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Florida flag2025 pricesInfant rank #31

Florida Childcare Cost 2025

Infant center: $13,021/yr (14.1% of median income). Preschool: $10,850/yr.

By Sammy S. · Founder · AuthorUpdated for 2025

$13,021
Infant / yr
$10,850
Preschool / yr
14.1%
% income
$23,871
Two-child / yr

Florida center-based childcare costs

Infant (annual)

$13,021

Infant (monthly)

$1,085

Preschool 4-yr (annual)

$10,850

Two-child total

$23,871

Infant center care ranks #31 nationally (highest = #1) and is below the $14,802 US average. Infant care is 14.1% of median family income—above the 7% HHS affordability benchmark. Two children in center care would consume about 25.8% 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.

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).

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 — Florida childcare costs

  • Florida center-based infant care averages $13,021/yr ($1,085/mo)—national infant price rank #31 (#1 = highest).
  • Infant care is 14.1% of median family income in Florida, above the 7% HHS affordability benchmark.
  • Preschool (4-year-old) center care averages $10,850/yr (rank #27). Two-child center total: $23,871/yr (25.8% of median income).
  • Versus the US average infant cost ($14,802), Florida is $1,781 below the mean.
  • Bordering states range from $7,871 to $11,863 in infant center tuition—compare before assuming FL 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.
Compare with another state →

Florida vs neighboring states

Center-based infant annual cost for jurisdictions that share a border with Florida. Florida infant care: $13,021 (14.1% of median income).

StateInfant / yr% incomevs FLCompare
Florida$13,02114.1%—This page
Georgia$11,86313%−$1,158vs FL
Alabama$7,8719.8%−$5,150vs FL

Florida monthly equivalents

Annual totals divided by 12 (rounded). Providers may bill weekly or require deposits.

Infant center (monthly equiv.)

$1,085

per month (equiv.)

Preschool 4-yr center (monthly equiv.)

$904

per month (equiv.)

Two-child center (monthly equiv.)

$1,989

per month (equiv.)

How to read this page

Florida childcare cost overview (2025)

Florida shows $13,021 per year for center-based infant care and $10,850 for a 4-year-old in center preschool, using the same 2025 compiled table as the nationwide hub.

Median family income in Florida is $92,382 in this dataset. Infant tuition therefore consumes 14.1% of that benchmark—affordability rank #26 (#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 Florida sits on the full 51-jurisdiction list.

Affordability in Florida: income burden vs price rank

Price rank #31 and affordability rank #26 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. Florida exceeds that threshold for one infant center slot at 14.1%. Adding preschool for a second child raises the burden to about 25.8%.

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 Florida

Budget monthly cash flow using $1,085/mo infant and $904/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 Florida childcare page helps

Useful if…

  • •Families living in or moving to Florida estimating center tuition.
  • •Commuters comparing Florida 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.

Florida childcare planning checklist

Quick steps before treating statewide averages as your exact tuition quote.

  1. 1Confirm Florida infant $13,021/yr and rank #31.
  2. 2Compare 14.1% of median income to the 7% HHS cap.
  3. 3Add preschool $10,850/yr if a 4-year-old will be in center care.
  4. 4Sum two-child total $23,871/yr when ages are staggered.
  5. 5Review the neighbor table for cross-border tuition gaps.
  6. 6Get quotes from local centers; averages hide county and quality tiers.
  7. 7Enroll FSA and model CDCTC after gross tuition, not before.

States with similar infant center costs

Utah$13,094Missouri$13,173Montana$12,778Maine$13,310Pennsylvania$13,354Oklahoma$12,468

Compare Florida with another state

Compare any two states

Center-based infant and preschool costs with income burden.

vs California →vs Texas →vs New York →

Florida childcare cost FAQs

Florida averages $13,021 per year ($1,085/month) for center-based infant care—rank #31 nationally (highest cost = #1).

Center-based care for a 4-year-old in Florida averages $10,850 per year ($904/month), rank #27 among states and DC.

Infant center care is 14.1% of median family income in Florida. HHS affordability is 7%; this exceeds that benchmark for one infant slot.

Combined center costs total $23,871 per year—about 25.8% of median family income for both children.

Residents of Florida 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.

Florida ranks #26 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.

Georgia $11,863/yr ($-1,158 vs FL, 13% income); Alabama $7,871/yr ($-5,150 vs FL, 9.8% income). Use compare links for side-by-side totals.

About $1,085/month if annual $13,021 is spread evenly over 12 months. Centers may bill weekly or require deposits.

For one infant center slot, Florida is 14.1% of median family income—above the 7% benchmark in this dataset.

Infant plus preschool center slots total $23,871/yr—about 25.8% of median family income and $1,989/mo if divided evenly.

Infant price rank is #31; affordability (share of income) rank is #26. High wages can make expensive states feel relatively lighter, and vice versa.
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