How much does daycare cost in Florida?

The two figures come from different sources. The 2022 figure is the U.S. Department of Labor's price for the middle Florida county, from the state's survey of provider prices; the survey priced 58 of Florida's 67 counties, and each one counts the same. The 2026 figure is the middle rate among daycares that publish prices online, and nearly all of them are centers: 99.2% of the 238 Florida daycares that post a full-time rate.

Prices have risen over four years as well. Posted infant rates run about $100 a week above the 2022 county price, toddler rates about $78 and preschool rates about $55. Use the 2022 figures to compare counties, and the posted rates as a picture of what centers charge now.

School-age care is the one age where the two match: $117 a week posted against $115 in 2022. Ask whether a school-age rate covers full summer days or only before and after school.

In 2022, center infant care ran from $130 a week in Suwannee County to $305 in Palm Beach County. Among the three most populous counties, Miami-Dade sat right at the state's middle at $200, Broward was $233 and Palm Beach had the state's highest price.

Home daycares cost less. The middle Florida county charged $166 a week for home infant care in 2022, against $200 at a center, and $145 for preschoolers against $155.

Florida's School Readiness program, run by the Division of Early Learning with local early learning coalitions, helps families with lower incomes pay for child care. On DaycarePal, 5,973 Florida daycares are listed as accepting child care assistance: find one that accepts it.

Every 4-year-old who lives in Florida can attend Voluntary Prekindergarten (VPK) for free, at a private center or a public school, in a school-year or summer program. Head Start and Early Head Start are also free for families who qualify and serve children from birth to age 5.

Home daycares and part-time schedules can lower the cost. When you compare daycares, ask about registration fees, sibling discounts and whether VPK hours can be combined with paid care for the rest of the day.