• Home
  • About Us
  • Archives
  • Contact Us
  • Advertise
  • Privacy Policy

Kids Ain't Cheap

But They Sure Are Worth It

  • Home
  • Toolkit
  • Parenting
    • Baby Stuff
    • Books and Reading
      • Aesops Fables
      • Comic Books
    • Education
    • Family Time
    • Green Living
    • Growing Up
    • Healthy Living & Eating
    • Holidays
    • Parenting
    • Random Musings
    • Shopping
    • Stuff to Do
  • Money
  • Product Reviews
    • Books and Magazines
    • Discount Sites
    • Furniture
    • House Keeping
    • Reviews News
    • Toys and Games

Top 10 States Where Childcare Costs Now Exceed Rent

June 1, 2025 | Leave a Comment

Top 10 States Where Childcare Costs Now Exceed Rent

For families across the U.S., the rising price of childcare is more than an inconvenience—it’s a crisis. In some states, childcare costs have officially surpassed rent, making it harder for parents to balance their budgets, plan for the future, or even stay in the workforce. With infant care rivaling mortgage payments and daycare fees draining entire paychecks, families are being forced to make difficult choices about their careers, finances, and living situations. If you’re wondering whether your state is one of the hardest hit, these numbers will give you a clearer picture—and possibly a serious case of sticker shock.

1. Massachusetts

Massachusetts consistently ranks among the most expensive states for both housing and childcare costs, but in recent years, childcare has taken the lead. The average annual cost for infant care exceeds $26,000, while the median rent for a two-bedroom apartment falls just below that. Dual-income households often find that one paycheck goes entirely toward daycare expenses. For single parents, affording childcare without assistance is nearly impossible. Despite statewide efforts to expand early childhood funding, the gap continues to grow.

2. California

In California, the average monthly cost of full-time infant care can top $1,800, while many families in the most affordable suburban and rural areas pay far less in rent. The state’s high cost of living is no secret, but the added burden of childcare costs pushes many parents to rely on grandparents, unlicensed caregivers, or reduce work hours. Urban centers like San Francisco and Los Angeles are especially impacted, with care centers charging premium rates and long waitlists. The struggle between affording childcare or housing isn’t hypothetical—it’s happening daily for thousands of families.

3. New York

In many parts of New York, particularly upstate or in suburban areas, rent is significantly lower than what families pay for childcare. Infant care averages over $1,400 a month, while rents in cities like Albany or Rochester can be hundreds of dollars less. Even in New York City, where both rent and care costs are sky-high, some families report spending more on daycare than on their mortgage or rent. The financial stress has pushed many parents to delay returning to work or seek under-the-table childcare arrangements. Despite being a hub for policy innovation, the affordability crisis remains unchecked.

4. Oregon

Oregon is another state where families are feeling the pinch, with childcare costs outpacing rent in many regions. Infant care can cost upwards of $19,000 per year, while the average rent for a two-bedroom apartment is slightly lower. The shortage of licensed providers adds another layer of stress, forcing parents to settle for costlier or less convenient options. In rural communities, families may have to drive over an hour for care that still drains their budget. Oregon parents are pushing for more accessible subsidies, but the demand still outweighs the supply.

5. Washington

In Washington, especially in areas like Seattle, the cost of childcare far outpaces what many families spend on rent. Infant care routinely exceeds $1,700 per month, while average rental prices in more affordable regions remain below that threshold. This imbalance has made it difficult for middle-income families to thrive, despite earning more than minimum wage. Many working parents find themselves ineligible for subsidies but unable to cover expenses without going into debt. It’s a classic example of being financially stable on paper, but drowning in reality.

6. Vermont

Despite its reputation for progressive policies, Vermont’s childcare costs are surprisingly steep. Families with infants pay over $18,000 annually for care, more than what the average household spends on housing. The state has made efforts to subsidize early education, but many families still fall through the cracks. The lack of available providers adds competition and drives prices even higher. In Vermont, quality care exists—but only if you can afford it.

7. Colorado

Colorado families are facing a widening affordability gap as rent stabilizes but childcare costs continue to rise. The average cost for infant care in the state is just under $1,850 per month, exceeding rent in many suburban and mountain towns. Areas like Boulder and Denver are particularly difficult, where long waitlists and staffing shortages drive prices even higher. Parents often face the impossible choice between career advancement and staying home to care for children. The state has introduced pilot programs, but most families are still feeling the squeeze.

8. Minnesota

Minnesota has one of the highest childcare costs in the Midwest, with families often paying more than $22,000 per year for infant care. Compared to average rent across the state, which is notably lower in rural and suburban areas, childcare takes the financial lead. Many parents describe feeling punished for working, as most of their income vanishes into daycare fees. While state assistance programs exist, they don’t cover middle-income families who still struggle to make ends meet. It’s a growing problem with no simple fix.

9. Connecticut

In Connecticut, childcare costs regularly exceed rent, especially in more affordable parts of the state. Parents pay around $1,650 per month for full-time infant care, with average rent in some areas being notably below that figure. The high cost of living, combined with stagnant wages and limited childcare options, has left many families in a bind. Even well-off households feel the burden when adding multiple children into the mix. For many, it’s not a question of whether to cut costs—it’s where.

10. Hawaii

Living in paradise comes with a steep price, especially for families with young children. In Hawaii, average infant childcare costs are nearly $1,800 per month, which rivals or exceeds rent in many local communities. With a limited number of licensed providers and high living expenses overall, families often rely on informal care networks or reduce working hours. Some even move off-island due to affordability concerns. In Hawaii, the cost of care affects not just budgets, but entire life decisions.

When Rent Isn’t the Biggest Bill

If you thought rent was your largest monthly expense, childcare may have already passed it—quietly and consistently. The rising cost of care doesn’t just affect families’ wallets. It shapes how they work, live, and grow. These ten states are just the start of a national pattern that demands more attention, better policy, and real support for working parents. Until that happens, families will keep facing impossible trade-offs.

Do childcare costs exceed your rent? How are you navigating the financial pressure? Share your experience in the comments—we want to hear from you.

Read More:

Parents Are Burning Out Trying to Afford ‘Good’ Childcare

Why Some Parents Are Giving Up Childcare Altogether

Catherine Reed
Catherine Reed

Catherine is a tech-savvy writer who has focused on the personal finance space for more than eight years. She has a Bachelor’s in Information Technology and enjoys showcasing how tech can simplify everyday personal finance tasks like budgeting, spending tracking, and planning for the future. Additionally, she’s explored the ins and outs of the world of side hustles and loves to share what she’s learned along the way. When she’s not working, you can find her relaxing at home in the Pacific Northwest with her two cats or enjoying a cup of coffee at her neighborhood cafe.

Filed Under: Budgeting Tagged With: Affordable Childcare, childcare costs, Cost of Living, Family Finance, parenting challenges, rent vs childcare, State Comparisons, working parents

Things to Consider Before Moving

April 15, 2011 | Leave a Comment

Uhaul truck for movingOk, so it’s been ages since my last post and with good reason.  I had been in the middle of moving to a new house and my goodness!  It was very difficult this time around.  The last time I moved was almost 2 years ago and it was decidedly easier then.  I am assuming this is because I really did everything from scratch by myself this time around as opposed to having help from my family the first time.

Anyway, from my previous post I recall mentioning that I was considering moving a ways away from when I used to live because I found the area nicer, aesthetically, and more peaceful.  Well, this is where it all went wrong.

So I spent a whole day in the area looking for possible houses and here started my spending. I needed to rent a van because I don’t own a car and this was expensive.  We viewed a total of 7 houses and only 2 were nice enough to consider.  The rent, at first, also seemed doable.

It was when I was staring at my spreadsheet and doing my budget projections did I realize that both houses were out of the question and not because of their rent but because of all the expenses that come with living in an area.  So, I have created a short list of ‘real considerations’ when thinking about moving.

1. Location

This is important because you do not consider transferring from where you are to somewhere worse. As much as possible, always make the move be to a better place.  This is where things become subjective because ‘better’ is different for everyone.  Some people think that the beauty of a neighborhood makes things better; some think it is in the neighbors themselves; some think it is the crime rate; some think it’s how urban or rural the area is. For me, it is about peace and safety.  In Manila, you can live in very quiet, private subdivisions but pay a whole lot, or live in vibrant, alive corners and not pay as much.  I wanted a happy middle.  Whatever your criterion is, make sure it is something substantial and something you really count as important to living.

2.  Cost of Living

This is really important and this is what ultimately made me change my mind when it came to the big move.  Cost of living is basically what you spend in actuality to make living in an area possible. So, this includes what you spend on groceries from your local supermarket, what you spend on cooking gas, what you spend on commute to work, what you spend on taxes, what you spend on schooling for your kids (I you have kids) or for yourself (if you are studying).  Where I live, private schools are still considered better than public schools and tuition fees for these schools vary so it is important to find one that will fit your budget and still fulfill all your desires for your child’s education.  This is all the more important in a single income household like mine.  While number 1 may be a positive, while you may think you have found the perfect house, this can fall apart if you find you ultimately cannot afford to live in that area.

3. Availability of Resources

Now, this is simple and can be connected to points 1 and 2.  Questions that may fall under this point are: How far is it to your place of work? How hard is the commute? How far is the nearest hospital? How far is the school? Is there a local market?  Are there 24/7 drug stores?  The list of questions can also change depending on what you term as resources and how important these resources are to you.

After looking at these three points, I was able to conclude that my first plan was a bad idea.  So, I changed course and did a new search and discover session for a house in the general vicinity of where I used to live but better.  This is how the move turned from a simple 2 week exercise to a whole month!  And we aren’t even finished because, even if we have moved, we haven’t completely set ourselves up to be a fully functioning, smooth running household.  But that is another post.

What are your considerations when moving?  Are they different from what I stated?

Brian
Brian

Brian is the founder of Kids Ain’t Cheap and is now sharing his journey through parenthood.

 
Email • Google + • Facebook • Twitter

Filed Under: Home and Living, Money and Finances Tagged With: Cost of Living, Location, Moving, Resources

Considerations Before Moving

March 5, 2011 | Leave a Comment

Uhaul truck for movingOk, so it has been a while since I last posted and there is good reason for this.  See, I’ve decided fairly recently, to move to a new house.  Let me go over this decision with a little more detail.

It started about a year ago. I’ve always liked the area where my brother lives, which is about 15km away from the capitol city. It is a nice neighborhood with good, smaller schools, all the amenities you need, it is secure, quite picturesque in some areas, and quite secure as well.

So, I’ve been thinking about ways to be able to move there because of all the things I mentioned above but there were considerations I needed to go through first. Very important considerations for a single mom of two kids.

1. Cost

Much as I loved my brother’s area, it was definitely more expensive than where I am currently living.  It would take an additional 20k to move there.  It would mean an additional amount for commute expense, an additional amount for rent, and for water.  In dollars, that would mean an additional $466 a month.  That is not easy to do since that amount is a little higher than entry level salaries for a lot of jobs here.  I had to figure out how to make an extra 20k on top of the salary I get from my full time job.

2. Schools

My kids already have a school where we are now. It is just a preschool but, since my kids are only preschool age, it give me time to look around and budget for a big kids school.  Schools in my brother’s area were more expensive and were fewer in choice but the chances of getting a school with a good reputation for good education is easier. Public schooling in my country generally is not so great.  there are a handful of public schools that are considered very good so you can imagine what you need to do to get a spot there.  Ironic huh?  So, if you want to give your kids a good chance at making it in the future, you have to spend for schooling.

Those were the top considerations for moving to another area, specifically that area where my brother stays.  Needless to say, I suspended that thought and set it aside, thinking that I would not need to go back to it for another year or so at the least.

Well, turns out my parents were looking to move as well and decided to look in that same area.  Since it would suit all parties involved, we decided to join forces.  Because of that, we were able to come up with a good enough budget to sustain a household.

So, important things to think about when scouting for a change of address (as I have come to know and understand it from my experience):

1. cost of commute and utilities- some areas, being farther away from the business district, cost more to get out of and back to at the end of the day.  For the same reason, proximity to the capitol city, some utilities may cost more or less.  So there has to be room in the budget for these considerations.

2. cost of schooling- this is important if you have kids.  There is no use in moving to a place where you can afford the standard of living but not the schooling.

3. cost of food and shelter-  this has to be considered because it is part of budgeting your cost of living.

All three points are not ranked in order of importance because I think they are all equally essential.  Of course, I am currently in the process of moving so there are many things I am sure to learn as I go along.

I am interested to know what your considerations are if you think about making a move.  Are they any different from mine?

I will do my best to track this journey and to note the budget considerations as I go along.

What things do you consider before moving?

Brian
Brian

Brian is the founder of Kids Ain’t Cheap and is now sharing his journey through parenthood.

 
Email • Google + • Facebook • Twitter

Filed Under: Home and Living, Money and Finances, Random Musings Tagged With: Considerations, Cost of Living, Moving, Schools

  • Facebook
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter

Basic Principles Of Good Parenting

Here some basic principles for good parenting:

  1. What You Do Matters: Your kids are watching you. So, be purposeful about what you want to accomplish.
  2. You Can’t be Too Loving: Don’t replace love with material possessions, lowered expectations or leniency.
  3. Be Involved Your Kids Life: Arrange your priorities to focus on what your kid’s needs. Be there mentally and physically.
  4. Adapt Your Parenting: Children grow quickly, so keep pace with your child’s development.
  5. Establish and Set Rules: The rules you set for children will establish the rules they set for themselves later.  Avoid harsh discipline and be consistent.
  6. Explain Your Decisions: What is obvious to you may not be evident to your child. They don’t have the experience you do.
  7. Be Respectful To Your Child: How you treat your child is how they will treat others.  Be polite, respectful and make an effort to pay attention.
Best Parenting Blogs

Copyright © 2025 Runway Pro Theme by Viva la Violette