Center-based infant care in Boston (Suffolk County) cost $590 a week in 2022, against $350 a week for preschool. That makes infant care 1.69 times the preschool price, a premium of $15,256 a year in August 2026 dollars. Across all metros with both prices, the typical premium is much smaller: in the median metro, infant care costs 18% more than preschool. Chicago’s premium is $5,667 a year and Austin’s $1,271. Compare both age groups for your county in the childcare cost calculator.
All prices are DOL National Database of Childcare Prices (NDCP) county medians for 2022, unless marked. They are converted to August 2026 dollars with the BLS CPI for day care and preschool (factor 1.2224; 1.2945 for 2020 prices). The weekly NDCP price is in parentheses.
The infant premium by metro
Center-based care, infant (0–23 months) vs. preschool (36–54 months), 52 weeks:
| Metro (county) | Infant, 2026 $ / yr | Preschool, 2026 $ / yr | Annual premium | Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boston (Suffolk) | $37,503 ($590) | $22,248 ($350) | $15,256 | 1.69 |
| San Francisco | $38,559 ($607) | $30,323 ($477) | $8,236 | 1.27 |
| Washington, DC | $31,147 ($490) | $24,949 ($393) | $6,198 | 1.25 |
| Denver | $27,330 ($430) | $21,104 ($332) | $6,226 | 1.30 |
| Chicago (Cook) | $17,692 ($278) | $12,025 ($189) | $5,667 | 1.47 |
| Seattle (King) | $30,413 ($478) | $24,771 ($390) | $5,641 | 1.23 |
| Minneapolis (Hennepin) | $24,790 ($390) | $19,642 ($309) | $5,149 | 1.26 |
| Nashville (Davidson) | $13,455 ($212) | $9,303 ($146) | $4,152 | 1.45 |
| Memphis (Shelby) | $13,455 ($212) | $9,303 ($146) | $4,152 | 1.45 |
| Phoenix (Maricopa) | $17,162 ($270) | $13,349 ($210) | $3,814 | 1.29 |
| Miami (Miami-Dade) | $12,713 ($200) | $9,853 ($155) | $2,860 | 1.29 |
| Philadelphia (2020 prices) | $15,819 ($235) | $13,126 ($195) | $2,693 | 1.21 |
| New York (Kings) | $19,069 ($300) | $16,463 ($259) | $2,606 | 1.16 |
| Los Angeles | $16,335 ($257) | $14,301 ($225) | $2,033 | 1.14 |
| Atlanta (Fulton) | $13,031 ($205) | $11,378 ($179) | $1,653 | 1.15 |
| Austin (Travis) | $14,556 ($229) | $13,285 ($209) | $1,271 | 1.10 |
| Dallas | $12,332 ($194) | $11,124 ($175) | $1,208 | 1.11 |
| Houston (Harris) | $11,759 ($185) | $10,615 ($167) | $1,144 | 1.11 |
| Detroit (Wayne) | $11,264 ($177) | $10,466 ($165) | $798 | 1.08 |
Across the 366 metros whose principal county has both center prices, the infant-to-preschool ratio runs from 0.90 to 2.14, with a median of 1.18.
Why Boston’s premium is so large
Two things push the dollar premium up: a high ratio and high prices. Boston has both. Its ratio of 1.69 is among the highest of the large metros, and it applies to a $350-a-week preschool base. Chicago’s ratio is similar at 1.47, but on a $189 base, so the gap is a third of Boston’s. The large Texas metros (Austin, Dallas, Houston) sit near 1.10, so a baby there costs only about $1,100–$1,300 a year more than a preschooler.
The toddler year in between
The NDCP has a separate toddler price for 24–35 months. In 2026 dollars:
- New York (Kings County): $339 a week toddler, between infant ($367) and preschool ($317)
- Chicago (Cook County): $269 a week, between $340 and $231
- Boston (Suffolk County): $603 a week, closer to infant ($721) than preschool ($428)
- Nashville and Memphis: toddler and preschool prices are identical ($179)
Planning for the infant years after a move
Infant care is the most expensive stretch, and it often lands when one parent’s income is lower because of leave. If you are moving with a baby or expecting one, budget for the infant price, not the preschool price. In Boston, center infant care runs about $3,125 a month in 2026 dollars. That is more than the $3,008 HUD Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom there.
What offsets the cost
Child and Dependent Care Credit (2026). Up to $3,000 of care costs for one child, or $6,000 for two or more, earns a credit of 20% to 50% depending on income. The rate starts at 50% and falls to 35% by $45,000 of AGI. It then falls again above $75,000 ($150,000 on a joint return), reaching 20% at higher incomes (26 U.S.C. § 21). A married couple earning $120,000 with two children in care gets 35% of $6,000: $2,100.
Dependent care FSA. For 2026, employers can let you exclude up to $7,500 of care costs from pay (IRS Pub. 15-B). Money run through the FSA reduces the expenses you can use for the credit dollar for dollar. Compare the two before you elect an amount.
Head Start and Early Head Start. These free federal programs serve children from birth to age 5 in low-income families. Early Head Start covers infants and toddlers, and Head Start Preschool covers ages 3 to 5 (HeadStart.gov).
State childcare assistance. Income-eligible families can get subsidies through their state. Limits and copays vary by state.
See also child tax credit 2026 and center-based vs home-based childcare cost. Price your county in the childcare cost calculator, and see childcare inside a full budget in the cost-of-living calculator.
Related: Boston cost of living, Chicago cost of living, Massachusetts.