How do we find childcare, after-school care or holiday care?
Childcare in the US is mostly private and paid for by parents. For most families moving for work, the help comes through tax breaks and free public pre-K, which some cities and states offer to every 3- or 4-year-old.
In 30 seconds
- Full-time infant daycare in our big cities runs at roughly $1,180 to $2,740 a month (about £890 to £2,080), by our estimates. The national average for childcare in 2025 was $13,184 a year
- From 2026 you can put up to $7,500 a year (about £5,680) through a Dependent Care FSA at work, and the Child and Dependent Care Credit rises to as much as 50% of up to $3,000 or $6,000 of costs
- New York City has a free pre-K place for every 4-year-old, plus free 3-K. DC offers free pre-K at 3 and 4 through a lottery. Florida and California offer free pre-K or TK to 4-year-olds
Dependent Care FSA$7,500A year from 2026, pre-tax
Care creditUp to 50%Of $3,000 (one child) or $6,000 (two or more)
Daycare$332 a weekAverage posted on Care.com, 2026
Nanny$870 a week40 hours, Care.com average, about £660
Types of care
| Type | What it is |
|---|---|
| Daycare centre | A licensed centre, usually open long days all year, for babies to pre-school age |
| Family child care (home daycare) | A licensed carer looking after a small group in their own home. Posted rates on Care.com average slightly less than centres |
| Pre-K | A year or two of early education before kindergarten, free in some cities and states |
| Before- and after-school care | Run by schools or outside groups. Places, hours and costs vary, so ask the school |
| Summer and holiday camps | Day camps for school-age children in the long summer break and some school holidays |
| Nanny or au pair | Care in your home. You’re usually the employer. See hiring a nanny or au pair |
What it costs
Prices vary widely. Child Care Aware of America puts the national average at $13,184 a year in 2025 (about £830 a month). Big cities cost more. Our estimates for a full-time infant place at a centre:
| City | Infant daycare a month (estimate) |
|---|---|
| New York | About $2,130 (£1,610) |
| Boston | About $2,740 (£2,080) |
| Washington DC | About $2,360 (£1,790) |
| Chicago | About $2,060 (£1,560) |
| Austin | About $1,180 (£890) |
| Miami | About $1,360 (£1,030) |
| Los Angeles | About $2,360 (£1,790) |
| San Francisco | About $2,640 (£2,000) |
These are our estimates from Child Care Aware’s 2024 state figures, adjusted for big-city prices. Use them to budget, then get quotes. The cost of living calculator includes them.
Finding care and checking quality
Each state licenses childcare. Federal rules require every state to run a consumer website and post inspection reports online, including any health and safety violations and at least 3 years of results where available. Start at Childcare.gov, choose your state, and check any centre or home daycare’s record before you visit.
- Join waiting lists early, especially for babies, and ask whether there’s a fee to join
- Visit, and ask about staff ratios, turnover, the daily routine, and what the fee includes
- Ask how much notice you must give to change days or leave, and whether you pay for holidays and sick days
Free pre-K by city
| Place | What’s on offer |
|---|---|
| New York City | Free, full-day pre-K for every 4-year-old (in the year they turn 4) and free 3-K for 3-year-olds. 2-K for 2-year-olds started in fall 2026 in some districts. Apply on MySchools: for fall 2027, pre-K applications run from 13 January to 26 February 2027 |
| Washington DC | Free pre-K for residents aged 3 or 4 by 30 September, at DCPS, charter and community-based programmes. Apply through the My School DC lottery by 1 March 2027. Your in-boundary school doesn’t have to give you a pre-K place |
| Boston | BPS has K0 classes for 3-year-olds and K1 for 4-year-olds (by 1 September), through the same registration as other grades |
| Chicago | CPS full-day pre-K for 4-year-olds (4 by 1 September), and limited half-day places for 3-year-olds. Chicago Early Learning runs one application for school and community programmes, including free full-day programmes for children 5 and under |
| California | Transitional kindergarten (TK) for every child who turns 4 by 1 September, free in public schools. It isn’t compulsory |
| Florida | Voluntary Prekindergarten (VPK): free for 4-year-olds (by 1 September) living in Florida. 540 hours in the school year or 300 hours in summer |
| Texas | Free public pre-K only for eligible children, for example those learning English or eligible for free school meals |
Tax breaks: FSA and the credit
- Dependent Care FSA: a workplace account that lets you pay childcare from pre-tax pay. The limit rose from $5,000 to $7,500 a year for 2026 ($3,750 if married filing separately). Not every employer offers one, and you usually sign up at open enrollment
- Child and Dependent Care Credit: from 2026 the top rate rises from 35% to 50% of up to $3,000 of costs for one child or $6,000 for two or more. The rate falls as income rises; tax software providers show it falling towards 20% for single filers above about $75,000 and couples above about $150,000. Claim it on Form 2441
- Who qualifies: care for a child under 13, paid so you (and your partner) can work or look for work. Costs only count up to the lower partner’s earnings, so if one of you has no earnings, perhaps while waiting for a work permit, you usually can’t claim
- You can’t double up: money you put through an FSA reduces the expenses you can use for the credit. You also need the provider’s name, address and tax number
- Camps: day camp can count as care, even a sports camp. Overnight camp doesn’t
Ask your adviser. Which mix of FSA and credit saves most depends on your income and tax bracket. A US tax preparer can run both.
After school and the summer
The school day is shorter than a working day and the summer break is long, so working families usually plan for after-school care and summer camps. Many schools offer before- and after-care, with costs and places that vary; ask when you enrol. Book day camps as soon as bookings open. Plan around school holidays too.
What to do next
- Check your city’s free pre-K or TK, and the application dates
- Ask HR whether your employer offers a Dependent Care FSA, and sign up at open enrollment
- Look up any centre’s inspection record through Childcare.gov before you visit
Keep going
Sources
- Child Care Aware of America: Price and supply of child care 2025
- Care.com: This is how much child care costs in 2026
- Childcare.gov: Monitoring and inspections
- Cornell LII: 45 CFR 98.33, consumer and provider education
- IRS: Publication 15-B, Employer’s tax guide to fringe benefits (2026)
- IRS: Publication 503, Child and dependent care expenses
- IRS: One, Big, Beautiful Bill provisions
- TaxSlayer Pro: One Big Beautiful Bill Act changes to the Child and Dependent Care Credit
- NYC Public Schools: Pre-K
- NYC Public Schools: 3-K
- NYC Public Schools: 2-K
- My School DC: Applying to Pre-K 3 and Pre-K 4
- Boston Public Schools: Registration
- Chicago Early Learning: Programs and FAQ
- San Mateo-Foster City School District: Universal TK expansion
- Florida Department of Education: What is Florida’s Voluntary Prekindergarten program (VPK)?
- Texas Education Agency: Early childhood education FAQs