Dependent-care FSA
Employer plans may allow up to $5,000 per year in pre-tax contributions for eligible care (lower limit if married filing separately).
All states
2025 pricesInfant rank #4
2025 pricesInfant rank #4California Childcare Cost 2025
Infant center: $21,945/yr (18.4% of median income). Preschool: $13,020/yr.
By Sammy S. · Founder · AuthorUpdated for 2025
$21,945
Infant / yr
$13,020
Preschool / yr
18.4%
% income
$34,965
Two-child / yr
California center-based childcare costs
Infant (annual)
$21,945
Infant (monthly)
$1,829
Preschool 4-yr (annual)
$13,020
Two-child total
$34,965
Infant center care ranks #4 nationally (highest = #1) and exceeds the $14,802 US average. Infant care is 18.4% of median family income—above the 7% HHS affordability benchmark. Two children in center care would consume about 29.4% of median income.
Federal dependent-care benefits (overview)
These programs may reduce out-of-pocket cost or taxes but do not change the market averages above. State credits and subsidies vary.
Child & Dependent Care Tax Credit
Federal credit may apply to a portion of work-related care expenses. Rules depend on income and qualifying expenses. Illustration only—see our child tax credit calculator for related context.
Key takeaways — California childcare costs
- California center-based infant care averages $21,945/yr ($1,829/mo)—national infant price rank #4 (#1 = highest).
- Infant care is 18.4% of median family income in California, above the 7% HHS affordability benchmark.
- Preschool (4-year-old) center care averages $13,020/yr (rank #19). Two-child center total: $34,965/yr (29.4% of median income).
- Versus the US average infant cost ($14,802), California is $7,143 above the mean.
- Bordering states range from $15,625 to $19,064 in infant center tuition—compare before assuming CA is always cheapest.
- Dependent-care FSA (up to $5,000/yr) and the federal child care credit may help after tax—not the market averages on this page.
California vs neighboring states
Center-based infant annual cost for jurisdictions that share a border with California. California infant care: $21,945 (18.4% of median income).
Oregon
Nevada
ArizonaCalifornia monthly equivalents
Annual totals divided by 12 (rounded). Providers may bill weekly or require deposits.
Infant center (monthly equiv.)
$1,829
per month (equiv.)
Preschool 4-yr center (monthly equiv.)
$1,085
per month (equiv.)
Two-child center (monthly equiv.)
$2,914
per month (equiv.)
How to read this page
California childcare cost overview (2025)
California shows $21,945 per year for center-based infant care and $13,020 for a 4-year-old in center preschool, using the same 2025 compiled table as the nationwide hub.
Median family income in California is $119,071 in this dataset. Infant tuition therefore consumes 18.4% of that benchmark—affordability rank #5 (#1 = least affordable relative to income).
Open a compare page for dollar gaps with neighbors or destination states, or return to the hub to see where California sits on the full 51-jurisdiction list.
Affordability in California: income burden vs price rank
Price rank #4 and affordability rank #5 can differ. A state with moderate tuition can still strain budgets if local wages lag, or feel lighter if incomes are high.
HHS uses 7% of income as an affordability ceiling. California exceeds that threshold for one infant center slot at 18.4%. Adding preschool for a second child raises the burden to about 29.4%.
State pre-K, subsidies, and employer benefits are not subtracted from these averages. Check your state child-care agency and local CCAoA fact sheet for net copays.
Planning tuition and tax benefits in California
Budget monthly cash flow using $1,829/mo infant and $1,085/mo preschool equivalents, then add registration fees, supplies, and summer gaps your center charges.
If your employer offers a dependent-care FSA, enrolling before the plan year can set aside up to $5,000 pre-tax for eligible care. Unused FSA dollars may forfeit—size contributions against realistic tuition.
The Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit uses different rules than the Child Tax Credit. Use our child tax credit calculator for related federal credit context; confirm CDCTC eligibility with IRS Publication 503 or a tax preparer.
Who this California childcare page helps
Useful if…
- •Families living in or moving to California estimating center tuition.
- •Commuters comparing California with a neighboring state’s childcare markets.
- •Benefits coordinators pairing local tuition data with FSA enrollment windows.
- •Parents stacking gross tuition against median-income benchmarks before subsidy applications.
Use official tools if…
- •You need a subsidy copay or Head Start eligibility letter.
- •You use family child care, nanny share, or part-day schedules only.
- •You need tuition from one named provider, not a statewide average.
- •You need legal or divorce-specific cost allocation advice.
California childcare planning checklist
Quick steps before treating statewide averages as your exact tuition quote.
- 1Confirm California infant $21,945/yr and rank #4.
- 2Compare 18.4% of median income to the 7% HHS cap.
- 3Add preschool $13,020/yr if a 4-year-old will be in center care.
- 4Sum two-child total $34,965/yr when ages are staggered.
- 5Review the neighbor table for cross-border tuition gaps.
- 6Get quotes from local centers; averages hide county and quality tiers.
- 7Enroll FSA and model CDCTC after gross tuition, not before.
States with similar infant center costs
| State | Infant / yr | % income | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
 Colorado | $21,840 | 17.9% | #5 |
 Minnesota | $22,569 | 18.8% | #3 |
 Hawaii | $21,167 | 20% | #6 |
 Alaska | $20,943 | 19.4% | #7 |
 Washington | $20,677 | 17.5% | #8 |
 Connecticut | $20,254 | 16.2% | #9 |
Compare California with another state
Compare any two states
Center-based infant and preschool costs with income burden.
California childcare cost FAQs
California averages $21,945 per year ($1,829/month) for center-based infant care—rank #4 nationally (highest cost = #1).
Center-based care for a 4-year-old in California averages $13,020 per year ($1,085/month), rank #19 among states and DC.
Infant center care is 18.4% of median family income in California. HHS affordability is 7%; this exceeds that benchmark for one infant slot.
Combined center costs total $34,965 per year—about 29.4% of median family income for both children.
Residents of California can use the same federal dependent-care FSA (up to $5,000/yr) and Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit rules as taxpayers nationwide. Some states add credits or subsidy programs—check your state revenue or child-care agency.
California ranks #5 for infant care burden (share of income), where #1 is least affordable relative to median family income.
No. Figures are center-based averages only. Family child care homes, nannies, and part-day care differ. Use Child Care Aware state fact sheets for local provider types.
2025 price-year estimates from Child Care Aware / EPI lineage; page updated 2026-07-31. Confirm quotes with local centers before budgeting.
Oregon $19,064/yr ($-2,881 vs CA, 18.2% income); Nevada $15,950/yr ($-5,995 vs CA, 18.3% income); Arizona $15,625/yr ($-6,320 vs CA, 16.5% income). Use compare links for side-by-side totals.
About $1,829/month if annual $21,945 is spread evenly over 12 months. Centers may bill weekly or require deposits.
For one infant center slot, California is 18.4% of median family income—above the 7% benchmark in this dataset.
Infant plus preschool center slots total $34,965/yr—about 29.4% of median family income and $2,914/mo if divided evenly.
Infant price rank is #4; affordability (share of income) rank is #5. High wages can make expensive states feel relatively lighter, and vice versa.