Child Care Costs in California 2026: Complete Price Guide by City

California has some of the highest childcare costs in the nation, rivaling only Massachusetts and the District of Columbia. The combination of high minimum wage, strict licensing requirements, expensive real estate, and a competitive labor market creates prices that can exceed $40,000 per year for infant care in some areas. However, costs vary dramatically by region, and the state's assistance programs and expanding Transitional Kindergarten provide relief for many families. This guide breaks down exactly what you'll pay across the Golden State.

Average Child Care Costs in California

Quick Overview

| Care Type | Monthly Average | Annual Cost | |-----------|-----------------|-------------| | Infant Daycare Center | $1,800-$2,800 | $21,600-$33,600 | | Toddler Daycare Center | $1,500-$2,400 | $18,000-$28,800 | | Preschool (Full-Day) | $1,200-$2,000 | $14,400-$24,000 | | Full-Time Nanny | $3,500-$5,500 | $42,000-$66,000 | | Home Daycare | $1,200-$1,800 | $14,400-$21,600 | | Au Pair | $1,800-$2,200 | $22,000-$26,000 |

California's average childcare costs are 30-50% higher than the national average, with the Bay Area being the most expensive region in the country.

Cost Comparison to National Average

| Care Type | California Avg | National Avg | Difference | |-----------|---------------|--------------|------------| | Infant Daycare | $2,100/mo | $1,350/mo | 56% above | | Toddler Daycare | $1,800/mo | $1,200/mo | 50% above | | Preschool | $1,500/mo | $1,100/mo | 36% above | | Nanny | $4,500/mo | $3,400/mo | 32% above |

California families spend an average of 18-22% of household income on childcare, well above the federal affordability threshold of 7%.

Why California Childcare Is So Expensive

Several factors drive California's exceptionally high childcare costs:

1. High minimum wage: $16/hour (2024), among highest in nation
2. Strict licensing ratios: 1:4 for infants, 1:6 for toddlers
3. Expensive real estate: Commercial space costs significantly more
4. High cost of living: Everything costs more, including teacher wages
5. Competitive labor market: Tech and other industries compete for workers
6. Regulatory compliance: More requirements than many states

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Costs by Major City

San Francisco Bay Area

The Bay Area is the most expensive childcare market in California—and one of the priciest in the nation.

| Care Type | Monthly Cost | Annual Cost | |-----------|-------------|-------------| | Infant Daycare | $2,500-$3,500 | $30,000-$42,000 | | Toddler Daycare | $2,200-$3,000 | $26,400-$36,000 | | Preschool | $1,800-$2,800 | $21,600-$33,600 | | Nanny | $4,500-$6,500 | $54,000-$78,000 | | Home Daycare | $1,800-$2,400 | $21,600-$28,800 |

By city:

| City | Infant Daycare | Toddler Daycare | Notes | |------|---------------|-----------------|-------| | San Francisco | $2,800-$3,800 | $2,400-$3,300 | Most expensive | | Palo Alto | $2,700-$3,600 | $2,300-$3,200 | Stanford area | | Mountain View | $2,600-$3,500 | $2,200-$3,100 | Google HQ | | Menlo Park | $2,600-$3,500 | $2,200-$3,100 | Tech hub | | San Jose | $2,400-$3,200 | $2,000-$2,800 | Slightly lower | | Oakland | $2,200-$3,000 | $1,900-$2,600 | More affordable | | Berkeley | $2,400-$3,200 | $2,000-$2,800 | UC Berkeley area | | Fremont | $2,200-$2,900 | $1,900-$2,500 | East Bay value | | Walnut Creek | $2,100-$2,800 | $1,800-$2,500 | East Bay suburbs |

Bay Area specifics:

• Premium centers exceed $4,000/month for infants
• Waitlists of 12-18 months for top programs
• Tech companies offer substantial childcare subsidies
• Many Mandarin immersion programs
• Co-op preschools can reduce costs

Bay Area tip: Get on waitlists during pregnancy. Some programs have 18+ month waits for infant care.

Los Angeles Area

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

| Care Type | Monthly Cost | Annual Cost | |-----------|-------------|-------------| | Infant Daycare | $1,800-$2,600 | $21,600-$31,200 | | Toddler Daycare | $1,500-$2,200 | $18,000-$26,400 | | Preschool | $1,200-$2,000 | $14,400-$24,000 | | Nanny | $3,500-$5,000 | $42,000-$60,000 | | Home Daycare | $1,200-$1,800 | $14,400-$21,600 |

By area:

| Area | Infant Daycare | Toddler Daycare | Notes | |------|---------------|-----------------|-------| | Santa Monica | $2,200-$3,000 | $1,900-$2,600 | Westside premium | | Beverly Hills | $2,300-$3,100 | $2,000-$2,700 | Luxury market | | Brentwood | $2,200-$2,900 | $1,900-$2,500 | Westside | | West LA | $2,000-$2,700 | $1,700-$2,400 | High demand | | Pasadena | $1,800-$2,400 | $1,500-$2,100 | More affordable | | Silver Lake/Los Feliz | $1,900-$2,500 | $1,600-$2,200 | Trendy areas | | Burbank | $1,700-$2,300 | $1,400-$2,000 | Entertainment industry | | Glendale | $1,600-$2,200 | $1,400-$1,900 | Good value | | Long Beach | $1,500-$2,100 | $1,300-$1,800 | More affordable | | San Fernando Valley | $1,500-$2,100 | $1,300-$1,800 | Better value | | South LA | $1,300-$1,800 | $1,100-$1,600 | Most affordable |

LA specifics:

• Entertainment industry families often have irregular schedules
• Many bilingual programs (Spanish, Mandarin, Korean)
• Significant variation by neighborhood
• Traffic affects where families can realistically access care
• Celebrity-frequented programs charge premium prices

Orange County

Suburban market with moderate-to-high costs.

| Care Type | Monthly Cost | Annual Cost | |-----------|-------------|-------------| | Infant Daycare | $1,700-$2,400 | $20,400-$28,800 | | Toddler Daycare | $1,450-$2,100 | $17,400-$25,200 | | Preschool | $1,200-$1,800 | $14,400-$21,600 | | Nanny | $3,300-$4,600 | $39,600-$55,200 | | Home Daycare | $1,200-$1,700 | $14,400-$20,400 |

Key cities: Irvine, Newport Beach, Laguna Beach, Huntington Beach, Anaheim, Santa Ana

Orange County specifics:

• Irvine has excellent schools, driving demand
• Newport Beach/Laguna Beach are most expensive
• Anaheim/Santa Ana more affordable
• Many corporate childcare options

San Diego

More affordable than LA or SF, but still above national averages.

| Care Type | Monthly Cost | Annual Cost | |-----------|-------------|-------------| | Infant Daycare | $1,600-$2,200 | $19,200-$26,400 | | Toddler Daycare | $1,400-$1,900 | $16,800-$22,800 | | Preschool | $1,100-$1,700 | $13,200-$20,400 | | Nanny | $3,200-$4,500 | $38,400-$54,000 | | Home Daycare | $1,100-$1,600 | $13,200-$19,200 |

By area:

| Area | Infant Daycare | Toddler Daycare | Notes | |------|---------------|-----------------|-------| | La Jolla | $2,000-$2,700 | $1,700-$2,400 | Most expensive | | Del Mar | $1,900-$2,600 | $1,650-$2,300 | Coastal premium | | Carmel Valley | $1,850-$2,500 | $1,600-$2,200 | Tech hub | | Downtown/Little Italy | $1,700-$2,300 | $1,450-$2,000 | Urban | | North County Coastal | $1,700-$2,300 | $1,450-$2,000 | Beach towns | | North County Inland | $1,500-$2,000 | $1,300-$1,750 | Good value | | East County | $1,350-$1,850 | $1,150-$1,600 | Most affordable | | South Bay | $1,400-$1,900 | $1,200-$1,650 | Moderate |

San Diego specifics:

• Military presence provides additional options
• Biotech industry offers employer benefits
• Good year-round weather for outdoor programs
• Strong bilingual (Spanish) program availability

Sacramento Area

Capital region offers more moderate pricing than coastal California.

| Care Type | Monthly Cost | Annual Cost | |-----------|-------------|-------------| | Infant Daycare | $1,400-$1,900 | $16,800-$22,800 | | Toddler Daycare | $1,200-$1,600 | $14,400-$19,200 | | Preschool | $1,000-$1,500 | $12,000-$18,000 | | Nanny | $3,000-$4,000 | $36,000-$48,000 | | Home Daycare | $1,000-$1,400 | $12,000-$16,800 |

Key areas: Sacramento, Roseville, Folsom, Elk Grove, Davis

Sacramento specifics:

• State government employees have childcare benefits
• UC Davis provides some childcare options
• Growing tech sector bringing higher-paid workers
• 30-40% cheaper than Bay Area

Central Valley

Most affordable region in California for childcare.

| Care Type | Monthly Cost | Annual Cost | |-----------|-------------|-------------| | Infant Daycare | $1,100-$1,500 | $13,200-$18,000 | | Toddler Daycare | $900-$1,300 | $10,800-$15,600 | | Preschool | $800-$1,200 | $9,600-$14,400 | | Nanny | $2,500-$3,500 | $30,000-$42,000 | | Home Daycare | $800-$1,200 | $9,600-$14,400 |

Key cities: Fresno, Bakersfield, Modesto, Stockton, Visalia

Central Valley specifics:

• 40-50% cheaper than Bay Area
• Strong Head Start presence
• More limited high-end options
• Agricultural economy influence

Inland Empire

Affordable alternative to LA and Orange County.

| Care Type | Monthly Cost | Annual Cost | |-----------|-------------|-------------| | Infant Daycare | $1,200-$1,700 | $14,400-$20,400 | | Toddler Daycare | $1,050-$1,500 | $12,600-$18,000 | | Preschool | $900-$1,350 | $10,800-$16,200 | | Nanny | $2,800-$3,800 | $33,600-$45,600 | | Home Daycare | $900-$1,300 | $10,800-$15,600 |

Key cities: Riverside, San Bernardino, Ontario, Rancho Cucamonga, Corona

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California Child Care Assistance Programs

CalWORKs Child Care

Who qualifies:

• CalWORKs participants
• Former CalWORKs recipients (transitional, up to 2 years)
• Income below 85% of State Median Income

What it covers:

• Full or partial childcare costs while working or in training
• Can use licensed centers or family child care

How to apply: Through your county welfare office

Alternative Payment (AP) Programs

Who qualifies:

• Working families at or below 85% State Median Income
• Families with special needs children
• Priority for homeless and foster families

Income limits (2024):

| Family Size | Maximum Income (85% SMI) | |-------------|-------------------------| | 2 | $58,000/year | | 3 | $72,000/year | | 4 | $86,000/year | | 5 | $100,000/year |

How to apply: Contact your county Resource & Referral agency

California State Preschool Program (CSPP)

Who qualifies:

• Children ages 3-4
• Income-eligible families (75% SMI priority, up to 85% SMI)
• Priority for 4-year-olds

Program details:

• Part-day or full-day options
• Free for qualifying families
• High-quality curriculum
• Available at schools and centers

Cost: Free for qualifying families

Head Start & Early Head Start

Who qualifies:

• Families at or below 100% federal poverty level
• Foster children
• Homeless families
• Children with disabilities

What's included:

• Free preschool (Head Start: ages 3-5)
• Free infant/toddler care (Early Head Start: birth-3)
• Health screenings
• Nutritious meals
• Family support services

Cost: Completely free

Transitional Kindergarten (TK)

California's major early education expansion.

Current eligibility (2024-25):

• Children turning 5 between September 2 and June 2
• Expanding to all 4-year-olds by 2025-26

Program details:

• Free (public school program)
• Full school day
• Smaller class sizes than kindergarten
• Play-based, developmentally appropriate curriculum

By 2025-26: All 4-year-olds will have access to free TK—a game-changer for California families.

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Ways to Reduce California Childcare Costs

1. Dependent Care FSA

California employers with 25+ employees must offer FSA access.

California advantage: High state income tax (9.3%+ for most families) means significant state tax savings on top of federal.

Savings on $5,000 contributed:

| Income Level | Federal Savings | CA State Savings | Total Savings | |--------------|-----------------|------------------|---------------| | $75,000 | $1,100 | $465 | $1,565 | | $100,000 | $1,200 | $465 | $1,665 | | $150,000+ | $1,600 | $513 | $2,113 |

2. Federal Child and Dependent Care Credit

Credit of 20-35% of expenses (up to $3,000 for one child, $6,000 for two+).

Potential savings: $600-1,200/year

Note: California doesn't have a separate state childcare credit.

3. Nanny Share Arrangements

Split costs with another family.

| Arrangement | Per Family Cost (Bay Area) | |-------------|---------------------------| | Private nanny | $5,500/month | | Nanny share | $3,200/month | | Savings | $2,300/month |

Nanny shares are extremely popular in expensive Bay Area neighborhoods.

4. Licensed Family Child Care

Home-based care costs 30-40% less than centers.

| Care Type | Center Cost | Family CC | Savings | |-----------|------------|-----------|---------| | Infant (SF) | $3,200/month | $2,100/month | $1,100/month | | Toddler (SF) | $2,700/month | $1,800/month | $900/month |

Annual savings: $10,800-13,200/year

5. Employer Benefits

Many California employers offer childcare benefits:

Bay Area Tech:

• Google (on-site care, $10,000+ subsidies)
• Meta (backup care, subsidies)
• Apple (childcare subsidies)
• Salesforce (backup care, subsidies)
• Adobe (childcare assistance)

LA Entertainment:

• Disney (on-site at some locations)
• Warner Bros (childcare assistance)
• Universal (backup care)

Other Industries:

• Kaiser Permanente (hospital-based care)
• Wells Fargo (backup care)
• Bank of America (childcare subsidies)

6. Transitional Kindergarten

Once your child qualifies for TK (expanding to all 4-year-olds):

Savings: $18,000-25,000/year in the Bay Area; $14,000-20,000/year in LA

7. Co-op Preschools

Parent-participation preschools cost 40-60% less.

How they work:

• Parents volunteer in classroom (usually 1 day/week)
• Lower tuition in exchange for time
• Strong community
• Usually part-day

Bay Area examples: Many parent co-ops throughout the region

8. Regional Living

| Location | Infant Cost | vs. San Francisco | |----------|-------------|-------------------| | San Francisco | $3,200 | baseline | | Oakland | $2,600 | -$600/month | | Sacramento | $1,650 | -$1,550/month | | Fresno | $1,300 | -$1,900/month |

Annual savings: $7,200-22,800 by living outside premium areas

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Finding Childcare in California

California Resource & Referral Network

Contact your local R&R agency for referrals and subsidy information.

Visit: rrnetwork.org

Regional agencies:

• Bay Area: 4Cs of Alameda County, Children's Council of SF
• Los Angeles: CCRC, Connections for Children, Crystal Stairs
• San Diego: YMCA Childcare Resource Service
• Sacramento: Child Action, Inc.
• Orange County: Children's Home Society

Community Care Licensing

Search licensed providers and check inspection reports.

Visit: cdss.ca.gov/inforesources/community-care-licensing

Quality Rating: Quality Counts California

California's quality rating system for childcare.

Rating tiers:

• Tier 1: Meets licensing standards
• Tier 2: Quality improvements underway
• Tier 3: Higher quality indicators
• Tier 4: High-quality program
• Tier 5: Highest quality

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FAQ

Q: Why is California childcare so expensive?

A: High minimum wage ($16/hour), strict licensing ratios (1:4 for infants), expensive real estate, and a competitive labor market all drive prices up. California also has higher regulatory requirements than many states.

Q: What's the cheapest childcare option in California?

A: Licensed family child care (home daycare) costs 30-40% less than centers. Nanny shares can also significantly reduce costs. The Central Valley and Inland Empire offer the lowest regional prices.

Q: Does California have free preschool?

A: California State Preschool Program (CSPP) provides free preschool for income-eligible families. Transitional Kindergarten (TK) is free for all children turning 5 by June 2 (expanding to all 4-year-olds by 2025-26).

Q: How long are daycare waitlists in California?

A: Bay Area: 6-18 months for popular centers. LA: 3-12 months. San Diego: 2-6 months. Central Valley: 1-3 months. Start looking early, especially for infant care.

Q: When will universal TK be available?

A: California is phasing in universal Transitional Kindergarten. By 2025-26, all 4-year-olds will have access to free TK through public schools.

Q: Do California tech companies offer childcare subsidies?

A: Many do. Google, Meta, Apple, and others offer subsidies ranging from $5,000 to $25,000+ per year. Some have on-site childcare. Always check your specific benefits package.

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Conclusion

California has some of the highest childcare costs in the nation, with the Bay Area leading the country in prices. However, the state's expanding TK program, various assistance options, and regional price variations provide pathways to more affordable care. Understanding your options and starting your search early are crucial for California families.

Key takeaways:

• Bay Area is most expensive; Central Valley most affordable
• Transitional Kindergarten expansion will provide major relief by 2025-26
• Family child care and nanny shares offer significant savings
• High state income tax makes FSA especially valuable
• Tech company benefits can save $10,000-25,000/year
• Start waitlists during pregnancy for infant care

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More California childcare resources:

• How Much Does Child Care Cost? →
• How to Afford Child Care →
• Child Care Tax Credit Guide →
• Childcare Costs in Washington →