Child Care Costs in New Jersey 2026: Complete Price Guide by County

New Jersey ranks among the top 5 most expensive states for childcare in the nation, driven by high cost of living, strict licensing requirements, and proximity to New York City. From the affluent towns of Bergen County to the more affordable communities in South Jersey, costs vary significantly across the Garden State. This guide breaks down what families actually pay across all regions of New Jersey.

Average Child Care Costs in New Jersey

Quick Overview

| Care Type | North Jersey | Central Jersey | South Jersey | |-----------|--------------|-----------------|--------------| | Infant Daycare | $1,600-$2,400 | $1,400-$2,000 | $1,200-$1,700 | | Toddler Daycare | $1,400-$2,100 | $1,200-$1,800 | $1,000-$1,500 | | Preschool | $1,200-$1,800 | $1,050-$1,600 | $900-$1,350 | | Nanny | $3,500-$5,000 | $3,200-$4,500 | $2,800-$3,800 | | Home Daycare | $1,200-$1,700 | $1,000-$1,500 | $850-$1,250 |

New Jersey families spend an average of 16-18% of household income on childcare, well above the federal affordability threshold of 7%.

Cost Comparison to National Average

| Care Type | NJ Average | National Average | Difference | |-----------|------------|------------------|------------| | Infant Daycare | $1,800/month | $1,350/month | 33% above | | Toddler Daycare | $1,550/month | $1,200/month | 29% above | | Preschool | $1,350/month | $1,100/month | 23% above |

Only Massachusetts, California, and the District of Columbia consistently exceed New Jersey's childcare costs.

Why NJ Childcare Is So Expensive

Several factors drive New Jersey's high childcare costs:

Strict licensing requirements: NJ mandates low child-to-staff ratios (4:1 for infants)
High real estate costs: Commercial space is expensive, especially in North Jersey
NYC proximity: Competition for workers drives wages up
High cost of living: General expenses are higher than national average
Insurance costs: Liability insurance is expensive in NJ

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North Jersey Costs

Bergen County

Bergen County is the most expensive county in New Jersey for childcare, with some of the highest costs outside of Manhattan.

| Care Type | Monthly Cost | Annual Cost | |-----------|-------------|-------------| | Infant Daycare | $1,800-$2,600 | $21,600-$31,200 | | Toddler Daycare | $1,600-$2,300 | $19,200-$27,600 | | Preschool | $1,400-$2,000 | $16,800-$24,000 | | Nanny | $4,000-$5,500 | $48,000-$66,000 | | Home Daycare | $1,400-$1,900 | $16,800-$22,800 |

By town:

| Town | Infant Daycare | Toddler Daycare | Notes | |------|---------------|-----------------|-------| | Ridgewood | $2,000-$2,700 | $1,800-$2,400 | Highest costs, limited spots | | Tenafly | $1,900-$2,600 | $1,700-$2,300 | Very competitive | | Glen Rock | $1,850-$2,500 | $1,650-$2,250 | Family-oriented | | Ho-Ho-Kus | $1,900-$2,600 | $1,700-$2,300 | Small town, few options | | Paramus | $1,700-$2,300 | $1,500-$2,100 | More options, chains | | Hackensack | $1,500-$2,100 | $1,300-$1,900 | Most affordable in county | | Fort Lee | $1,600-$2,200 | $1,400-$2,000 | NYC commuter hub | | Englewood | $1,550-$2,150 | $1,350-$1,950 | Mixed pricing |

Bergen County tips:

Waitlists at top centers can be 12-18 months
Many families use home daycares to save costs
Nanny shares are popular in Ridgewood and surrounding towns
Some parents commute to Rockland County, NY for lower costs

Essex County

Essex County offers a wide range of costs, from expensive suburban enclaves to more affordable urban areas.

| Care Type | Monthly Cost | Annual Cost | |-----------|-------------|-------------| | Infant Daycare | $1,600-$2,300 | $19,200-$27,600 | | Toddler Daycare | $1,400-$2,000 | $16,800-$24,000 | | Preschool | $1,200-$1,800 | $14,400-$21,600 | | Nanny | $3,600-$5,000 | $43,200-$60,000 | | Home Daycare | $1,200-$1,700 | $14,400-$20,400 |

By town:

| Town | Infant Daycare | Toddler Daycare | Notes | |------|---------------|-----------------|-------| | Short Hills | $2,000-$2,600 | $1,800-$2,400 | Premium market | | Millburn | $1,950-$2,550 | $1,750-$2,350 | Great schools | | Montclair | $1,700-$2,300 | $1,500-$2,100 | Arts community, diverse options | | Maplewood | $1,650-$2,250 | $1,450-$2,050 | Family-friendly | | South Orange | $1,600-$2,200 | $1,400-$2,000 | Near Seton Hall | | West Orange | $1,400-$1,900 | $1,200-$1,700 | More affordable | | Newark | $1,100-$1,600 | $950-$1,400 | Abbott Pre-K available |

Montclair specifics:

Known for progressive, arts-focused programs
Many Waldorf and Montessori options
Cooperative preschools offer savings
Active parent community for nanny shares

Morris County

Morris County offers suburban living with slightly lower costs than Bergen and Essex.

| 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 | $1,200-$1,700 | $14,400-$20,400 | | Nanny | $3,400-$4,600 | $40,800-$55,200 | | Home Daycare | $1,150-$1,600 | $13,800-$19,200 |

Key towns: Morristown, Madison, Chatham, Mendham, Chester, Bernardsville (Somerset border)

Morris County tip: Morristown has the most options and some of the best values in the county.

Hudson County

Urban market with wide price range, popular with NYC commuters.

| Care Type | Monthly Cost | Annual Cost | |-----------|-------------|-------------| | Infant Daycare | $1,500-$2,200 | $18,000-$26,400 | | Toddler Daycare | $1,300-$1,900 | $15,600-$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 city:

| City | Infant Daycare | Toddler Daycare | Notes | |------|---------------|-----------------|-------| | Hoboken | $1,700-$2,400 | $1,500-$2,100 | Young family destination | | Jersey City (Downtown) | $1,600-$2,200 | $1,400-$2,000 | Growing options | | Jersey City (Heights) | $1,300-$1,800 | $1,100-$1,600 | More affordable | | Weehawken | $1,600-$2,200 | $1,400-$2,000 | NYC views, premium | | Union City | $1,200-$1,700 | $1,000-$1,500 | Budget-friendly | | Bayonne | $1,250-$1,750 | $1,050-$1,550 | Growing market |

Hoboken/Jersey City specifics:

High demand from young professionals starting families
Many modern, boutique centers
Waitlists common for popular programs
Growing number of chain centers (Bright Horizons, Kindercare)

Passaic and Union Counties

| County | Infant Daycare | Toddler Daycare | Notes | |--------|---------------|-----------------|-------| | Passaic | $1,300-$1,900 | $1,100-$1,700 | Wide range by town | | Union | $1,400-$2,000 | $1,200-$1,800 | Suburban options |

Central Jersey Costs

Middlesex County

| Care Type | Monthly Cost | Annual Cost | |-----------|-------------|-------------| | Infant Daycare | $1,400-$1,900 | $16,800-$22,800 | | Toddler Daycare | $1,200-$1,700 | $14,400-$20,400 | | Preschool | $1,050-$1,500 | $12,600-$18,000 | | Nanny | $3,100-$4,200 | $37,200-$50,400 | | Home Daycare | $1,000-$1,450 | $12,000-$17,400 |

Key towns: Edison, New Brunswick, East Brunswick, South Brunswick, Princeton Junction

Middlesex County tip: Edison has one of the largest childcare markets in central NJ with good options at various price points.

Somerset County

| Care Type | Monthly Cost | Annual Cost | |-----------|-------------|-------------| | Infant Daycare | $1,500-$2,100 | $18,000-$25,200 | | Toddler Daycare | $1,300-$1,850 | $15,600-$22,200 | | Preschool | $1,150-$1,650 | $13,800-$19,800 | | Nanny | $3,300-$4,500 | $39,600-$54,000 | | Home Daycare | $1,100-$1,550 | $13,200-$18,600 |

Key towns: Bridgewater, Basking Ridge, Bernardsville, Hillsborough, Franklin Township

Somerset specifics:

Basking Ridge has premium corporate options (many pharma company families)
Bridgewater offers good value with many chain centers
Hillsborough is one of the more affordable towns

Mercer County

| Care Type | Monthly Cost | Annual Cost | |-----------|-------------|-------------| | Infant Daycare | $1,400-$1,950 | $16,800-$23,400 | | Toddler Daycare | $1,200-$1,700 | $14,400-$20,400 | | Preschool | $1,050-$1,550 | $12,600-$18,600 | | Nanny | $3,100-$4,300 | $37,200-$51,600 | | Home Daycare | $1,000-$1,450 | $12,000-$17,400 |

By area:

| Area | Infant Daycare | Toddler Daycare | Notes | |------|---------------|-----------------|-------| | Princeton | $1,700-$2,200 | $1,500-$1,950 | University town premium | | West Windsor | $1,500-$2,000 | $1,300-$1,800 | High demand | | Pennington | $1,450-$1,950 | $1,250-$1,750 | Smaller market | | Hamilton | $1,250-$1,700 | $1,050-$1,500 | More affordable | | Trenton | $1,000-$1,400 | $850-$1,200 | Abbott Pre-K available |

South Jersey Costs

Camden County

| Care Type | Monthly Cost | Annual Cost | |-----------|-------------|-------------| | Infant Daycare | $1,200-$1,650 | $14,400-$19,800 | | Toddler Daycare | $1,050-$1,450 | $12,600-$17,400 | | Preschool | $900-$1,300 | $10,800-$15,600 | | Nanny | $2,800-$3,700 | $33,600-$44,400 | | Home Daycare | $850-$1,200 | $10,200-$14,400 |

Key towns: Cherry Hill, Haddonfield, Voorhees, Collingswood, Haddon Township

Camden County specifics:

Cherry Hill offers the best combination of quality and value in South Jersey
Haddonfield is more expensive but has excellent programs
Camden city has free Abbott Pre-K for all 3 and 4-year-olds

Burlington 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 | $950-$1,350 | $11,400-$16,200 | | Nanny | $2,700-$3,600 | $32,400-$43,200 | | Home Daycare | $850-$1,200 | $10,200-$14,400 |

Key towns: Moorestown, Mount Laurel, Marlton, Medford, Burlington Township

Gloucester County

| Care Type | Monthly Cost | Annual Cost | |-----------|-------------|-------------| | Infant Daycare | $1,100-$1,550 | $13,200-$18,600 | | Toddler Daycare | $950-$1,400 | $11,400-$16,800 | | Preschool | $850-$1,250 | $10,200-$15,000 | | Home Daycare | $750-$1,100 | $9,000-$13,200 |

Key towns: Washington Township, Deptford, Glassboro, Mullica Hill

Ocean County (Shore)

| Care Type | Monthly Cost | Annual Cost | |-----------|-------------|-------------| | Infant Daycare | $1,150-$1,600 | $13,800-$19,200 | | Toddler Daycare | $1,000-$1,400 | $12,000-$16,800 | | Preschool | $900-$1,300 | $10,800-$15,600 | | Nanny | $2,600-$3,500 | $31,200-$42,000 | | Home Daycare | $800-$1,150 | $9,600-$13,800 |

Key towns: Toms River, Brick, Jackson, Lakewood, Point Pleasant

Atlantic County (Shore)

| Care Type | Monthly Cost | Annual Cost | |-----------|-------------|-------------| | Infant Daycare | $1,100-$1,500 | $13,200-$18,000 | | Toddler Daycare | $950-$1,350 | $11,400-$16,200 | | Preschool | $850-$1,200 | $10,200-$14,400 |

Key areas: Egg Harbor Township, Galloway, Margate, Ventnor

New Jersey Child Care Assistance

NJ Child Care Subsidy Program

Who qualifies:

Working families at or below 200% federal poverty level
Parents in approved education or training
Parents seeking employment (limited time)

Income limits (2024):

Family of 2: $39,440/year
Family of 3: $49,720/year
Family of 4: $60,000/year
Family of 5: $70,280/year

What's covered:

Licensed child care centers
Registered family child care
Before/after school programs

Copay structure:

Based on income and family size
Ranges from $0 to $190/week

How to apply:

Contact your county board of social services
Call 1-800-332-9227
Apply online at njchildcaresubsidy.org

NJ State Preschool Program (Abbott Districts)

One of the strongest free preschool programs in the country.

What it is: Free, full-day, full-year preschool for all 3 and 4-year-olds in 31 former Abbott districts.

Abbott districts include:

Newark
Jersey City
Trenton
Camden
Paterson
Elizabeth
Passaic
East Orange
New Brunswick
Perth Amboy
Asbury Park
And 20 more urban districts

Program details:

Universal access (no income requirement in these districts)
Full-day (6+ hours)
Full-year (approximately 245 days)
High-quality curriculum
Small class sizes

Cost: Completely free for all residents of eligible districts.

Expanding Pre-K Beyond Abbott Districts

NJ continues to expand state-funded Pre-K to additional districts.

How to check:

Contact your local school district
Visit nj.gov/education/ece/
Call 609-376-3500

Currently expanding to: Over 200 additional districts have received expansion funding.

Head Start and Early Head Start

Who qualifies:

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

Cost: Free.

Ways to Save on Childcare in NJ

1. Check for Abbott/State Pre-K

If you're in an eligible district, Pre-K is free for 3 and 4-year-olds. This saves $15,000-25,000 over two years.

2. Dependent Care FSA

NJ Advantage: NJ has a graduated income tax (1.4-10.75%), so higher earners save more on state taxes.

Savings on $5,000 contributed:

| Income Level | Federal Savings | NJ State Savings | Total Savings | |--------------|-----------------|------------------|---------------| | $75,000 | $1,100 | $277 | $1,377 | | $100,000 | $1,200 | $319 | $1,519 | | $150,000+ | $1,600 | $538 | $2,138 |

3. NJ Earned Income Tax Credit

NJ provides 40% of federal EITC for qualifying families (one of the highest state rates).

Example: If you receive $3,000 federal EITC, NJ adds $1,200.

4. South Jersey Options

| Location | Infant Cost | vs. Bergen County | |----------|-------------|-------------------| | Ridgewood | $2,300 | baseline | | Cherry Hill | $1,400 | -$900/month | | Toms River | $1,350 | -$950/month | | Gloucester Co. | $1,250 | -$1,050/month |

Annual savings: $10,800-12,600 by choosing South Jersey.

5. Licensed Home Daycare

Family child care costs 25-35% less than centers in NJ.

Finding registered providers:

NJ Child Care Resource and Referral: childcarenj.gov
Check registration status online
Visit before enrolling

6. Cross-Border Options

Some NJ families consider:

Pennsylvania (Bucks County): 15-25% lower than comparable NJ areas
Delaware: No sales tax, lower costs
Staten Island, NY: Sometimes comparable, different programs

Finding Childcare in New Jersey

Grow NJ Kids Quality Rating

NJ's quality rating system helps identify high-quality programs.

Rating levels:

Participating: Enrolled in quality improvement
1 Star: Meeting quality standards
2 Stars: Exceeding standards
3 Stars: High quality

Check ratings at: childcarenj.gov

Licensing Requirements

NJ has some of the strictest childcare licensing in the country:

| Age Group | Staff:Child Ratio | Maximum Group Size | |-----------|-------------------|-------------------| | Infants (0-18 months) | 1:4 | 8 | | Toddlers (18-30 months) | 1:6 | 12 | | Preschool (2.5-4 years) | 1:10 | 20 | | Pre-K (4-5 years) | 1:12 | 24 |

These low ratios contribute to higher costs but also higher quality.

FAQ

Q: Why is New Jersey childcare so expensive?

A: High cost of living, strict licensing requirements (some of the lowest child-to-staff ratios in the nation), expensive real estate, proximity to NYC, and high insurance costs all drive prices up. NJ's quality standards are among the highest in the country.

Q: What's the cheapest area in NJ for childcare?

A: South Jersey (Camden, Gloucester, Salem, Cumberland counties) has the lowest costs—30-40% less than North Jersey. Ocean and Burlington counties offer moderate prices with shore access.

Q: Does NJ have free Pre-K?

A: Yes—in 31 Abbott districts (Newark, Jersey City, Camden, etc.) and expanding to other areas. All 3 and 4-year-olds in Abbott districts receive free, full-day preschool regardless of family income.

Q: Is it cheaper to live in NJ and commute to NYC or use NYC childcare?

A: NJ childcare is generally 20-40% cheaper than Manhattan but similar to outer boroughs (Queens, Brooklyn). When factoring in NJ commuter tax benefits and lower cost of living, many families find NJ childcare more affordable overall.

Q: How long are NJ daycare waitlists?

A: Bergen and Essex County popular centers: 12-18 months. Hoboken/Jersey City: 9-15 months. Central Jersey: 6-12 months. South Jersey: 1-6 months. Always start looking early.

Q: Can I get childcare assistance if I make over $60,000?

A: The subsidy program has income limits around $60,000 for a family of 4. However, you may still benefit from FSA savings, tax credits, and if your 3-4 year old is in an Abbott district, free Pre-K is available regardless of income.

Conclusion

New Jersey is one of the most expensive states for childcare, but the state's strong Abbott Pre-K program and expanding preschool initiatives provide relief for many families. South Jersey offers significant savings compared to North Jersey, and the state's quality standards mean you're generally getting high-quality care.

Key takeaways:

North Jersey (Bergen, Essex) is most expensive; South Jersey offers 30-40% savings
Abbott district Pre-K is free and excellent—a huge benefit if you qualify
NJ's EITC at 40% of federal EITC is among the nation's highest
Start waitlists very early, especially in North Jersey and Hudson County
Quality ratings through Grow NJ Kids help identify good programs

More NJ childcare resources: