Depending on the age of the child and whether care is based out of a center or a home, the average annual child care tuition in Florida can range from $6,000 to over $18,500 in 2026. Across all care types for children under five, the average tuition for the year comes in at $9,759. The breadth of this range means there’s a lot of variance in child care prices for Florida families – and a lot of potential room for error for child care providers looking to set or adjust their prices for the year. 

Ultimately, the price of child care tuition may depend on a handful of factors, starting from local benchmarks and ending with factors more personal to the business like the specific locale, overhead costs, growth goals, and profit margins. With this in mind, Playground evaluated county-level child care tuition data across Florida to give providers an idea of what the competition looks like, as a starting point for their own pricing strategy.

Depending on a child’s age and whether care is center- or home-based, average annual child care tuition in Florida ranges from $6,000 to more than $18,500 in 2026. Across all care types for children under five, the yearly average is $9,759. This wide range reflects significant variation in costs for Florida families and highlights the importance of careful pricing decisions by providers.

To give child care directors in Florida a clear view of the competitive landscape, Playground analyzed county-level child care tuition data across the state. These figures can serve as a useful starting point for developing a pricing strategy.

Playground child care management software can help your child care center streamline operations, save money, and pay more attention to what matters. Book a free demo today.

How to Price Child Care and Daycare Services in Florida

Providers should not base their rates solely on those of local competitors, as this approach can easily lead to under- or over-pricing. Directors need to factor in their full overhead costs – including rent, payroll, and supplies – along with projected vacancy rates, growth goals, distinct offerings, profit margins, and other local considerations. The aim is a realistic price that supports the business’s financial needs while remaining attractive to families in the area.

For comprehensive, step-by-step guidance on evaluating your pricing strategy, see Playground’s tuition pricing guide, which applies to Florida directors and providers elsewhere.

Average Child Care Costs in Florida by Center Type and Age

Averages are across all counties, separated by child age and center type (home-based or center-based). Costs are for a full year of care.

Most Expensive Counties in Florida for Child Care

Palm Beach County has the most expensive child care tuition across Florida in 2026  at $13,390 across ages and care types. The top 10 most expensive counties in Florida also include:

1. Palm Beach County: $13,390

2. Pinellas County: $13,154

3. Martin County: $12,272

4. Charlotte County: $12,028

5. Sumter County: $11,866

6. St. Johns County: $11,764

7. Sarasota County: $11,692

8. Seminole County: $11,552

9. Broward County: $11,136

10. Alachua County: $11,029

A further breakdown of the average costs by care type and center type can be found below.

Least Expensive Counties in Florida for Child Care

Across Florida, Washington County has the least expensive child care tuition at $6,592 across care types per year as of 2026. The other counties with the lowest-priced child care include:

1. Washington County: $6,592

2. DeSoto County: $6,693

3. Suwannee County: $6,896

4. Putnam County: $7,105

5. Gadsden County: $7,251

6. Madison County: $7,454

7. Baker County: $7,708

8. Taylor County: $7,716

9. Hardee County: $8,113

10. Columbia County: $8,195

A further breakdown of the average costs by care type and center type can be found below.

Average Child Care Costs in Florida by County

58 Florida counties with available data are listed below in order of the most expensive average annual child care tuition as of 2026. A breakdown of average tuition by child age and care type is also included.

1. Palm Beach County

   • Average child care tuition: $13,390

   • Infant, center-based care: $18,560

   • Infant, home-based care: $12,171

   • Toddler, center-based care: $14,924

   • Toddler, home-based care: $10,953

   • Preschool, center-based care: $13,387

   • Preschool, home-based care: $10,345

2. Pinellas County

   • Average child care tuition: $13,154

   • Infant, center-based care: $18,255

   • Infant, home-based care: $14,909

   • Toddler, center-based care: $11,258

   • Toddler, home-based care: $12,171

   • Preschool, center-based care: $10,163

   • Preschool, home-based care: $12,171

3. Martin County

   • Average child care tuition: $12,272

   • Infant, center-based care: $14,604

   • Infant, home-based care: NA

   • Toddler, center-based care: $11,562

   • Toddler, home-based care: NA

   • Preschool, center-based care: $10,649

   • Preschool, home-based care: NA

4. Charlotte County

   • Average child care tuition: $12,028

   • Infant, center-based care: $12,109

   • Infant, home-based care: $13,996

   • Toddler, center-based care: $10,953

   • Toddler, home-based care: $13,083

   • Preschool, center-based care: $10,467

   • Preschool, home-based care: $11,562

5. Sumter County

   • Average child care tuition: $11,866

   • Infant, center-based care: $13,691

   • Infant, home-based care: NA

   • Toddler, center-based care: $11,258

   • Toddler, home-based care: NA

   • Preschool, center-based care: $10,649

   • Preschool, home-based care: NA

6. St. Johns County

   • Average child care tuition: $11,764

   • Infant, center-based care: $17,038

   • Infant, home-based care: $9,127

   • Toddler, center-based care: $14,909

   • Toddler, home-based care: $7,606

   • Preschool, center-based care: $14,300

   • Preschool, home-based care: $7,606

7. Sarasota County

   • Average child care tuition: $11,692

   • Infant, center-based care: $12,778

   • Infant, home-based care: $12,171

   • Toddler, center-based care: $11,735

   • Toddler, home-based care: $11,258

   • Preschool, center-based care: $11,258

   • Preschool, home-based care: $10,953

8. Seminole County

   • Average child care tuition: $11,552

   • Infant, center-based care: $15,152

   • Infant, home-based care: $10,649

   • Toddler, center-based care: $12,171

   • Toddler, home-based care: $10,649

   • Preschool, center-based care: $11,562

   • Preschool, home-based care: $9,127

9. Broward County

   • Average child care tuition: $11,136

   • Infant, center-based care: $14,179

   • Infant, home-based care: $11,258

   • Toddler, center-based care: $11,562

   • Toddler, home-based care: $9,736

   • Preschool, center-based care: $10,953

   • Preschool, home-based care: $9,127

10. Alachua County

• Average child care tuition: $11,029

• Infant, center-based care: $15,213

• Infant, home-based care: $14,300

• Toddler, center-based care: $11,105

• Toddler, home-based care: $7,911

• Preschool, center-based care: $9,736

• Preschool, home-based care: $7,911

11. Hillsborough County

• Average child care tuition: $10,953

• Infant, center-based care: $14,604

• Infant, home-based care: $10,649

• Toddler, center-based care: $11,562

• Toddler, home-based care: $9,127

• Preschool, center-based care: $10,649

• Preschool, home-based care: $9,127

12. Collier County

• Average child care tuition: $10,914

• Infant, center-based care: $13,701

• Infant, home-based care: $10,649

• Toddler, center-based care: $11,866

• Toddler, home-based care: $9,127

• Preschool, center-based care: $11,318

• Preschool, home-based care: $8,824

13. Okaloosa County

• Average child care tuition: $10,865

• Infant, center-based care: $13,691

• Infant, home-based care: $10,120

• Toddler, center-based care: $11,258

• Toddler, home-based care: $10,040

• Preschool, center-based care: $10,040

• Preschool, home-based care: $10,040

14. Brevard County

• Average child care tuition: $10,822

• Infant, center-based care: $12,171

• Infant, home-based care: $12,171

• Toddler, center-based care: $10,163

• Toddler, home-based care: $10,649

• Preschool, center-based care: $9,432

• Preschool, home-based care: $10,345

15. Orange County

• Average child care tuition: $10,748

• Infant, center-based care: $13,691

• Infant, home-based care: $11,242

• Toddler, center-based care: $10,953

• Toddler, home-based care: $9,736

• Preschool, center-based care: $9,736

• Preschool, home-based care: $9,127

16. Flagler County

• Average child care tuition: $10,649

• Infant, center-based care: $13,387

• Infant, home-based care: $10,040

• Toddler, center-based care: $11,562

• Toddler, home-based care: $9,432

• Preschool, center-based care: $10,345

• Preschool, home-based care: $9,127

17. St. Lucie County

• Average child care tuition: $10,629

• Infant, center-based care: $14,300

• Infant, home-based care: $10,040

• Toddler, center-based care: $10,953

• Toddler, home-based care: $9,127

• Preschool, center-based care: $10,223

• Preschool, home-based care: $9,127

18. Pasco County

• Average child care tuition: $10,548

• Infant, center-based care: $13,691

• Infant, home-based care: $10,649

• Toddler, center-based care: $10,345

• Toddler, home-based care: $9,432

• Preschool, center-based care: $10,040

• Preschool, home-based care: $9,127

19. Polk County

• Average child care tuition: $10,497

• Infant, center-based care: $13,996

• Infant, home-based care: $12,171

• Toddler, center-based care: $9,432

• Toddler, home-based care: $10,040

• Preschool, center-based care: $8,520

• Preschool, home-based care: $8,824

20. Manatee County

• Average child care tuition: $10,497

• Infant, center-based care: $13,387

• Infant, home-based care: $9,736

• Toddler, center-based care: $11,258

• Toddler, home-based care: $9,432

• Preschool, center-based care: $10,040

• Preschool, home-based care: $9,127

21. Santa Rosa County

• Average child care tuition: $10,497

• Infant, center-based care: $14,300

• Infant, home-based care: $9,736

• Toddler, center-based care: $10,953

• Toddler, home-based care: $9,127

• Preschool, center-based care: $10,040

• Preschool, home-based care: $8,824

22. Bay County

• Average child care tuition: $10,361

• Infant, center-based care: $13,083

• Infant, home-based care: $9,837

• Toddler, center-based care: $10,953

• Toddler, home-based care: $9,127

• Preschool, center-based care: $10,040

• Preschool, home-based care: $9,127

23. Calhoun County

• Average child care tuition: $10,244

• Infant, center-based care: $12,171

• Infant, home-based care: NA

• Toddler, center-based care: $9,736

• Toddler, home-based care: NA

• Preschool, center-based care: $8,824

• Preschool, home-based care: NA

24. Jackson County

• Average child care tuition: $10,244

• Infant, center-based care: $12,171

• Infant, home-based care: NA

• Toddler, center-based care: $9,736

• Toddler, home-based care: NA

• Preschool, center-based care: $8,824

• Preschool, home-based care: NA

25. Lake County

• Average child care tuition: $10,223

• Infant, center-based care: $12,171

• Infant, home-based care: $10,649

• Toddler, center-based care: $10,223

• Toddler, home-based care: $9,127

• Preschool, center-based care: $10,040

• Preschool, home-based care: $9,127

26. Duval County

• Average child care tuition: $10,223

• Infant, center-based care: $13,691

• Infant, home-based care: $10,649

• Toddler, center-based care: $11,136

• Toddler, home-based care: $8,215

• Preschool, center-based care: $10,040

• Preschool, home-based care: $7,606

27. Clay County

• Average child care tuition: $10,193

• Infant, center-based care: $12,171

• Infant, home-based care: $10,649

• Toddler, center-based care: $10,345

• Toddler, home-based care: $9,432

• Preschool, center-based care: $9,432

• Preschool, home-based care: $9,127

28. Monroe County

• Average child care tuition: $10,193

• Infant, center-based care: $12,171

• Infant, home-based care: $9,127

• Toddler, center-based care: $10,953

• Toddler, home-based care: $9,127

• Preschool, center-based care: $10,649

• Preschool, home-based care: $9,127

29. Bradford County

• Average child care tuition: $9,838

• Infant, center-based care: $10,649

• Infant, home-based care: NA

• Toddler, center-based care: $10,040

• Toddler, home-based care: NA

• Preschool, center-based care: $8,824

• Preschool, home-based care: NA

30. Osceola County

• Average child care tuition: $9,817

• Infant, center-based care: $12,353

• Infant, home-based care: $9,127

• Toddler, center-based care: $10,345

• Toddler, home-based care: $9,127

• Preschool, center-based care: $9,736

• Preschool, home-based care: $8,215

31. Walton County

• Average child care tuition: $9,762

• Infant, center-based care: $12,171

• Infant, home-based care: $9,371

• Toddler, center-based care: $10,345

• Toddler, home-based care: $8,520

• Preschool, center-based care: $9,736

• Preschool, home-based care: $8,431

32. Miami-Dade County

• Average child care tuition: $9,737

• Infant, center-based care: $12,171

• Infant, home-based care: $9,127

• Toddler, center-based care: $10,345

• Toddler, home-based care: $8,824

• Preschool, center-based care: $9,432

• Preschool, home-based care: $8,520

33. Volusia County

• Average child care tuition: $9,635

• Infant, center-based care: $12,171

• Infant, home-based care: $10,040

• Toddler, center-based care: $9,736

• Toddler, home-based care: $8,520

• Preschool, center-based care: $9,127

• Preschool, home-based care: $8,215

34. Indian River County

• Average child care tuition: $9,584

• Infant, center-based care: $11,258

• Infant, home-based care: $9,127

• Toddler, center-based care: $9,736

• Toddler, home-based care: $9,127

• Preschool, center-based care: $9,127

• Preschool, home-based care: $9,127

35. Nassau County

• Average child care tuition: $9,524

• Infant, center-based care: $11,562

• Infant, home-based care: $9,710

• Toddler, center-based care: $10,120

• Toddler, home-based care: $7,987

• Preschool, center-based care: $9,736

• Preschool, home-based care: $8,029

36. Marion County

• Average child care tuition: $9,320

• Infant, center-based care: $11,258

• Infant, home-based care: $10,953

• Toddler, center-based care: $9,432

• Toddler, home-based care: $8,032

• Preschool, center-based care: $8,641

• Preschool, home-based care: $7,606

37. Holmes County

• Average child care tuition: $9,280

• Infant, center-based care: NA

• Infant, home-based care: NA

• Toddler, center-based care: $9,736

• Toddler, home-based care: NA

• Preschool, center-based care: $8,824

• Preschool, home-based care: NA

38. Lee County

• Average child care tuition: $9,280

• Infant, center-based care: $12,171

• Infant, home-based care: $9,127

• Toddler, center-based care: $9,736

• Toddler, home-based care: $7,911

• Preschool, center-based care: $9,127

• Preschool, home-based care: $7,606

39. Leon County

• Average child care tuition: $9,236

• Infant, center-based care: $10,953

• Infant, home-based care: $9,134

• Toddler, center-based care: $9,615

• Toddler, home-based care: $8,367

• Preschool, center-based care: $9,134

• Preschool, home-based care: $8,215

40. Escambia County

• Average child care tuition: $9,193

• Infant, center-based care: $11,258

• Infant, home-based care: $10,120

• Toddler, center-based care: $9,487

• Toddler, home-based care: $8,017

• Preschool, center-based care: $8,824

• Preschool, home-based care: $7,454

41. Highlands County

• Average child care tuition: $9,027

• Infant, center-based care: $10,345

• Infant, home-based care: NA

• Toddler, center-based care: $8,520

• Toddler, home-based care: NA

• Preschool, center-based care: $8,215

• Preschool, home-based care: NA

42. Hendry County

• Average child care tuition: $8,938

• Infant, center-based care: $10,649

• Infant, home-based care: $9,736

• Toddler, center-based care: $9,432

• Toddler, home-based care: $8,017

• Preschool, center-based care: $8,945

• Preschool, home-based care: $6,846

43. Wakulla County

• Average child care tuition: $8,736

• Infant, center-based care: $10,539

• Infant, home-based care: NA

• Toddler, center-based care: $8,011

• Toddler, home-based care: NA

• Preschool, center-based care: $7,658

• Preschool, home-based care: NA

44. Hamilton County

• Average child care tuition: $8,606

• Infant, center-based care: NA

• Infant, home-based care: $10,953

• Toddler, center-based care: NA

• Toddler, home-based care: $8,017

• Preschool, center-based care: NA

• Preschool, home-based care: $6,846

45. Levy County

• Average child care tuition: $8,519

• Infant, center-based care: $10,649

• Infant, home-based care: NA

• Toddler, center-based care: $7,606

• Toddler, home-based care: NA

• Preschool, center-based care: $7,302

• Preschool, home-based care: NA

46. Citrus County

• Average child care tuition: $8,367

• Infant, center-based care: $10,649

• Infant, home-based care: $7,911

• Toddler, center-based care: $8,520

• Toddler, home-based care: $7,606

• Preschool, center-based care: $7,911

• Preschool, home-based care: $7,606

47. Hernando County

• Average child care tuition: $8,367

• Infant, center-based care: $10,040

• Infant, home-based care: $9,127

• Toddler, center-based care: $7,606

• Toddler, home-based care: $8,520

• Preschool, center-based care: $6,998

• Preschool, home-based care: $7,911

48. Jefferson County

• Average child care tuition: $8,347

• Infant, center-based care: $9,127

• Infant, home-based care: NA

• Toddler, center-based care: $8,520

• Toddler, home-based care: NA

• Preschool, center-based care: $7,394

• Preschool, home-based care: NA

49. Columbia County

• Average child care tuition: $8,195

• Infant, center-based care: $9,493

• Infant, home-based care: NA

• Toddler, center-based care: $7,911

• Toddler, home-based care: NA

• Preschool, center-based care: $7,181

• Preschool, home-based care: NA

50. Hardee County

• Average child care tuition: $8,113

• Infant, center-based care: $9,127

• Infant, home-based care: NA

• Toddler, center-based care: $7,911

• Toddler, home-based care: NA

• Preschool, center-based care: $7,302

• Preschool, home-based care: NA

51. Taylor County

• Average child care tuition: $7,716

• Infant, center-based care: NA

• Infant, home-based care: $10,953

• Toddler, center-based care: $6,249

• Toddler, home-based care: $8,017

• Preschool, center-based care: $5,698

• Preschool, home-based care: $7,663

52. Baker County

• Average child care tuition: $7,708

• Infant, center-based care: $8,520

• Infant, home-based care: NA

• Toddler, center-based care: $7,606

• Toddler, home-based care: NA

• Preschool, center-based care: $6,998

• Preschool, home-based care: NA

53. Madison County

• Average child care tuition: $7,454

• Infant, center-based care: $8,520

• Infant, home-based care: $7,606

• Toddler, center-based care: $7,302

• Toddler, home-based care: $6,998

• Preschool, center-based care: $7,302

• Preschool, home-based care: $6,998

54. Gadsden County

• Average child care tuition: $7,251

• Infant, center-based care: $8,367

• Infant, home-based care: NA

• Toddler, center-based care: $6,998

• Toddler, home-based care: NA

• Preschool, center-based care: $6,389

• Preschool, home-based care: NA

55. Putnam County

• Average child care tuition: $7,105

• Infant, center-based care: $9,557

• Infant, home-based care: $7,129

• Toddler, center-based care: $7,688

• Toddler, home-based care: $6,085

• Preschool, center-based care: $6,693

• Preschool, home-based care: $5,476

56. Suwannee County

• Average child care tuition: $6,896

• Infant, center-based care: $7,911

• Infant, home-based care: NA

• Toddler, center-based care: $6,693

• Toddler, home-based care: NA

• Preschool, center-based care: $6,085

• Preschool, home-based care: NA

57. DeSoto County

• Average child care tuition: $6,693

• Infant, center-based care: NA

• Infant, home-based care: NA

• Toddler, center-based care: $6,693

• Toddler, home-based care: NA

• Preschool, center-based care: $6,693

• Preschool, home-based care: NA

58. Washington County

• Average child care tuition: $6,592

• Infant, center-based care: NA

• Infant, home-based care: $7,606

• Toddler, center-based care: NA

• Toddler, home-based care: $6,085

• Preschool, center-based care: NA

• Preschool, home-based care: $6,085

Data and Methodology

The data above is adjusted to 2026 dollars based on the data from the National Database of Childcare Prices for 2024, released by the U.S. Department of Labor (Women’s Bureau). Data for Dixie, Franklin, Gilchrist, Glades, Gulf, Lafayette, Liberty, Okeechobee, and Union Counties was not available.