Child care tuition in Oregon varies widely by county, with a sharp divide between the Portland metro area and the state's more rural counties. Across all locations and early childhood ages, the average annual tuition price in Oregon comes to roughly $11,900 for 2026. But infant center-based care in the priciest counties can approach $25,000, while much of rural Oregon clusters near a statewide floor of about $10,300.

To attract more families in a competitive market, it's important for child care providers to price their services at a point where it's affordable for families but still makes for a profitable business. To this end, Playground compiled local county averages for tuition prices in 2026 across infants, toddlers, and preschoolers both at home- and center-based providers, as well as tips for how to effectively price your services.

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 Oregon

Local benchmarks are a useful reference point when you're setting tuition or deciding whether to raise it, but they're only part of the picture. The right price for your program depends on your specific situation, goals, and how you position yourself in the market. Be sure to weigh your overhead – the ongoing costs you need to reliably cover – along with your typical vacancy rates, enrollment growth plans, and other realities unique to your business.

It's also worth looking closely at how you stack up against nearby providers, since some families will happily pay more for higher-quality care. At the same time, families in lower-income communities may only be able to enroll if your rates fit their budget or you take part in subsidy programs. For a deeper look at setting rates that work, check out Playground's full child care tuition pricing guide.

Average Child Care Costs in Oregon 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 Oregon for Child Care

Multnomah County has the most expensive average child care tuition in Oregon at an average of $17,869 annually. Across both care types and all pre-k age groups, the top 10 most expensive counties for child care tuition in the Beaver State include:

1. Multnomah County: $17,869

2. Washington County: $17,110

3. Clackamas County: $16,036

4. Deschutes County: $15,628

5. Benton County: $15,570

6. Lane County: $15,224

7. Hood River County: $14,270

8. Columbia County: $13,035

9. Yamhill County: $12,979

10. Jackson County: $12,092

Least Expensive Counties in Oregon for Child Care

Fourteen counties across Oregon share the rank of lowest average tuition rates. Across infant, toddler, and preschooler care – including both center- and home-based operations – the average annual tuition rate is $10,274 across:

• Baker County

• Crook County

• Gilliam County

• Grant County

• Harney County

• Jefferson County

• Klamath County

• Lake County

• Malheur County

• Morrow County

• Sherman County

• Tillamook County

• Union County

• Wheeler County

Average Child Care Costs in Oregon 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. Baker County

   • Average child care tuition: $10,274

   • Infant, center-based care: $12,006

   • Infant, home-based care: $10,532

   • Toddler, center-based care: $11,024

   • Toddler, home-based care: $9,830

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

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

2. Benton County

   • Average child care tuition: $15,570

   • Infant, center-based care: $20,701

   • Infant, home-based care: $14,244

   • Toddler, center-based care: $19,012

   • Toddler, home-based care: $12,711

   • Preschool, center-based care: $14,857

   • Preschool, home-based care: $11,897

3. Clackamas County

   • Average child care tuition: $16,036

   • Infant, center-based care: $21,787

   • Infant, home-based care: $13,974

   • Toddler, center-based care: $20,136

   • Toddler, home-based care: $12,644

   • Preschool, center-based care: $15,790

   • Preschool, home-based care: $11,885

4. Clatsop County

   • Average child care tuition: $12,057

   • Infant, center-based care: $14,122

   • Infant, home-based care: $12,648

   • Toddler, center-based care: $12,906

   • Toddler, home-based care: $11,472

   • Preschool, center-based care: $10,487

   • Preschool, home-based care: $10,706

5. Columbia County

   • Average child care tuition: $13,035

   • Infant, center-based care: $16,606

   • Infant, home-based care: $12,198

   • Toddler, center-based care: $15,228

   • Toddler, home-based care: $11,355

   • Preschool, center-based care: $12,146

   • Preschool, home-based care: $10,675

6. Coos County

   • Average child care tuition: $11,453

   • Infant, center-based care: $14,517

   • Infant, home-based care: $10,532

   • Toddler, center-based care: $13,258

   • Toddler, home-based care: $10,138

   • Preschool, center-based care: $10,739

   • Preschool, home-based care: $9,534

7. Crook County

   • Average child care tuition: $10,274

   • Infant, center-based care: $12,006

   • Infant, home-based care: $10,532

   • Toddler, center-based care: $11,024

   • Toddler, home-based care: $9,830

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

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

8. Curry County

   • Average child care tuition: $10,407

   • Infant, center-based care: $12,006

   • Infant, home-based care: $10,532

   • Toddler, center-based care: $11,024

   • Toddler, home-based care: $10,174

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

   • Preschool, home-based care: $9,580

9. Deschutes County

   • Average child care tuition: $15,628

   • Infant, center-based care: $20,453

   • Infant, home-based care: $14,546

   • Toddler, center-based care: $18,811

   • Toddler, home-based care: $13,023

   • Preschool, center-based care: $14,711

   • Preschool, home-based care: $12,226

10. Douglas County

• Average child care tuition: $10,744

• Infant, center-based care: $12,887

• Infant, home-based care: $10,532

• Toddler, center-based care: $11,808

• Toddler, home-based care: $10,083

• Preschool, center-based care: $9,694

• Preschool, home-based care: $9,461

11. Gilliam County

• Average child care tuition: $10,274

• Infant, center-based care: $12,006

• Infant, home-based care: $10,532

• Toddler, center-based care: $11,024

• Toddler, home-based care: $9,830

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

• Preschool, home-based care: $9,127

12. Grant County

• Average child care tuition: $10,274

• Infant, center-based care: $12,006

• Infant, home-based care: $10,532

• Toddler, center-based care: $11,024

• Toddler, home-based care: $9,830

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

• Preschool, home-based care: $9,127

13. Harney County

• Average child care tuition: $10,274

• Infant, center-based care: $12,006

• Infant, home-based care: $10,532

• Toddler, center-based care: $11,024

• Toddler, home-based care: $9,830

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

• Preschool, home-based care: $9,127

14. Hood River County

• Average child care tuition: $14,270

• Infant, center-based care: $20,829

• Infant, home-based care: $10,532

• Toddler, center-based care: $19,126

• Toddler, home-based care: $10,363

• Preschool, center-based care: $14,941

• Preschool, home-based care: $9,830

15. Jackson County

• Average child care tuition: $12,092

• Infant, center-based care: $15,931

• Infant, home-based care: $10,532

• Toddler, center-based care: $14,515

• Toddler, home-based care: $10,249

• Preschool, center-based care: $11,646

• Preschool, home-based care: $9,679

16. Jefferson County

• Average child care tuition: $10,274

• Infant, center-based care: $12,006

• Infant, home-based care: $10,532

• Toddler, center-based care: $11,024

• Toddler, home-based care: $9,830

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

• Preschool, home-based care: $9,127

17. Josephine County

• Average child care tuition: $11,915

• Infant, center-based care: $15,893

• Infant, home-based care: $10,532

• Toddler, center-based care: $14,482

• Toddler, home-based care: $9,830

• Preschool, center-based care: $11,623

• Preschool, home-based care: $9,127

18. Klamath County

• Average child care tuition: $10,274

• Infant, center-based care: $12,006

• Infant, home-based care: $10,532

• Toddler, center-based care: $11,024

• Toddler, home-based care: $9,830

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

• Preschool, home-based care: $9,127

19. Lake County

• Average child care tuition: $10,274

• Infant, center-based care: $12,006

• Infant, home-based care: $10,532

• Toddler, center-based care: $11,024

• Toddler, home-based care: $9,830

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

• Preschool, home-based care: $9,127

20. Lane County

• Average child care tuition: $15,224

• Infant, center-based care: $20,047

• Infant, home-based care: $14,090

• Toddler, center-based care: $18,405

• Toddler, home-based care: $12,592

• Preschool, center-based care: $14,425

• Preschool, home-based care: $11,784

21. Lincoln County

• Average child care tuition: $10,310

• Infant, center-based care: $12,006

• Infant, home-based care: $10,532

• Toddler, center-based care: $11,024

• Toddler, home-based care: $9,922

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

• Preschool, home-based care: $9,248

22. Linn County

• Average child care tuition: $11,258

• Infant, center-based care: $14,337

• Infant, home-based care: $10,532

• Toddler, center-based care: $13,097

• Toddler, home-based care: $9,831

• Preschool, center-based care: $10,624

• Preschool, home-based care: $9,129

23. Malheur County

• Average child care tuition: $10,274

• Infant, center-based care: $12,006

• Infant, home-based care: $10,532

• Toddler, center-based care: $11,024

• Toddler, home-based care: $9,830

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

• Preschool, home-based care: $9,127

24. Marion County

• Average child care tuition: $11,932

• Infant, center-based care: $15,738

• Infant, home-based care: $10,532

• Toddler, center-based care: $14,342

• Toddler, home-based care: $10,046

• Preschool, center-based care: $11,523

• Preschool, home-based care: $9,411

25. Morrow County

• Average child care tuition: $10,274

• Infant, center-based care: $12,006

• Infant, home-based care: $10,532

• Toddler, center-based care: $11,024

• Toddler, home-based care: $9,830

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

• Preschool, home-based care: $9,127

26. Multnomah County

• Average child care tuition: $17,869

• Infant, center-based care: $24,771

• Infant, home-based care: $15,221

• Toddler, center-based care: $23,058

• Toddler, home-based care: $13,471

• Preschool, center-based care: $18,065

• Preschool, home-based care: $12,629

27. Polk County

• Average child care tuition: $11,941

• Infant, center-based care: $14,432

• Infant, home-based care: $11,722

• Toddler, center-based care: $13,182

• Toddler, home-based care: $11,123

• Preschool, center-based care: $10,685

• Preschool, home-based care: $10,502

28. Sherman County

• Average child care tuition: $10,274

• Infant, center-based care: $12,006

• Infant, home-based care: $10,532

• Toddler, center-based care: $11,024

• Toddler, home-based care: $9,830

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

• Preschool, home-based care: $9,127

29. Tillamook County

• Average child care tuition: $10,274

• Infant, center-based care: $12,006

• Infant, home-based care: $10,532

• Toddler, center-based care: $11,024

• Toddler, home-based care: $9,830

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

• Preschool, home-based care: $9,127

30. Umatilla County

• Average child care tuition: $10,304

• Infant, center-based care: $12,006

• Infant, home-based care: $10,532

• Toddler, center-based care: $11,024

• Toddler, home-based care: $9,907

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

• Preschool, home-based care: $9,229

31. Union County

• Average child care tuition: $10,274

• Infant, center-based care: $12,006

• Infant, home-based care: $10,532

• Toddler, center-based care: $11,024

• Toddler, home-based care: $9,830

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

• Preschool, home-based care: $9,127

32. Wallowa County

• Average child care tuition: $10,379

• Infant, center-based care: $12,006

• Infant, home-based care: $10,532

• Toddler, center-based care: $11,024

• Toddler, home-based care: $10,099

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

• Preschool, home-based care: $9,483

33. Wasco County

• Average child care tuition: $10,453

• Infant, center-based care: $12,006

• Infant, home-based care: $10,532

• Toddler, center-based care: $11,024

• Toddler, home-based care: $10,292

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

• Preschool, home-based care: $9,736

34. Washington County

• Average child care tuition: $17,110

• Infant, center-based care: $23,397

• Infant, home-based care: $14,856

• Toddler, center-based care: $21,723

• Toddler, home-based care: $13,228

• Preschool, center-based care: $17,046

• Preschool, home-based care: $12,411

35. Wheeler County

• Average child care tuition: $10,274

• Infant, center-based care: $12,006

• Infant, home-based care: $10,532

• Toddler, center-based care: $11,024

• Toddler, home-based care: $9,830

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

• Preschool, home-based care: $9,127

36. Yamhill County

• Average child care tuition: $12,979

• Infant, center-based care: $17,919

• Infant, home-based care: $10,532

• Toddler, center-based care: $16,380

• Toddler, home-based care: $10,306

• Preschool, center-based care: $12,980

• Preschool, home-based care: $9,755

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).