Read our full analysis for a more in-depth look at these trends.
Kicking and screaming: Child care costs persist
Child care remains a constraint for many families’ budgets, with the average share of monthly child care 8% of a household’s pay.
October 2026
Key takeaways
- Child care remains a growing financial burden for many households, even as growth in the median payment has moderated, according to Bank of America payments data. More families are paying more than $2,000 per month for care, suggesting affordability pressures are becoming increasingly concentrated among households facing the highest expenses.
- Child care cost pressures vary significantly across the country. Nashville and Jacksonville, FL posted the fastest year-over-year growth among major metro areas, while New York and Washington DC saw the biggest decrease in median payment growth, according to Bank of America payments data.
- Limited supply may continue to constrain access to child care for some households. Child care employment fell 0.7% year-overyear in September, suggesting provider capacity remains under pressure and could continue to affect household finances and labor force participation.
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