generally more affordable than Manhattan and Brooklyn.

| Neighborhood | Infant Center | Toddler Center | Preschool | |--------------|---------------|----------------|-----------| | Long Island City | $2,400/mo | $2,050/mo | $1,800/mo | | Astoria | $2,100/mo | $1,800/mo | $1,600/mo | | Forest Hills | $2,000/mo | $1,700/mo | $1,500/mo | | Flushing | $1,650/mo | $1,400/mo | $1,200/mo | | Jackson Heights | $1,500/mo | $1,300/mo | $1,150/mo | | Bayside | $1,850/mo | $1,600/mo | $1,400/mo | | Jamaica | $1,400/mo | $1,200/mo | $1,050/mo |

The Bronx

Most affordable borough for childcare.

| Area | Infant Center | Toddler Center | Preschool | |------|---------------|----------------|-----------| | Riverdale | $2,200/mo | $1,900/mo | $1,700/mo | | Fordham | $1,400/mo | $1,200/mo | $1,050/mo | | South Bronx | $1,300/mo | $1,100/mo | $950/mo | | Pelham Bay | $1,600/mo | $1,350/mo | $1,200/mo |

Staten Island

| Area | Infant Center | Toddler Center | Preschool | |------|---------------|----------------|-----------| | North Shore | $1,700/mo | $1,450/mo | $1,300/mo | | Mid-Island | $1,600/mo | $1,400/mo | $1,200/mo | | South Shore | $1,750/mo | $1,500/mo | $1,350/mo |

Long Island & Westchester

Nassau County

| Area | Infant Center | Toddler Center | Preschool | |------|---------------|----------------|-----------| | Garden City | $2,500/mo | $2,150/mo | $1,900/mo | | Great Neck | $2,600/mo | $2,250/mo | $2,000/mo | | Manhasset | $2,700/mo | $2,350/mo | $2,100/mo | | Rockville Centre | $2,200/mo | $1,900/mo | $1,650/mo | | Levittown | $1,800/mo | $1,550/mo | $1,350/mo | | Long Beach | $2,000/mo | $1,700/mo | $1,500/mo |

Suffolk County

| Area | Infant Center | Toddler Center | Preschool | |------|---------------|----------------|-----------| | Huntington | $2,000/mo | $1,700/mo | $1,500/mo | | Smithtown | $1,850/mo | $1,600/mo | $1,400/mo | | Islip | $1,700/mo | $1,450/mo | $1,250/mo | | Brookhaven | $1,600/mo | $1,400/mo | $1,200/mo | | Riverhead | $1,500/mo | $1,300/mo | $1,150/mo | | Hamptons | $2,800/mo | $2,400/mo | $2,100/mo |

Westchester County

| Area | Infant Center | Toddler Center | Preschool | |------|---------------|----------------|-----------| | Scarsdale | $2,800/mo | $2,400/mo | $2,150/mo | | Bronxville | $2,700/mo | $2,350/mo | $2,100/mo | | White Plains | $2,200/mo | $1,900/mo | $1,650/mo | | Yonkers | $1,800/mo | $1,550/mo | $1,350/mo | | New Rochelle | $2,000/mo | $1,700/mo | $1,500/mo | | Mount Vernon | $1,600/mo | $1,400/mo | $1,200/mo |

Upstate New York

Significantly more affordable than the NYC metro area.

| City/Region | Infant Center | Toddler Center | Preschool | |-------------|---------------|----------------|-----------| | Albany | $1,400/mo | $1,200/mo | $1,050/mo | | Buffalo | $1,200/mo | $1,050/mo | $900/mo | | Rochester | $1,250/mo | $1,100/mo | $950/mo | | Syracuse | $1,150/mo | $1,000/mo | $875/mo | | Ithaca | $1,450/mo | $1,250/mo | $1,100/mo | | Hudson Valley | $1,600/mo | $1,400/mo | $1,200/mo | | Poughkeepsie | $1,500/mo | $1,300/mo | $1,150/mo | | Saratoga Springs | $1,400/mo | $1,200/mo | $1,050/mo |

FREE Childcare Programs in New York

NYC 3-K for All

What it is: Free, full-day, high-quality early childhood education for 3-year-olds.

Eligibility: All NYC 3-year-olds regardless of income Hours: Full school day (6 hours, 20 minutes) or extended day options Cost: Free Apply: MySchools.nyc

Important: Application deadline is usually March for September start. Apply early—popular programs fill up.

NYC Pre-K for All (4-year-olds)

What it is: Universal free pre-K for all NYC 4-year-olds.

Eligibility: All NYC 4-year-olds Hours: Full school day, extended day at some sites Cost: Free Apply: Through MySchools.nyc

Head Start and Early Head Start

Eligibility:

• Family income at or below 100% FPL ($31,200 for family of 4)
• Or receiving public assistance (SNAP, TANF, SSI)
• Foster children and homeless families automatically eligible

What you get: Free comprehensive early childhood program Find programs: Head Start Locator

New York State Pre-K

Outside NYC, school districts offer state-funded pre-K:

• Availability varies by district
• Usually free for 4-year-olds
• Contact your local school district for enrollment

New York Childcare Subsidies

NYC Child Care Voucher (Market Rate)

Eligibility:

• Working, in training, or in school
• Income below 85% of State Median Income
• 2026 limits: ~$96,000 for family of 4

What it covers:

• Full or partial subsidy based on income
• Works at any licensed provider
• Apply through HRA: nyc.gov/hra

NYS Child Care Assistance Program (outside NYC)

Eligibility:

• Must be working, in training, or seeking employment
• Income at or below 85% SMI

Apply: Through your county's Department of Social Services

ACS/EarlyLearn NYC

For NYC families with greater needs:

• Subsidized care at contracted centers
• Head Start and Early Head Start partnerships
• Apply through HRA

New York Childcare Tax Benefits

New York State Child and Dependent Care Credit

What it is: State tax credit in addition to federal credit

Amount:

• 110% of federal credit for incomes under $25,000
• Sliding scale down to 20% for incomes over $65,000

How to claim: File with your state tax return

Federal Dependent Care FSA

Maximum: $5,000 pre-tax Savings: $1,500-$2,000 (varies by tax bracket) Plus: Saves 7.65% FICA + NY state taxes

Federal Child and Dependent Care Credit

Maximum expenses: $3,000 (one child) or $6,000 (two+) Credit: 20-35% of expenses

How to Reduce New York Daycare Costs

1. Use Free Universal Programs

NYC 3-K and Pre-K for All save families $20,000+/year per child. Apply on time.

2. Apply for Subsidies

Even moderate-income families may qualify. A NYC family of four earning $90,000 could get partial assistance.

3. Consider Location Trade-offs

Working remotely? Consider:

• Moving to outer boroughs (Bronx/eastern Queens save 40%+)
• Long Island or Westchester have space trade-offs but similar costs
• Upstate offers 50% savings vs. Manhattan

4. Family Home Daycare

Save 25-35% compared to centers. In Brooklyn, that's $600-800/month savings.

5. Employer Benefits

Major NYC employers increasingly offer childcare benefits:

• JPMorgan Chase (backup care, subsidies)
• Google NYC (on-site care, subsidies)
• Goldman Sachs (backup care program)
• Many tech companies offer care.com memberships

6. Stack Benefits

Combine:

• NYC 3-K/Pre-K (free base hours)
• Extended day through subsidy
• FSA for remaining costs

New York Childcare Licensing

Verify providers:

NYC:

• NYC Department of Health: 311
• Portal search

New York State (outside NYC):

• Office of Children and Family Services: 518-473-7793
• OCFS Provider Search

The Bottom Line

New York childcare in 2026 ranges from $900/month in upstate cities to $3,500/month in Manhattan. The NYC average for infant center care is $2,450/month—among the highest in the nation.

Key takeaways:

• NYC 3-K and Pre-K for All are game-changers—apply on time
• Subsidies available for incomes up to ~$96,000 (family of 4)
• Outer boroughs and upstate save 40-60%
• Family home daycare saves 25-35%

Next steps:

1. If in NYC: Apply for 3-K/Pre-K
2. Calculate your specific costs
3. Search for New York daycares
4. Apply for subsidies through HRA or your county DSS

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