Full-Time Child Care for 2 Kids Costs 39% More Than Rent Across 100 Largest US Metros
Child care is expensive. In fact, families who pay for child care spend an average of 18.6% of their income on it.
As parents juggle the demands of raising children and maintaining a household, many in the 100 largest U.S. metros are finding that the expenses of securing child care can rival — or even exceed — what they pay to keep a roof over their heads.
According to the latest LendingTree study, the average monthly cost of infant child care is 22.2% lower than the average monthly rent, while the cost to care for two children is 39.4% higher than rent.
Here’s where rent and child care are the most neck and neck.
Key findings
- The average monthly cost of full-time center-based infant care across the 100 largest U.S. metros is $1,218 — 22.2% lower than the average monthly cost to rent a two-bedroom unit ($1,566). However, the average monthly child care costs for an infant and 4-year-old spike to $2,182 — 39.4% higher than renting a two-bedroom unit.
- The average monthly cost of full-time center-based infant care is higher than rent in 16 of the 100 largest metros. In Springfield, Mass., monthly infant care costs an average of $1,819 — 32.3% higher than average monthly rent ($1,375). The metros with the next highest differences are Syracuse, N.Y. (25.8%), and Buffalo, N.Y., and Wichita, Kan. (both 22.4%).
- In 91 of the 100 metros, the average monthly cost of full-time center-based care for an infant and 4-year-old exceeds the monthly rent. In nine of those metros, child care costs are double rent costs. Again, Springfield has the highest difference, with child care costing 135.7% more than rent — $3,241 versus $1,375. Syracuse and Buffalo have the next highest differences at 131.3% and 125.1%, respectively.
- This means child care costs for two children are less expensive than rent in only nine metros. In Miami, child care costs are 14.7% lower than rent — $1,982 versus $2,324. San Francisco (11.8% lower) and Austin, Texas (8.0% lower), are next closest.
Child care costs rival rent in 100 largest metros
The average monthly cost of full-time center-based infant care across the 100 largest U.S. metros is $1,218, according to an analysis of Child Care Aware of America and Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) data.
Meanwhile, according to an analysis of U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Fair Market Rents (FMRs) FMRs are estimates of the 40th percentile gross rents within a metro. This data looks at the monthly rent payment specified by a lease and utility costs paid by those who moved into their home in the last 15 to 22 months. These calculations exclude public housing units and units built within the past two years. data, the average monthly cost to rent a two-bedroom unit across the same 100 metros is $1,566.
That means infant child care costs are 22.2% lower than rent. (Generally, those through 12 months old are considered infants.)
Child care costs vs. rent in 100 largest metros
| Average monthly infant care | $1,218 |
| Average monthly care, infant/4-year-old | $2,182 |
| Average monthly rent | $1,566 |
| Difference between monthly infant care and rent | -22.2% |
| Difference between monthly care (infant/4-year-old) and rent | 39.4% |
Source: LendingTree analysis of 2023 Child Care Aware of America, 2022 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) and fiscal year 2024 Fair Market Rents (FMRs) data.
While more children may be merrier, it isn’t easy on the pockets. For an infant and 4-year-old, average monthly child care costs rise to $2,182. That’s 39.4% higher than renting a two-bedroom unit.
That jump may be expected, but Matt Schulz — LendingTree chief credit analyst and author of “Ask Questions, Save Money, Make More: How to Take Control of Your Financial Life” — says two children may offer some unexpected benefits.
He believes no one should be surprised that rent and child care costs are similarly expensive. “Both of these costs have been rising for some time, even before inflation took hold of the country,” he says. “Unfortunately, no one should expect these costs to start falling anytime soon.”
This comes as rent continues to increase. FMRs for a two-bedroom unit have risen by $505 across the 50 largest metros since 2019, according to another LendingTree study.
Child care for infant more expensive than rent in 16 metros
In some places, child care for one infant is more expensive than rent. To be specific, that’s true in 16 of the 100 largest metros.
Springfield, Mass., sees the biggest difference in infant care costs and rent. Full-time center-based care costs an average of $1,819 a month in Springfield, while rent is $1,375 — meaning child care costs are 32.3% higher.
High demand and low access to child care may explain the high costs here. According to Child Care Aware of America, nearly half of children under 6 in working families in Hampden County — where Springfield is located — don’t have access to child care during the workweek, which may drive up costs.
5 metros where infant care costs the most compared to rent
| Rank | Metro | Average monthly infant care | Average monthly 2-bedroom rent | % difference | $ difference |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Springfield, MA | $1,819 | $1,375 | 32.3% | $444 |
| 2 | Syracuse, NY | $1,417 | $1,126 | 25.8% | $291 |
| 3 | Buffalo, NY | $1,424 | $1,163 | 22.4% | $261 |
| 3 | Wichita, KS | $1,245 | $1,017 | 22.4% | $228 |
| 5 | Spokane, WA | $1,588 | $1,304 | 21.8% | $284 |
Source: LendingTree analysis of 2023 Child Care Aware of America, 2022 BLS and fiscal year 2024 FMRs data. Notes: Rankings are based on the percentage difference. Only the 100 largest U.S. metros were analyzed.
Two New York metros are in the top five. In Syracuse, child care costs are 25.8% higher than rent, while Buffalo ties with Wichita, Kan., with child care costs 22.4% higher than rent.
Schulz says families in these metros face unique challenges.
Where are the combined costs of child care and rent highest? Look no further than San Francisco, where the average monthly cost of full-time center-based infant care and a two-bedroom apartment reaches a whopping $5,066. That’s followed by Boston ($4,875) and San Jose, Calif. ($4,802).
Full rankings
Metros where infant care costs the most/least compared to rent
| Rank | Metro | Average monthly infant care | Average monthly 2-bedroom rent | % difference | $ difference |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Springfield, MA | $1,819 | $1,375 | 32.3% | $444 |
| 2 | Syracuse, NY | $1,417 | $1,126 | 25.8% | $291 |
| 3 | Buffalo, NY | $1,424 | $1,163 | 22.4% | $261 |
| 3 | Wichita, KS | $1,245 | $1,017 | 22.4% | $228 |
| 5 | Spokane, WA | $1,588 | $1,304 | 21.8% | $284 |
| 6 | Bakersfield, CA | $1,513 | $1,258 | 20.3% | $255 |
| 7 | Worcester, MA | $1,922 | $1,661 | 15.7% | $261 |
| 8 | Scranton, PA | $1,153 | $1,039 | 11.0% | $114 |
| 9 | Rochester, NY | $1,444 | $1,307 | 10.5% | $137 |
| 10 | Minneapolis, MN | $1,767 | $1,622 | 8.9% | $145 |
| 11 | Albany, NY | $1,465 | $1,374 | 6.6% | $91 |
| 12 | Fresno, CA | $1,523 | $1,443 | 5.5% | $80 |
| 13 | Toledo, OH | $1,015 | $986 | 2.9% | $29 |
| 14 | Washington, DC | $2,095 | $2,045 | 2.4% | $50 |
| 15 | Pittsburgh, PA | $1,178 | $1,161 | 1.5% | $17 |
| 16 | Dayton, OH | $1,028 | $1,023 | 0.5% | $5 |
| 17 | Akron, OH | $1,036 | $1,039 | -0.3% | -$3 |
| 18 | Milwaukee, WI | $1,163 | $1,170 | -0.6% | -$7 |
| 19 | Stockton, CA | $1,571 | $1,607 | -2.2% | -$36 |
| 19 | Des Moines, IA | $1,056 | $1,080 | -2.2% | -$24 |
| 21 | Omaha, NE | $1,111 | $1,170 | -5.0% | -$59 |
| 22 | Albuquerque, NM | $1,157 | $1,222 | -5.3% | -$65 |
| 23 | St. Louis, MO | $1,142 | $1,209 | -5.5% | -$67 |
| 23 | Harrisburg, PA | $1,203 | $1,273 | -5.5% | -$70 |
| 23 | Cleveland, OH | $1,047 | $1,108 | -5.5% | -$61 |
| 26 | Poughkeepsie, NY | $1,668 | $1,825 | -8.6% | -$157 |
| 27 | Winston-Salem, NC | $1,001 | $1,110 | -9.8% | -$109 |
| 28 | Colorado Springs, CO | $1,543 | $1,734 | -11.0% | -$191 |
| 29 | Hartford, CT | $1,470 | $1,654 | -11.1% | -$184 |
| 30 | New Haven, CT | $1,477 | $1,676 | -11.9% | -$199 |
| 31 | Cincinnati, OH | $1,052 | $1,195 | -12.0% | -$143 |
| 32 | Virginia Beach, VA | $1,312 | $1,493 | -12.1% | -$181 |
| 33 | Indianapolis, IN | $1,168 | $1,349 | -13.4% | -$181 |
| 34 | Kansas City, MO | $1,087 | $1,258 | -13.6% | -$171 |
| 35 | Allentown, PA | $1,230 | $1,426 | -13.7% | -$196 |
| 36 | Greensboro, NC | $1,005 | $1,170 | -14.1% | -$165 |
| 37 | Richmond, VA | $1,308 | $1,532 | -14.6% | -$224 |
| 38 | Honolulu, HI | $1,918 | $2,252 | -14.8% | -$334 |
| 39 | Madison, WI | $1,168 | $1,372 | -14.9% | -$204 |
| 40 | Detroit, MI | $1,086 | $1,291 | -15.9% | -$205 |
| 41 | McAllen, TX | $819 | $977 | -16.2% | -$158 |
| 42 | Baltimore, MD | $1,618 | $1,943 | -16.7% | -$325 |
| 43 | Chicago, IL | $1,424 | $1,714 | -16.9% | -$290 |
| 44 | Providence, RI | $1,398 | $1,693 | -17.4% | -$295 |
| 45 | Tucson, AZ | $1,099 | $1,337 | -17.8% | -$238 |
| 46 | Knoxville, TN | $993 | $1,221 | -18.7% | -$228 |
| 47 | Columbus, OH | $1,057 | $1,302 | -18.8% | -$245 |
| 48 | Augusta, GA | $886 | $1,100 | -19.5% | -$214 |
| 49 | Lakeland, FL | $992 | $1,250 | -20.6% | -$258 |
| 50 | Oklahoma City, OK | $863 | $1,091 | -20.9% | -$228 |
| 51 | Bridgeport, CT | $1,538 | $1,967 | -21.8% | -$429 |
| 52 | Denver, CO | $1,712 | $2,201 | -22.2% | -$489 |
| 52 | Grand Rapids, MI | $1,065 | $1,369 | -22.2% | -$304 |
| 54 | Memphis, TN | $999 | $1,298 | -23.0% | -$299 |
| 55 | Sacramento, CA | $1,591 | $2,072 | -23.2% | -$481 |
| 56 | Riverside, CA | $1,541 | $2,010 | -23.3% | -$469 |
| 57 | Tulsa, OK | $855 | $1,128 | -24.2% | -$273 |
| 58 | Provo, UT | $939 | $1,253 | -25.1% | -$314 |
| 59 | El Paso, TX | $859 | $1,150 | -25.3% | -$291 |
| 60 | Portland, OR | $1,504 | $2,024 | -25.7% | -$520 |
| 61 | Philadelphia, PA | $1,263 | $1,737 | -27.3% | -$474 |
| 62 | Boston, MA | $2,048 | $2,827 | -27.6% | -$779 |
| 63 | Deltona, FL | $1,019 | $1,413 | -27.9% | -$394 |
| 64 | Palm Bay, FL | $1,024 | $1,434 | -28.6% | -$410 |
| 65 | Little Rock, AR | $761 | $1,089 | -30.1% | -$328 |
| 66 | Ogden, UT | $933 | $1,350 | -30.9% | -$417 |
| 67 | Oxnard, CA | $1,656 | $2,414 | -31.4% | -$758 |
| 67 | Houston, TX | $931 | $1,357 | -31.4% | -$426 |
| 69 | Charlotte, NC | $1,050 | $1,554 | -32.4% | -$504 |
| 70 | Baton Rouge, LA | $859 | $1,277 | -32.7% | -$418 |
| 71 | Seattle, WA | $1,758 | $2,645 | -33.5% | -$887 |
| 72 | Las Vegas, NV | $1,087 | $1,643 | -33.8% | -$556 |
| 73 | Nashville, TN | $1,051 | $1,619 | -35.1% | -$568 |
| 74 | Raleigh, NC | $1,066 | $1,646 | -35.2% | -$580 |
| 75 | Phoenix, AZ | $1,215 | $1,877 | -35.3% | -$662 |
| 76 | Los Angeles, CA | $1,638 | $2,544 | -35.6% | -$906 |
| 77 | Durham, NC | $1,047 | $1,631 | -35.8% | -$584 |
| 78 | Louisville, KY | $833 | $1,301 | -36.0% | -$468 |
| 79 | New Orleans, LA | $870 | $1,362 | -36.1% | -$492 |
| 80 | Jacksonville, FL | $1,016 | $1,604 | -36.7% | -$588 |
| 81 | Cape Coral, FL | $1,049 | $1,677 | -37.4% | -$628 |
| 82 | New York, NY | $1,714 | $2,752 | -37.7% | -$1,038 |
| 82 | Greenville, SC | $751 | $1,206 | -37.7% | -$455 |
| 84 | Boise, ID | $864 | $1,388 | -37.8% | -$524 |
| 85 | San Antonio, TX | $896 | $1,458 | -38.5% | -$562 |
| 86 | Birmingham, AL | $759 | $1,245 | -39.0% | -$486 |
| 87 | Jackson, MS | $706 | $1,159 | -39.1% | -$453 |
| 88 | Columbia, SC | $754 | $1,246 | -39.5% | -$492 |
| 89 | Salt Lake City, UT | $948 | $1,606 | -41.0% | -$658 |
| 90 | San Diego, CA | $1,658 | $2,833 | -41.5% | -$1,175 |
| 91 | North Port, FL | $1,046 | $1,815 | -42.4% | -$769 |
| 92 | Orlando, FL | $1,036 | $1,857 | -44.2% | -$821 |
| 93 | Tampa, FL | $1,029 | $1,851 | -44.4% | -$822 |
| 94 | Dallas, TX | $975 | $1,758 | -44.5% | -$783 |
| 95 | San Jose, CA | $1,670 | $3,132 | -46.7% | -$1,462 |
| 96 | Atlanta, GA | $951 | $1,844 | -48.4% | -$893 |
| 97 | San Francisco, CA | $1,707 | $3,359 | -49.2% | -$1,652 |
| 98 | Charleston, SC | $798 | $1,599 | -50.1% | -$801 |
| 99 | Miami, FL | $1,150 | $2,324 | -50.5% | -$1,174 |
| 100 | Austin, TX | $931 | $1,924 | -51.6% | -$993 |
Source: LendingTree analysis of 2023 Child Care Aware of America, 2022 BLS and fiscal year 2024 FMRs data. Notes: Rankings are based on the percentage difference. Only the 100 largest U.S. metros were analyzed.
Child care for 2 children exceeds monthly rent in most metros
Understandably, the cost of child care for an infant and a 4-year-old exceeds monthly rent in significantly more metros — 91 of the 100 analyzed. For nine of those metros, child care costs are at least double the average rent costs.
Springfield ranks first again, with child care for an infant and 4-year-old costing $3,241. Compared to the $1,375 monthly rent, child care costs 135.7% more.
Syracuse (131.3%) and Buffalo (125.1%) also make another appearance near the top. The other metros where child care costs more than double rent are:
- Spokane, Wash. (115.7%)
- Bakersfield, Calif. (108.8%)
- Worcester, Mass. (106.1%)
- Scranton, Pa. (103.7%)
- Rochester, N.Y. (103.1%)
- Wichita (101.4%)
5 metros where child care for infant/4-year-old costs the most compared to rent
| Rank | Metro | Average monthly care, infant/4-year-old | Average monthly 2-bedroom rent | % difference | $ difference |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Springfield, MA | $3,241 | $1,375 | 135.7% | $1,866 |
| 2 | Syracuse, NY | $2,604 | $1,126 | 131.3% | $1,478 |
| 3 | Buffalo, NY | $2,618 | $1,163 | 125.1% | $1,455 |
| 4 | Spokane, WA | $2,813 | $1,304 | 115.7% | $1,509 |
| 5 | Bakersfield, CA | $2,627 | $1,258 | 108.8% | $1,369 |
Source: LendingTree analysis of 2023 Child Care Aware of America, 2022 BLS and fiscal year 2024 FMRs data. Notes: Rankings are based on the percentage difference. Only the 100 largest U.S. metros were analyzed.
To cover rent and child care for an infant and 4-year-old, you would need more than $6,000 monthly in Boston ($6,475), San Francisco ($6,323) and San Jose ($6,031) — making them the metros where the combined costs are highest.
Conversely, child care costs for two children are less expensive than rent in only nine metros. Miami ranks lowest, with child care costing just $1,982, 14.7% lower than rent costs of $2,324. San Francisco (11.8% lower) and Austin, Texas (8.0% lower), follow.
While that may seem good, Schulz says this indicates a different set of problems. “It likely means rent costs are out of control in those metros,” he says. “Families are already struggling to manage high rent costs. Adding in child care costs just makes things worse.”
Full rankings
Metros where child care for infant/4-year-old costs the most/least compared to rent
| Rank | Metro | Average monthly care, infant/4-year-old | Average monthly 2-bedroom rent | % difference | $ difference |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Springfield, MA | $3,241 | $1,375 | 135.7% | $1,866 |
| 2 | Syracuse, NY | $2,604 | $1,126 | 131.3% | $1,478 |
| 3 | Buffalo, NY | $2,618 | $1,163 | 125.1% | $1,455 |
| 4 | Spokane, WA | $2,813 | $1,304 | 115.7% | $1,509 |
| 5 | Bakersfield, CA | $2,627 | $1,258 | 108.8% | $1,369 |
| 6 | Worcester, MA | $3,424 | $1,661 | 106.1% | $1,763 |
| 7 | Scranton, PA | $2,116 | $1,039 | 103.7% | $1,077 |
| 8 | Rochester, NY | $2,654 | $1,307 | 103.1% | $1,347 |
| 9 | Wichita, KS | $2,048 | $1,017 | 101.4% | $1,031 |
| 10 | Albany, NY | $2,693 | $1,374 | 96.0% | $1,319 |
| 11 | Minneapolis, MN | $3,131 | $1,622 | 93.0% | $1,509 |
| 12 | Pittsburgh, PA | $2,162 | $1,161 | 86.2% | $1,001 |
| 13 | Washington, DC | $3,773 | $2,045 | 84.5% | $1,728 |
| 14 | Fresno, CA | $2,645 | $1,443 | 83.3% | $1,202 |
| 15 | Toledo, OH | $1,802 | $986 | 82.8% | $816 |
| 16 | Milwaukee, WI | $2,116 | $1,170 | 80.9% | $946 |
| 17 | Dayton, OH | $1,826 | $1,023 | 78.5% | $803 |
| 18 | Akron, OH | $1,840 | $1,039 | 77.1% | $801 |
| 19 | Des Moines, IA | $1,903 | $1,080 | 76.2% | $823 |
| 20 | Omaha, NE | $2,044 | $1,170 | 74.7% | $874 |
| 21 | Harrisburg, PA | $2,208 | $1,273 | 73.4% | $935 |
| 22 | Stockton, CA | $2,728 | $1,607 | 69.8% | $1,121 |
| 23 | Poughkeepsie, NY | $3,067 | $1,825 | 68.1% | $1,242 |
| 24 | Cleveland, OH | $1,860 | $1,108 | 67.9% | $752 |
| 25 | Winston-Salem, NC | $1,836 | $1,110 | 65.4% | $726 |
| 26 | St. Louis, MO | $1,998 | $1,209 | 65.3% | $789 |
| 27 | Hartford, CT | $2,679 | $1,654 | 62.0% | $1,025 |
| 28 | Albuquerque, NM | $1,968 | $1,222 | 61.0% | $746 |
| 29 | New Haven, CT | $2,692 | $1,676 | 60.6% | $1,016 |
| 30 | Virginia Beach, VA | $2,396 | $1,493 | 60.5% | $903 |
| 31 | McAllen, TX | $1,557 | $977 | 59.4% | $580 |
| 32 | Allentown, PA | $2,256 | $1,426 | 58.2% | $830 |
| 33 | Greensboro, NC | $1,842 | $1,170 | 57.4% | $672 |
| 34 | Cincinnati, OH | $1,868 | $1,195 | 56.3% | $673 |
| 35 | Richmond, VA | $2,389 | $1,532 | 55.9% | $857 |
| 36 | Madison, WI | $2,125 | $1,372 | 54.9% | $753 |
| 37 | Providence, RI | $2,606 | $1,693 | 53.9% | $913 |
| 38 | Detroit, MI | $1,979 | $1,291 | 53.3% | $688 |
| 39 | Colorado Springs, CO | $2,632 | $1,734 | 51.8% | $898 |
| 39 | Knoxville, TN | $1,854 | $1,221 | 51.8% | $633 |
| 41 | Kansas City, MO | $1,903 | $1,258 | 51.3% | $645 |
| 42 | Augusta, GA | $1,659 | $1,100 | 50.8% | $559 |
| 43 | Tucson, AZ | $1,953 | $1,337 | 46.1% | $616 |
| 44 | Indianapolis, IN | $1,970 | $1,349 | 46.0% | $621 |
| 45 | Oklahoma City, OK | $1,587 | $1,091 | 45.5% | $496 |
| 46 | Columbus, OH | $1,878 | $1,302 | 44.2% | $576 |
| 47 | Chicago, IL | $2,466 | $1,714 | 43.9% | $752 |
| 48 | Memphis, TN | $1,865 | $1,298 | 43.7% | $567 |
| 49 | Bridgeport, CT | $2,804 | $1,967 | 42.6% | $837 |
| 50 | El Paso, TX | $1,634 | $1,150 | 42.1% | $484 |
| 51 | Grand Rapids, MI | $1,940 | $1,369 | 41.7% | $571 |
| 52 | Tulsa, OK | $1,571 | $1,128 | 39.3% | $443 |
| 53 | Lakeland, FL | $1,710 | $1,250 | 36.8% | $460 |
| 54 | Baltimore, MD | $2,656 | $1,943 | 36.7% | $713 |
| 55 | Honolulu, HI | $3,035 | $2,252 | 34.8% | $783 |
| 56 | Little Rock, AR | $1,467 | $1,089 | 34.7% | $378 |
| 57 | Philadelphia, PA | $2,319 | $1,737 | 33.5% | $582 |
| 58 | Sacramento, CA | $2,763 | $2,072 | 33.3% | $691 |
| 59 | Riverside, CA | $2,675 | $2,010 | 33.1% | $665 |
| 60 | Denver, CO | $2,921 | $2,201 | 32.7% | $720 |
| 61 | Portland, OR | $2,680 | $2,024 | 32.4% | $656 |
| 62 | Houston, TX | $1,770 | $1,357 | 30.4% | $413 |
| 63 | Provo, UT | $1,630 | $1,253 | 30.1% | $377 |
| 64 | Boston, MA | $3,648 | $2,827 | 29.0% | $821 |
| 65 | Baton Rouge, LA | $1,641 | $1,277 | 28.5% | $364 |
| 66 | Deltona, FL | $1,756 | $1,413 | 24.3% | $343 |
| 67 | Charlotte, NC | $1,925 | $1,554 | 23.9% | $371 |
| 68 | Palm Bay, FL | $1,765 | $1,434 | 23.1% | $331 |
| 69 | New Orleans, LA | $1,660 | $1,362 | 21.9% | $298 |
| 70 | Las Vegas, NV | $1,998 | $1,643 | 21.6% | $355 |
| 71 | Nashville, TN | $1,962 | $1,619 | 21.2% | $343 |
| 72 | Louisville, KY | $1,567 | $1,301 | 20.4% | $266 |
| 73 | Ogden, UT | $1,620 | $1,350 | 20.0% | $270 |
| 74 | Oxnard, CA | $2,876 | $2,414 | 19.1% | $462 |
| 75 | Raleigh, NC | $1,955 | $1,646 | 18.8% | $309 |
| 75 | Greenville, SC | $1,433 | $1,206 | 18.8% | $227 |
| 77 | Birmingham, AL | $1,468 | $1,245 | 17.9% | $223 |
| 78 | Seattle, WA | $3,114 | $2,645 | 17.7% | $469 |
| 78 | Durham, NC | $1,919 | $1,631 | 17.7% | $288 |
| 80 | San Antonio, TX | $1,703 | $1,458 | 16.8% | $245 |
| 81 | Columbia, SC | $1,439 | $1,246 | 15.5% | $193 |
| 82 | Jackson, MS | $1,337 | $1,159 | 15.4% | $178 |
| 83 | Phoenix, AZ | $2,159 | $1,877 | 15.0% | $282 |
| 84 | Boise, ID | $1,591 | $1,388 | 14.6% | $203 |
| 85 | New York, NY | $3,151 | $2,752 | 14.5% | $399 |
| 86 | Los Angeles, CA | $2,844 | $2,544 | 11.8% | $300 |
| 87 | Jacksonville, FL | $1,751 | $1,604 | 9.2% | $147 |
| 88 | Cape Coral, FL | $1,808 | $1,677 | 7.8% | $131 |
| 89 | Dallas, TX | $1,854 | $1,758 | 5.5% | $96 |
| 90 | Salt Lake City, UT | $1,646 | $1,606 | 2.5% | $40 |
| 91 | San Diego, CA | $2,879 | $2,833 | 1.6% | $46 |
| 92 | North Port, FL | $1,802 | $1,815 | -0.7% | -$13 |
| 93 | Atlanta, GA | $1,782 | $1,844 | -3.4% | -$62 |
| 94 | Orlando, FL | $1,785 | $1,857 | -3.9% | -$72 |
| 95 | Tampa, FL | $1,772 | $1,851 | -4.3% | -$79 |
| 96 | Charleston, SC | $1,523 | $1,599 | -4.8% | -$76 |
| 97 | San Jose, CA | $2,899 | $3,132 | -7.4% | -$233 |
| 98 | Austin, TX | $1,770 | $1,924 | -8.0% | -$154 |
| 99 | San Francisco, CA | $2,964 | $3,359 | -11.8% | -$395 |
| 100 | Miami, FL | $1,982 | $2,324 | -14.7% | -$342 |
Source: LendingTree analysis of 2023 Child Care Aware of America, 2022 BLS and fiscal year 2024 FMRs data. Notes: Rankings are based on the percentage difference. Only the 100 largest U.S. metros were analyzed.
Raising child in major metro: Top expert tips
Being a parent who rents in a large metro is understandably tough, but you don’t have to drown in debt to make it work. Schulz offers the following advice:
- Seek financial help from the government and other organizations. “For those struggling the most with child care, help is available,” he says. “Seek local, state and federal government agencies geared toward helping financially strapped parents, but also consider religious organizations and other nonprofits. It can be tough to swallow your pride to reach out for help, but you can do it if it’s important enough to your family.”
- Consider a personal loan to help in a pinch. “Taking on extra debt may seem like the last thing to do when you’re struggling with child care costs, but it may be helpful,” he says. “That’s especially true if you expect your financial hardship to be temporary, due to a job loss, medical emergency or unforeseen event. A personal loan can help make things easier. You can even use one to consolidate loans, ideally reducing your interest rates. Just make sure you shop around. Loan offers can vary widely by lender, but you won’t be able to see that unless you take the time to comparison shop.”
Methodology
LendingTree researchers used 2023 Child Care Aware of America data to calculate average full-time center-based child care costs for one infant and two children (an infant and a 4-year-old) in the 100 largest U.S. metros.
Researchers determined child care costs in the 100 metros by adjusting state costs to the 2022 metropolitan area regional price parity (RPP) for all items via the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA). This adjustment was done using the state RPP as the base for our calculation.
Then, child care costs were compared to the cost of renting a two-bedroom housing unit in each metro based on fiscal year 2024 Fair Market Rents (FMRs) data via the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). We also calculated two-bedroom rent and child care averages across the 100 largest metros.
Fair Market Rents (FMRs) are estimates of the amount required to cover gross rents (rent and utility expenses) for 40% of the rental housing units in a given area. These estimates are crucial for several HUD programs, including setting the maximum amount covered by Housing Choice Vouchers.