How much does daycare cost per month in Phoenix, AZ?

In Maricopa County, median infant center care costs $285 per week, which equals roughly $1,235 per month ($14,820 per year), with Scottsdale centers charging $1,400 to $1,800 monthly.

How much cheaper is in-home daycare in Arizona?

Family child care homes in Arizona average $180.00 per week for infant care, saving families roughly $4,680 per year compared to commercial centers.

What is Quality First in Arizona?

Quality First is an initiative funded by First Things First that partners with early childhood providers to improve program quality and provide scholarships to low-income children.

Who qualifies for DES childcare assistance in Arizona?

Working parents or parents attending approved training programs whose income falls below state entry limits (roughly 165% of poverty guidelines) qualify for DES childcare subsidy vouchers.

COST DATA · BUDGETING

Arizona Childcare Costs by County: Official Data

By Sharon Ben-Moshe · October 12, 2026

Arizona has experienced substantial population and job growth across the Phoenix and Tucson metropolitan basins. According to official figures in the federal National Database of Childcare Prices (NDCP), the population-weighted median for full-time infant center care in Arizona is $270.00 per week ($14,040 annually), while family child care homes average $180.00 per week ($9,360 annually).

While Arizona childcare prices remain below coastal metropolitan levels, high childcare expenses relative to median state wages create significant affordability hurdles for local parents.

Maricopa, Pima, and county-level rate comparisons

Childcare costs are concentrated in the state's two major urban centers:

Maricopa County (Phoenix, Scottsdale, Mesa, Chandler): Represents over 60% of the state's population. Infant center tuition averages $285 per week ($14,820 annually), with Scottsdale and North Phoenix centers charging $1,400 to $1,800 per month. Home-based infant care averages $190 per week.
Pima County (Tucson): Infant center care averages $240 per week ($12,480 per year), while home-based family daycares average $165 per week.
Pinal County (Casa Grande, San Tan Valley): Rapidly growing bedroom communities average $220 per week for infant center care.
Coconino County (Flagstaff): High mountain living expenses and limited facility capacity push infant center tuition to $290 per week.
Rural Counties (Yuma, Mohave, Cochise): Infant center rates average between $175 and $210 per week.

According to data compiled by the U.S. Department of Labor Women's Bureau, infant care in Maricopa County absorbs over 16% of median family income.

Look up specific county rates in our Arizona childcare cost directory.

Cost changes by age group across Arizona centers

Tuition decreases as children move from infancy to preschool:

Infant center care: $270.00 per week ($14,040 annually) statewide median; $180.00 per week in family child care homes.
Toddler center care: $210.00 per week ($10,920 annually); $171.45 per week in home settings.
Preschool center care: $210.00 per week ($10,920 annually); $171.45 per week in home settings.
School-age center care: $175.00 per week for full-time summer care; $150.00 per week in home daycares.

When an infant transitions to a toddler room at age one, parents save roughly $3,120 per year in baseline tuition.

Review our breakdown on infant versus toddler daycare pricing to track developmental cost shifts.

Arizona DES Child Care Subsidies and Quality First

Childcare assistance in Arizona is administered by the Department of Economic Security (DES) Division of Child Care:

Income limits: Initial eligibility is typically set around 165% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines, with families allowed to stay enrolled until income reaches 85% of State Median Income.
Co-payments: Copayments are calculated on a sliding fee scale based on family income and the number of children in care.
Quality First scholarships: Administered by First Things First, Quality First funds early learning scholarships for children attending accredited centers and family child care homes across Arizona.

Calculate your annual childcare budget and compare Arizona options using our childcare calculator.

Frequently asked questions

How much does daycare cost per month in Phoenix, AZ?: In Maricopa County, median infant center care costs $285 per week, which equals roughly $1,235 per month ($14,820 per year), with Scottsdale centers charging $1,400 to $1,800 monthly.
How much cheaper is in-home daycare in Arizona?: Family child care homes in Arizona average $180.00 per week for infant care, saving families roughly $4,680 per year compared to commercial centers.
What is Quality First in Arizona?: Quality First is an initiative funded by First Things First that partners with early childhood providers to improve program quality and provide scholarships to low-income children.
Who qualifies for DES childcare assistance in Arizona?: Working parents or parents attending approved training programs whose income falls below state entry limits (roughly 165% of poverty guidelines) qualify for DES childcare subsidy vouchers.