California Childcare Tuition Trends
Historical pricing data and projections for all 58 California counties, 2008 through 2027.
14 years of data
58 counties
+39% since 2008
Statewide Tuition Averages
Monthly median costs across all California counties, broken down by facility type and age group.
Infant
Toddler
Preschool
Infant
Toddler
Preschool
Childcare costs in California have risen steadily over the past decade. Center-based infant care remains the most expensive category, while family child care homes typically offer lower monthly rates across all age groups. Projections through 2027 suggest continued growth, particularly for infant and toddler programs.
County-by-County Comparison
Licensed child care center infant care, sorted by current cost.
| County | 2008 | 2022 | 2027 est | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco | $1,482 | $2,627 | $3,577 | +77% |
| San Mateo | $1,512 | $2,401 | $3,101 | +59% |
| Marin | $1,569 | $2,374 | $2,971 | +51% |
| Santa Clara | $1,541 | $2,283 | $2,999 | +48% |
| Alameda | $1,307 | $2,234 | $2,985 | +71% |
| Contra Costa | $1,225 | $2,086 | $2,717 | +70% |
| Santa Cruz | $1,362 | $2,065 | $2,701 | +52% |
| Santa Barbara | $1,163 | $1,959 | $2,400 | +68% |
| El Dorado | $1,074 | $1,948 | $2,696 | +81% |
| Placer | $1,103 | $1,944 | $2,718 | +76% |
| Ventura | $1,089 | $1,839 | $2,352 | +69% |
| Solano | $1,029 | $1,834 | $2,452 | +78% |
| Fresno | $998 | $1,800 | $2,591 | +80% |
| Riverside | $981 | $1,752 | $2,390 | +79% |
| Monterey | $1,084 | $1,745 | $2,191 | +61% |
| Orange | $1,183 | $1,705 | $2,013 | +44% |
| Yolo | $1,160 | $1,677 | $1,945 | +45% |
| San Joaquin | $973 | $1,674 | $2,252 | +72% |
| San Benito | $1,034 | $1,671 | $2,197 | +62% |
| San Bernardino | $986 | $1,664 | $2,205 | +69% |
| San Diego | $1,107 | $1,642 | $1,933 | +48% |
| Napa | $1,053 | $1,633 | $1,899 | +55% |
| Mono | $1,026 | $1,602 | $1,743 | +56% |
| Humboldt | $984 | $1,586 | $1,970 | +61% |
| Yuba | $961 | $1,581 | $2,081 | +65% |
| San Luis Obispo | $1,047 | $1,564 | $1,812 | +49% |
| Inyo | $958 | $1,563 | $1,914 | +63% |
| Alpine | $1,170 | $1,541 | $1,922 | +32% |
| Butte | $974 | $1,533 | $1,933 | +57% |
| Kern | $971 | $1,527 | $1,961 | +57% |
| Sacramento | $1,045 | $1,502 | $1,791 | +44% |
| Madera | $962 | $1,435 | $1,769 | +49% |
| Nevada | $1,060 | $1,371 | $1,552 | +29% |
| Stanislaus | $963 | $1,370 | $1,630 | +42% |
| Sutter | $958 | $1,328 | $1,557 | +39% |
| Calaveras | $989 | $1,260 | $1,395 | +27% |
| Mendocino | $970 | $1,204 | $1,242 | +24% |
| Tuolumne | $967 | $1,167 | $1,243 | +21% |
| Siskiyou | $961 | $1,149 | $1,197 | +20% |
| Colusa | $958 | $1,146 | $1,217 | +20% |
| Lake | $975 | $1,132 | $1,169 | +16% |
| Kings | $1,014 | $1,128 | $1,167 | +11% |
| Los Angeles | $1,089 | $1,113 | $977 | +2% |
| Mariposa | $958 | $1,101 | $1,083 | +15% |
| Shasta | $958 | $1,075 | $1,077 | +12% |
| Merced | $958 | $1,059 | $1,052 | +11% |
| Sonoma | $1,078 | $1,053 | $923 | +-2% |
| Tulare | $959 | $1,040 | $1,025 | +8% |
| Glenn | $969 | $1,031 | $1,015 | +6% |
| Tehama | $958 | $1,021 | $998 | +7% |
| Amador | $973 | $1,017 | $943 | +5% |
| Del Norte | $958 | $972 | $912 | +1% |
| Lassen | $958 | $972 | $917 | +1% |
| Modoc | $958 | $972 | $908 | +1% |
| Plumas | $958 | $972 | $907 | +1% |
| Sierra | $958 | $972 | $917 | +1% |
| Trinity | $958 | $972 | $917 | +1% |
| Imperial | $965 | $960 | $894 | +-1% |
Key Insights
Biggest growth
El Dorado
+81% since 2008
Slowest growth
Sonoma
+-2% since 2008
Highest 2027 est
San Francisco
$3,577/mo
Lowest 2027 est
Imperial
$894/mo