Child care tuition in Maryland is pricier than in most states – particularly in counties neighboring Washington, D.C. – but the breakdown by county shows a divergence between prices depending on the locale. While some child care directors price their services as high as $25,000 per year or more, others come in at less than $8,000 per year. The pricing generally depends on the locale, age of the child, and center type, but other differentiating factors also come into play.

For 2026, the average annual child care tuition for children under five in Maryland is $12,507. But directors looking to accurately and competitively price their services might consider using local benchmarks to determine their position in the market to remain attractive to local families while ensuring a sound level of profitability. 

This guide provides detailed 2026 child care tuition data for each Maryland county, broken down by service type and child age. It also includes guidance and best practices to help you set your own rates using nine key factors that position your business relative to local competitors.

Looking for ways to streamline your Maryland child care or daycare business and improve your bottom line? Consider booking a free demo with Playground.

How to Price Child Care and Daycare Services in Maryland

While each center will be different, a handful of universal factors may be used by most daycare providers to help set their tuition rates. These may include the local competitive landscape – such as how many options local families have – combined with the number of families needing care in your area. Other factors might include business costs, job market dynamics, long-term growth goals, subsidy and grant participation, care quality and differentiators, incentive pricing and more. For more details on how to price your services competitively, check out Playground’s full child care tuition pricing guide.

Average Child Care Costs in Maryland 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. Across all care types and child ages, the average cost of care is $12,507.

Most Expensive Counties in Maryland for Child Care

Out of 26 counties across Maryland (including Baltimore City) Howard County and Montgomery County have the most expensive child care tuition for 2026 across all center types and ages under five at $19,425 per year. 

The top 10 most expensive counties for child care tuition in Maryland are:

• Howard County: $19,425

• Montgomery County: $19,425

• Baltimore County: $15,142

• Anne Arundel County: $14,624

• Prince George's County: $14,624

• Calvert County: $14,481

• Carroll County: $14,481

• Charles County: $14,481

• Frederick County: $14,442

• Harford County: $14,442

Least Expensive Counties in Maryland for Child Care

Based on the average annual child care tuition across all care types and child ages, the least expensive counties include:

• Dorchester County: $9,335

• Somerset County: $9,335

• Wicomico County: $9,335

• Caroline County: $9,570

• Kent County: $9,570

• Allegany County: $9,936

• Worcester County: $9,936

• Garrett County: $10,185

• Cecil County: $11,099

• Queen Anne's County: $11,099

Average Child Care Costs in Maryland by County

Counties are listed in alphabetical order with a breakdown of child care tuition/prices in 2026 dollars based on the center type and child age.

1. Allegany County

• Average child care tuition: $9,936

• Infant, center-based care: $14,474

• Infant, home-based care: $9,092

• Toddler, center-based care: $9,770

• Toddler, home-based care: $8,256

• Preschool, center-based care: $9,770

• Preschool, home-based care: $8,256

2. Anne Arundel County

• Average child care tuition: $14,624

• Infant, center-based care: $19,922

• Infant, home-based care: $14,657

• Toddler, center-based care: $14,044

• Toddler, home-based care: $12,540

• Preschool, center-based care: $14,044

• Preschool, home-based care: $12,540

3. Baltimore City

• Average child care tuition: $11,906

• Infant, center-based care: $15,214

• Infant, home-based care: $10,952

• Toddler, center-based care: $13,160

• Toddler, home-based care: $9,476

• Preschool, center-based care: $13,160

• Preschool, home-based care: $9,476

4. Baltimore County

• Average child care tuition: $15,142

• Infant, center-based care: $21,011

• Infant, home-based care: $13,954

• Toddler, center-based care: $15,553

• Toddler, home-based care: $12,392

• Preschool, center-based care: $15,553

• Preschool, home-based care: $12,392

5. Calvert County

• Average child care tuition: $14,481

• Infant, center-based care: $19,678

• Infant, home-based care: $14,556

• Toddler, center-based care: $13,871

• Toddler, home-based care: $12,453

• Preschool, center-based care: $13,871

• Preschool, home-based care: $12,453

6. Caroline County

• Average child care tuition: $9,570

• Infant, center-based care: $13,201

• Infant, home-based care: $9,570

• Toddler, center-based care: $9,559

• Toddler, home-based care: $7,765

• Preschool, center-based care: $9,559

• Preschool, home-based care: $7,765

7. Carroll County

• Average child care tuition: $14,481

• Infant, center-based care: $19,678

• Infant, home-based care: $14,556

• Toddler, center-based care: $13,871

• Toddler, home-based care: $12,453

• Preschool, center-based care: $13,871

• Preschool, home-based care: $12,453

8. Cecil County

• Average child care tuition: $11,099

• Infant, center-based care: $15,483

• Infant, home-based care: $10,755

• Toddler, center-based care: $10,668

• Toddler, home-based care: $9,511

• Preschool, center-based care: $10,668

• Preschool, home-based care: $9,511

9. Charles County

• Average child care tuition: $14,481

• Infant, center-based care: $19,678

• Infant, home-based care: $14,556

• Toddler, center-based care: $13,871

• Toddler, home-based care: $12,453

• Preschool, center-based care: $13,871

• Preschool, home-based care: $12,453

10. Dorchester County

• Average child care tuition: $9,335

• Infant, center-based care: $12,694

• Infant, home-based care: $9,504

• Toddler, center-based care: $9,193

• Toddler, home-based care: $7,712

• Preschool, center-based care: $9,193

• Preschool, home-based care: $7,712

11. Frederick County

• Average child care tuition: $14,442

• Infant, center-based care: $19,773

• Infant, home-based care: $13,481

• Toddler, center-based care: $14,794

• Toddler, home-based care: $11,906

• Preschool, center-based care: $14,794

• Preschool, home-based care: $11,906

12. Garrett County

• Average child care tuition: $10,185

• Infant, center-based care: $15,023

• Infant, home-based care: $9,155

• Toddler, center-based care: $10,153

• Toddler, home-based care: $8,312

• Preschool, center-based care: $10,153

• Preschool, home-based care: $8,312

13. Harford County

• Average child care tuition: $14,442

• Infant, center-based care: $19,773

• Infant, home-based care: $13,481

• Toddler, center-based care: $14,794

• Toddler, home-based care: $11,906

• Preschool, center-based care: $14,794

• Preschool, home-based care: $11,906

14. Howard County

• Average child care tuition: $19,425

• Infant, center-based care: $25,198

• Infant, home-based care: $17,503

• Toddler, center-based care: $20,429

• Toddler, home-based care: $16,497

• Preschool, center-based care: $20,429

• Preschool, home-based care: $16,497

15. Kent County

• Average child care tuition: $9,570

• Infant, center-based care: $13,201

• Infant, home-based care: $9,570

• Toddler, center-based care: $9,559

• Toddler, home-based care: $7,765

• Preschool, center-based care: $9,559

• Preschool, home-based care: $7,765

16. Montgomery County

• Average child care tuition: $19,425

• Infant, center-based care: $25,198

• Infant, home-based care: $17,503

• Toddler, center-based care: $20,429

• Toddler, home-based care: $16,497

• Preschool, center-based care: $20,429

• Preschool, home-based care: $16,497

17. Prince George's County

• Average child care tuition: $14,624

• Infant, center-based care: $19,922

• Infant, home-based care: $14,657

• Toddler, center-based care: $14,044

• Toddler, home-based care: $12,540

• Preschool, center-based care: $14,044

• Preschool, home-based care: $12,540

18. Queen Anne's County

• Average child care tuition: $11,099

• Infant, center-based care: $15,483

• Infant, home-based care: $10,755

• Toddler, center-based care: $10,668

• Toddler, home-based care: $9,511

• Preschool, center-based care: $10,668

• Preschool, home-based care: $9,511

19. Somerset County

• Average child care tuition: $9,335

• Infant, center-based care: $12,694

• Infant, home-based care: $9,504

• Toddler, center-based care: $9,193

• Toddler, home-based care: $7,712

• Preschool, center-based care: $9,193

• Preschool, home-based care: $7,712

20. St. Mary's County

• Average child care tuition: $11,099

• Infant, center-based care: $15,483

• Infant, home-based care: $10,755

• Toddler, center-based care: $10,668

• Toddler, home-based care: $9,511

• Preschool, center-based care: $10,668

• Preschool, home-based care: $9,511

21. Talbot County

• Average child care tuition: $11,099

• Infant, center-based care: $15,483

• Infant, home-based care: $10,755

• Toddler, center-based care: $10,668

• Toddler, home-based care: $9,511

• Preschool, center-based care: $10,668

• Preschool, home-based care: $9,511

22. Washington County

• Average child care tuition: $11,099

• Infant, center-based care: $15,483

• Infant, home-based care: $10,755

• Toddler, center-based care: $10,668

• Toddler, home-based care: $9,511

• Preschool, center-based care: $10,668

• Preschool, home-based care: $9,511

23. Wicomico County

• Average child care tuition: $9,335

• Infant, center-based care: $12,694

• Infant, home-based care: $9,504

• Toddler, center-based care: $9,193

• Toddler, home-based care: $7,712

• Preschool, center-based care: $9,193

• Preschool, home-based care: $7,712

24. Worcester County

• Average child care tuition: $9,936

• Infant, center-based care: $14,474

• Infant, home-based care: $9,092

• Toddler, center-based care: $9,770

• Toddler, home-based care: $8,256

• Preschool, center-based care: $9,770

• Preschool, home-based care: $8,256

Data and Methodology

The data above is adjusted to 2026 dollars based on the latest data from the National Database of Childcare Prices, released by the U.S. Department of Labor (Women’s Bureau).