How much is infant daycare in Minneapolis and St. Paul?

In Hennepin and Ramsey Counties, median infant center care costs between $385 and $410 per week ($1,670 to $1,775+ per month), or roughly $20,000 to $21,300 per year.

Why is in-home daycare so much cheaper in Minnesota?

Minnesota in-home daycares average $176.67 per week for infants, saving over $11,000 annually compared to centers, primarily because home providers have lower facility overhead and fewer commercial regulatory expenses.

What is Parent Aware in Minnesota?

Parent Aware is Minnesota's quality rating and improvement system (QRIS) that awards one to four stars to childcare programs based on teacher qualifications, safety, and school-readiness curriculum.

Who qualifies for Minnesota CCAP childcare assistance?

Eligibility is generally capped at 47% of State Median Income (SMI) at initial application, with families permitted to stay in the program until household earnings reach 67% SMI.

COST DATA · BUDGETING

Minnesota Childcare Costs by County: Official Data

By Sharon Ben-Moshe · October 11, 2026

Minnesota consistently ranks as one of the most expensive states for center-based infant care in the Midwest, while maintaining one of the highest wide-gap price differences between commercial centers and family child care homes. Official figures from the federal National Database of Childcare Prices (NDCP) reveal that median full-time infant care in a Minnesota center costs $390.00 per week ($20,280 per year). In contrast, licensed family child care homes average $176.67 per week ($9,187 per year).

For families in the Minneapolis-St. Paul metropolitan area, early childhood expenses represent a significant financial challenge.

Twin Cities versus Greater Minnesota price differences

Childcare prices in Minnesota split sharply along metropolitan and rural boundaries:

Hennepin County (Minneapolis): Infant center care averages $410 per week ($21,320 per year), with downtown and suburban centers frequently charging over $1,900 per month. Home-based infant care averages $190 per week.
Ramsey County (St. Paul): Center infant care averages $385 per week ($20,020 annually), and preschool center care averages $305 per week.
Dakota and Anoka Counties (Suburban Metro): Infant center tuition ranges between $360 and $385 per week.
Olmsted County (Rochester): Driven by the healthcare workforce surrounding the Mayo Clinic, infant center care averages $340 per week.
Greater Minnesota (Stearns, St. Louis, Blue Earth Counties): Center infant care drops to $240 to $275 per week, while family child care homes average $145 to $165 per week.

According to data compiled by the U.S. Department of Labor Women's Bureau, center infant care in the Twin Cities absorbs over 19% of median family income.

Inspect full county price tables in our Minnesota childcare cost directory.

The massive $11,000 center versus home care gap

Minnesota features one of the largest dollar price gaps between center-based care and home-based family child care in the United States:

Infant care gap: Center care ($390.00/week) costs $213.33 more per week than home-based care ($176.67/week). Enrolling an infant in a licensed family child care home saves $11,093 per year.
Toddler care gap: Center toddler care averages $347.56 per week ($18,073 annually), compared to $150.00 per week for home-based care ($7,800 annually), saving over $10,200 per year.
Preschool care gap: Center preschool care averages $309.00 per week, compared to $153.33 per week in home daycares.

This disparity stems from Minnesota's strict center teacher educational credentials, commercial lease rates, and a strong cultural tradition of licensed family child care homes across suburban and rural townships.

Review our guide on center-based versus family child care to assess licensing standards.

Minnesota Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP)

Minnesota supports low-income working families through the Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP), administered by the Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS):

Basic Sliding Fee (BSF) Child Care: Subsidizes care for working parents not on cash assistance, allocated to counties with state-managed waitlists.
MFIP Child Care: Fully subsidized care for families receiving Minnesota Family Investment Program (cash assistance) while engaged in approved employment activities.
Early Learning Scholarships: Pathway I and Pathway II scholarships provide up to $12,000 annually per child for high-quality Parent Aware-rated preschool programs.

Calculate your household childcare expenses and compare options using our childcare calculator.

Frequently asked questions

How much is infant daycare in Minneapolis and St. Paul?: In Hennepin and Ramsey Counties, median infant center care costs between $385 and $410 per week ($1,670 to $1,775+ per month), or roughly $20,000 to $21,300 per year.
Why is in-home daycare so much cheaper in Minnesota?: Minnesota in-home daycares average $176.67 per week for infants, saving over $11,000 annually compared to centers, primarily because home providers have lower facility overhead and fewer commercial regulatory expenses.
What is Parent Aware in Minnesota?: Parent Aware is Minnesota's quality rating and improvement system (QRIS) that awards one to four stars to childcare programs based on teacher qualifications, safety, and school-readiness curriculum.
Who qualifies for Minnesota CCAP childcare assistance?: Eligibility is generally capped at 47% of State Median Income (SMI) at initial application, with families permitted to stay in the program until household earnings reach 67% SMI.