Across 46 South Carolina counties, the average annual child care tuition is $8,489. Prices vary widely – from $5,700 to $13,500 a year – depending on location, age group, care type, whether care is center- or home-based, and other factors. For directors, setting tuition becomes a complex calculation that also weighs business goals, overhead, and local competition.Local price benchmarks offer a strong starting point for setting or adjusting 2026 rates. 

Below, Playground breaks down average South Carolina tuition by county for infant, toddler, and preschool care at both centers and homes in 2026 dollars. The data gives providers a clear picture of what families are paying, helps them position and market their programs effectively, and highlights key factors to consider when setting rates.

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 South Carolina

Checking your own prices against local benchmarks can help you get a sense of where you fall in your local market, and what families comparing services see. Thus, child care directors should at least have a sense of local average prices, but beating the competition is not the only factors that should play into your own prices. 

It’s important for South Carolina child care providers to price their services in a way that keeps the business financially healthy over the long run. This often means accounting for typical vacancy rates, overhead, growth strategies, care specialization, and local supply and demand dynamics that may be difficult to quantify upfront.

Consider the details of your unique business and market when setting your own prices. For a step by step guide on relevant considerations, check out Playground’s full tuition pricing guide.

Average Child Care Costs in South Carolina 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 South Carolina for Child Care

Three South Carolina counties tie for the highest average child care tuition across care types in 2026. Georgetown, Greenwood, and Lancaster Counties all average $10,598 annual tuition. A handful of counties otherwise rank among the top three pricing tiers in South Carolina, including:

Tier 1: $10,598 annual average

• Georgetown County

• Greenwood County

• Lancaster County

Tier 2: $9,999 annual average

• Charleston County

• Greenville County

• Richland County

Tier 3: $9,872 annual average

• Aiken County

• Beaufort County

• Berkeley County

• Dorchester County

• Florence County

• Horry County

• Lexington County

• Pickens County

• Spartanburg County

• Sumter County

• York County

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

Least Expensive Counties in South Carolina for Child Care

Across South Carolina, Barnwell County has the lowest average annual child care tuition for 2026 at $6,625. Other counties among the lowest tuition across ages and care types include:

Tier 1: $6,625 annual average

• Barnwell County

Tier 2: $6,909 annual average

• Allendale County

• Bamberg County

• Cherokee County

• Marion County

• Marlboro County

Tier 3: $7,554 annual average

• Darlington County

• Dillon County

• Jasper County

• Kershaw County

• Laurens County

• Newberry County

• Oconee County

• Orangeburg County

• Union County

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

Average Child Care Costs in South Carolina by County

Each of the 46 South Carolina counties is listed in alphabetical order with a breakdown of child care tuition/prices in 2026 dollars based on the center type and child age, as well as a countywide average across all segments.

1. Abbeville County

   • Average child care tuition: $7,775

   • Infant, center-based care: $7,132

   • Infant, home-based care: $8,147

   • Toddler, center-based care: $7,132

   • Toddler, home-based care: $8,147

   • Preschool, center-based care: $7,741

   • Preschool, home-based care: $8,350

2. Aiken County

   • Average child care tuition: $9,872

   • Infant, center-based care: $12,104

   • Infant, home-based care: $8,370

   • Toddler, center-based care: $11,260

   • Toddler, home-based care: $8,370

   • Preschool, center-based care: $11,022

   • Preschool, home-based care: $8,108

3. Allendale County

   • Average child care tuition: $6,909

   • Infant, center-based care: $6,852

   • Infant, home-based care: $7,066

   • Toddler, center-based care: $6,852

   • Toddler, home-based care: $7,066

   • Preschool, center-based care: $5,945

   • Preschool, home-based care: $7,674

4. Anderson County

   • Average child care tuition: $9,872

   • Infant, center-based care: $12,104

   • Infant, home-based care: $8,370

   • Toddler, center-based care: $11,260

   • Toddler, home-based care: $8,370

   • Preschool, center-based care: $11,022

   • Preschool, home-based care: $8,108

5. Bamberg County

   • Average child care tuition: $6,909

   • Infant, center-based care: $6,852

   • Infant, home-based care: $7,066

   • Toddler, center-based care: $6,852

   • Toddler, home-based care: $7,066

   • Preschool, center-based care: $5,945

   • Preschool, home-based care: $7,674

6. Barnwell County

   • Average child care tuition: $6,625

   • Infant, center-based care: $5,713

   • Infant, home-based care: $7,132

   • Toddler, center-based care: $5,713

   • Toddler, home-based care: $7,132

   • Preschool, center-based care: $6,322

   • Preschool, home-based care: $7,741

7. Beaufort County

   • Average child care tuition: $9,872

   • Infant, center-based care: $12,104

   • Infant, home-based care: $8,370

   • Toddler, center-based care: $11,260

   • Toddler, home-based care: $8,370

   • Preschool, center-based care: $11,022

   • Preschool, home-based care: $8,108

8. Berkeley County

   • Average child care tuition: $9,872

   • Infant, center-based care: $12,104

   • Infant, home-based care: $8,370

   • Toddler, center-based care: $11,260

   • Toddler, home-based care: $8,370

   • Preschool, center-based care: $11,022

   • Preschool, home-based care: $8,108

9. Calhoun County

   • Average child care tuition: $7,775

   • Infant, center-based care: $7,132

   • Infant, home-based care: $8,147

   • Toddler, center-based care: $7,132

   • Toddler, home-based care: $8,147

   • Preschool, center-based care: $7,741

   • Preschool, home-based care: $8,350

10. Charleston County

• Average child care tuition: $9,999

• Infant, center-based care: $12,294

• Infant, home-based care: $8,445

• Toddler, center-based care: $11,438

• Toddler, home-based care: $8,445

• Preschool, center-based care: $11,194

• Preschool, home-based care: $8,179

11. Cherokee County

• Average child care tuition: $6,909

• Infant, center-based care: $6,852

• Infant, home-based care: $7,066

• Toddler, center-based care: $6,852

• Toddler, home-based care: $7,066

• Preschool, center-based care: $5,945

• Preschool, home-based care: $7,674

12. Chester County

• Average child care tuition: $7,775

• Infant, center-based care: $7,132

• Infant, home-based care: $8,147

• Toddler, center-based care: $7,132

• Toddler, home-based care: $8,147

• Preschool, center-based care: $7,741

• Preschool, home-based care: $8,350

13. Chesterfield County

• Average child care tuition: $7,775

• Infant, center-based care: $7,132

• Infant, home-based care: $8,147

• Toddler, center-based care: $7,132

• Toddler, home-based care: $8,147

• Preschool, center-based care: $7,741

• Preschool, home-based care: $8,350

14. Clarendon County

• Average child care tuition: $7,775

• Infant, center-based care: $7,132

• Infant, home-based care: $8,147

• Toddler, center-based care: $7,132

• Toddler, home-based care: $8,147

• Preschool, center-based care: $7,741

• Preschool, home-based care: $8,350

15. Colleton County

• Average child care tuition: $7,775

• Infant, center-based care: $7,132

• Infant, home-based care: $8,147

• Toddler, center-based care: $7,132

• Toddler, home-based care: $8,147

• Preschool, center-based care: $7,741

• Preschool, home-based care: $8,350

16. Darlington County

• Average child care tuition: $7,554

• Infant, center-based care: $6,756

• Infant, home-based care: $8,081

• Toddler, center-based care: $6,756

• Toddler, home-based care: $8,081

• Preschool, center-based care: $7,365

• Preschool, home-based care: $8,283

17. Dillon County

• Average child care tuition: $7,554

• Infant, center-based care: $6,756

• Infant, home-based care: $8,081

• Toddler, center-based care: $6,756

• Toddler, home-based care: $8,081

• Preschool, center-based care: $7,365

• Preschool, home-based care: $8,283

18. Dorchester County

• Average child care tuition: $9,872

• Infant, center-based care: $12,104

• Infant, home-based care: $8,370

• Toddler, center-based care: $11,260

• Toddler, home-based care: $8,370

• Preschool, center-based care: $11,022

• Preschool, home-based care: $8,108

19. Edgefield County

• Average child care tuition: $7,775

• Infant, center-based care: $7,132

• Infant, home-based care: $8,147

• Toddler, center-based care: $7,132

• Toddler, home-based care: $8,147

• Preschool, center-based care: $7,741

• Preschool, home-based care: $8,350

20. Fairfield County

• Average child care tuition: $7,775

• Infant, center-based care: $7,132

• Infant, home-based care: $8,147

• Toddler, center-based care: $7,132

• Toddler, home-based care: $8,147

• Preschool, center-based care: $7,741

• Preschool, home-based care: $8,350

21. Florence County

• Average child care tuition: $9,872

• Infant, center-based care: $12,104

• Infant, home-based care: $8,370

• Toddler, center-based care: $11,260

• Toddler, home-based care: $8,370

• Preschool, center-based care: $11,022

• Preschool, home-based care: $8,108

22. Georgetown County

• Average child care tuition: $10,598

• Infant, center-based care: $13,526

• Infant, home-based care: $9,383

• Toddler, center-based care: $12,679

• Toddler, home-based care: $9,383

• Preschool, center-based care: $9,899

• Preschool, home-based care: $8,717

23. Greenville County

• Average child care tuition: $9,999

• Infant, center-based care: $12,294

• Infant, home-based care: $8,445

• Toddler, center-based care: $11,438

• Toddler, home-based care: $8,445

• Preschool, center-based care: $11,194

• Preschool, home-based care: $8,179

24. Greenwood County

• Average child care tuition: $10,598

• Infant, center-based care: $13,526

• Infant, home-based care: $9,383

• Toddler, center-based care: $12,679

• Toddler, home-based care: $9,383

• Preschool, center-based care: $9,899

• Preschool, home-based care: $8,717

25. Hampton County

• Average child care tuition: $7,775

• Infant, center-based care: $7,132

• Infant, home-based care: $8,147

• Toddler, center-based care: $7,132

• Toddler, home-based care: $8,147

• Preschool, center-based care: $7,741

• Preschool, home-based care: $8,350

26. Horry County

• Average child care tuition: $9,872

• Infant, center-based care: $12,104

• Infant, home-based care: $8,370

• Toddler, center-based care: $11,260

• Toddler, home-based care: $8,370

• Preschool, center-based care: $11,022

• Preschool, home-based care: $8,108

27. Jasper County

• Average child care tuition: $7,554

• Infant, center-based care: $6,756

• Infant, home-based care: $8,081

• Toddler, center-based care: $6,756

• Toddler, home-based care: $8,081

• Preschool, center-based care: $7,365

• Preschool, home-based care: $8,283

28. Kershaw County

• Average child care tuition: $7,554

• Infant, center-based care: $6,756

• Infant, home-based care: $8,081

• Toddler, center-based care: $6,756

• Toddler, home-based care: $8,081

• Preschool, center-based care: $7,365

• Preschool, home-based care: $8,283

29. Lancaster County

• Average child care tuition: $10,598

• Infant, center-based care: $13,526

• Infant, home-based care: $9,383

• Toddler, center-based care: $12,679

• Toddler, home-based care: $9,383

• Preschool, center-based care: $9,899

• Preschool, home-based care: $8,717

30. Laurens County

• Average child care tuition: $7,554

• Infant, center-based care: $6,756

• Infant, home-based care: $8,081

• Toddler, center-based care: $6,756

• Toddler, home-based care: $8,081

• Preschool, center-based care: $7,365

• Preschool, home-based care: $8,283

31. Lee County

• Average child care tuition: $7,775

• Infant, center-based care: $7,132

• Infant, home-based care: $8,147

• Toddler, center-based care: $7,132

• Toddler, home-based care: $8,147

• Preschool, center-based care: $7,741

• Preschool, home-based care: $8,350

32. Lexington County

• Average child care tuition: $9,872

• Infant, center-based care: $12,104

• Infant, home-based care: $8,370

• Toddler, center-based care: $11,260

• Toddler, home-based care: $8,370

• Preschool, center-based care: $11,022

• Preschool, home-based care: $8,108

33. Marion County

• Average child care tuition: $6,909

• Infant, center-based care: $6,852

• Infant, home-based care: $7,066

• Toddler, center-based care: $6,852

• Toddler, home-based care: $7,066

• Preschool, center-based care: $5,945

• Preschool, home-based care: $7,674

34. Marlboro County

• Average child care tuition: $6,909

• Infant, center-based care: $6,852

• Infant, home-based care: $7,066

• Toddler, center-based care: $6,852

• Toddler, home-based care: $7,066

• Preschool, center-based care: $5,945

• Preschool, home-based care: $7,674

35. McCormick County

• Average child care tuition: $7,775

• Infant, center-based care: $7,132

• Infant, home-based care: $8,147

• Toddler, center-based care: $7,132

• Toddler, home-based care: $8,147

• Preschool, center-based care: $7,741

• Preschool, home-based care: $8,350

36. Newberry County

• Average child care tuition: $7,554

• Infant, center-based care: $6,756

• Infant, home-based care: $8,081

• Toddler, center-based care: $6,756

• Toddler, home-based care: $8,081

• Preschool, center-based care: $7,365

• Preschool, home-based care: $8,283

37. Oconee County

• Average child care tuition: $7,554

• Infant, center-based care: $6,756

• Infant, home-based care: $8,081

• Toddler, center-based care: $6,756

• Toddler, home-based care: $8,081

• Preschool, center-based care: $7,365

• Preschool, home-based care: $8,283

38. Orangeburg County

• Average child care tuition: $7,554

• Infant, center-based care: $6,756

• Infant, home-based care: $8,081

• Toddler, center-based care: $6,756

• Toddler, home-based care: $8,081

• Preschool, center-based care: $7,365

• Preschool, home-based care: $8,283

39. Pickens County

• Average child care tuition: $9,872

• Infant, center-based care: $12,104

• Infant, home-based care: $8,370

• Toddler, center-based care: $11,260

• Toddler, home-based care: $8,370

• Preschool, center-based care: $11,022

• Preschool, home-based care: $8,108

40. Richland County

• Average child care tuition: $9,999

• Infant, center-based care: $12,294

• Infant, home-based care: $8,445

• Toddler, center-based care: $11,438

• Toddler, home-based care: $8,445

• Preschool, center-based care: $11,194

• Preschool, home-based care: $8,179

41. Saluda County

• Average child care tuition: $7,775

• Infant, center-based care: $7,132

• Infant, home-based care: $8,147

• Toddler, center-based care: $7,132

• Toddler, home-based care: $8,147

• Preschool, center-based care: $7,741

• Preschool, home-based care: $8,350

42. Spartanburg County

• Average child care tuition: $9,872

• Infant, center-based care: $12,104

• Infant, home-based care: $8,370

• Toddler, center-based care: $11,260

• Toddler, home-based care: $8,370

• Preschool, center-based care: $11,022

• Preschool, home-based care: $8,108

43. Sumter County

• Average child care tuition: $9,872

• Infant, center-based care: $12,104

• Infant, home-based care: $8,370

• Toddler, center-based care: $11,260

• Toddler, home-based care: $8,370

• Preschool, center-based care: $11,022

• Preschool, home-based care: $8,108

44. Union County

• Average child care tuition: $7,554

• Infant, center-based care: $6,756

• Infant, home-based care: $8,081

• Toddler, center-based care: $6,756

• Toddler, home-based care: $8,081

• Preschool, center-based care: $7,365

• Preschool, home-based care: $8,283

45. Williamsburg County

• Average child care tuition: $7,775

• Infant, center-based care: $7,132

• Infant, home-based care: $8,147

• Toddler, center-based care: $7,132

• Toddler, home-based care: $8,147

• Preschool, center-based care: $7,741

• Preschool, home-based care: $8,350

46. York County

• Average child care tuition: $9,872

• Infant, center-based care: $12,104

• Infant, home-based care: $8,370

• Toddler, center-based care: $11,260

• Toddler, home-based care: $8,370

• Preschool, center-based care: $11,022

• Preschool, home-based care: $8,108

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).