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Best Daycares in Monterey County

Top 20 licensed childcare facilities ranked by compliance record, parent reviews, and capacity.

389 licensed facilities
0 top rated
100% clean record

Maintained by the California Daycares editorial team Last updated

Typical tuition

Average monthly cost in Monterey County

2022 median
$1,745
/ month
infant
$1,092
/ month
toddler
$856
/ month
preschool

Median cost at licensed child care centers. Licensed family child care homes typically cost 20-30% less (infant care around $717/month).

Monterey County offers a wide range of daycare options for families with 389 licensed facilities, including 17 Family Child Care Homes and 3 Child Care Centers. We ranked the top 20 based on their official compliance record and parent reviews to help you find the best fit for your family.

The daycare landscape in Monterey County is strong — 100% of the top-ranked facilities have a clean inspection record with no citations. Our top pick, Adriana Ramirez, holds an Excellent facility score.

When it comes to cost, licensed child care centers in Monterey County charge a median of $1,561 per month for infant care and $868 for preschool. These are county-level estimates — individual facilities may vary. Family child care homes are typically more affordable, with infant care averaging around $1,127 per month.

Each facility listed below links to a detailed profile page where you can review inspection history, complaint records, capacity, and contact information. We update our rankings regularly as new licensing data becomes available.

Top 20 Daycares in Monterey County

1

Adriana Ramirez

Excellent

Family Child Care Home · Castroville

Capacity: 14 Est. tuition: $800 – $1,100/mo
2

Adriana Reyes & Gaudencia Gonzalez

Excellent

Family Child Care Home · Salinas

Capacity: 14 Est. tuition: $800 – $1,100/mo
3

Adrianna Urena

Excellent

Family Child Care Home · Soledad

Capacity: 14 Est. tuition: $800 – $1,100/mo
4

Agape Academy Preschool

Excellent

Child Care Center · Carmel

Capacity: 41 Est. tuition: $750 – $1,000/mo
5

Alba Celeste Cadena Aramburo

Excellent

Family Child Care Home · Greenfield

Capacity: 14 Est. tuition: $800 – $1,100/mo
6

Alegria Migrant Head Start

Excellent

Child Care Center · King City

Capacity: 44 Est. tuition: $750 – $1,000/mo
7

Alejandra Arechiga

Excellent

Family Child Care Home · Seaside

Capacity: 14 Est. tuition: $800 – $1,100/mo
8

Alejandra Becerra

Excellent

Family Child Care Home · Salinas

Capacity: 14 Est. tuition: $800 – $1,100/mo
9

Alejandra Tapia Caballero

Excellent

Family Child Care Home · Salinas

Capacity: 14 Est. tuition: $800 – $1,100/mo
10

Alicia Sanchez

Excellent

Family Child Care Home · Greenfield

Capacity: 14 Est. tuition: $800 – $1,100/mo
11

Alisal Head Start

Excellent

Child Care Center · Salinas

Capacity: 22 Est. tuition: $750 – $1,000/mo
12

Alma Godinez

Excellent

Family Child Care Home · Salinas

Capacity: 14 Est. tuition: $800 – $1,100/mo
13

Alondra Tapia

Excellent

Family Child Care Home · Salinas

Capacity: 14 Est. tuition: $800 – $1,100/mo
14

Amalia Marquez

Excellent

Family Child Care Home · Castroville

Capacity: 14 Est. tuition: $800 – $1,100/mo
15

Amy Diaz

Excellent

Family Child Care Home · Salinas

Capacity: 14 Est. tuition: $800 – $1,100/mo
16

Ana Castro Cruz

Excellent

Family Child Care Home · Salinas

Capacity: 14 Est. tuition: $800 – $1,100/mo
17

Ana Fernandez

Excellent

Family Child Care Home · Salinas

Capacity: 14 Est. tuition: $800 – $1,100/mo
18

Ana Melgoza De Anaya

Excellent

Family Child Care Home · Salinas

Capacity: 14 Est. tuition: $800 – $1,100/mo
19

Ana Salcedo Vazquez

Excellent

Family Child Care Home · Salinas

Capacity: 14 Est. tuition: $800 – $1,100/mo
20

Anabel & Socorro Navarro

Excellent

Family Child Care Home · Royal Oaks

Capacity: 14 Est. tuition: $800 – $1,100/mo
View all 389 facilities in Monterey County

Frequently Asked Questions

How many licensed daycares are in Monterey County?
There are 389 licensed daycare facilities in Monterey County, California, including family child care homes and child care centers.
What types of daycare are available in Monterey County?
Monterey County has 17 Family Child Care Home, 3 Child Care Center. Use the search filters to narrow by type.
How are daycares in Monterey County rated?
Each facility is rated based on state inspection data, including Type A and Type B citations. 100% of facilities in Monterey County have no citations on record.
How much does daycare cost in Monterey County?
Based on typical county pricing data, licensed child care centers in Monterey County charge approximately $1,561/month for infants, $986/month for toddlers, and $868/month for preschool-age children. Licensed family child care homes are typically 20–30% less, with infant care around $1,127/month. Exact pricing varies by facility.

Top Cities in Monterey County

Carmel
7 facilities
Castroville
26 facilities
East Garrison
4 facilities
Gonzales
5 facilities
Greenfield
24 facilities
King City
16 facilities
Marina
10 facilities
Monterey
13 facilities
View county-wide rankings →

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