How much does it cost to put two kids in daycare?

In Lucas County, Ohio, an infant and a preschooler in center-based care cost $527.00 a week combined ($27,404 a year), per real 2022 NDCP data — 36.0% of the county's median family income.

Does a second child cost the same as the first?

No. Price depends on each child's own age bracket. In this example, adding a preschooler costs $12,064 a year — $3,276 less than a second infant would cost ($15,340 a year) — because prices fall as children get older.

What percentage of income does two kids in daycare take?

In Lucas County, two children in center-based care take 36.0% of the county's median family income, versus 20.2% for one infant alone. Your own county and income will differ — use the calculator to check.

Is family child care cheaper for a second child?

Generally yes — family child care undercuts center-based care at every age except school-age, nationally. See our full center-vs-family cost comparison for exact dollar gaps by age.

How does this compare to the national average for two kids?

Nationally, the same combination — one infant, one preschooler, both in center-based care — costs $429.75 a week ($22,347 a year). Lucas County runs about $97 a week above that national figure.

BUDGETING

The Real Cost of Two Kids in Daycare: A Worked Example

By Sharon Ben-Moshe · July 21, 2026

Putting two children in center-based daycare at once — an infant and a preschooler — costs $527.00 a week ($27,404 a year) in Lucas County, Ohio, using real, non-imputed 2022 NDCP prices. That's 36.0% of the county's median family income, nearly double the 20.2% share a single infant alone would take.

Key Takeaways

Two kids, one real county: an infant ($295.00/week) plus a preschooler ($232.00/week) in center-based care in Lucas County, OH costs $527.00/week, or $27,404/year — using real, non-imputed 2022 NDCP prices.
That's 36.0% of the county's income. Lucas County's real median family income is $76,089; two children in care take 36.0% of it, versus 20.2% for the infant alone.
The second child doesn't cost the same as the first. Adding a preschooler costs $12,064 a year less than adding a second infant would ($15,340/year), since price drops with age.
Lucas County runs above the national number. Nationally, the same two-child combination (infant + preschool, center-based) costs $429.75/week ($22,347/year) — Lucas County runs about $97 a week above that.
Family child care is usually cheaper for a second child too — see the full center-vs-family breakdown for exact dollar gaps by age.

A Real Two-Child Example: Lucas County, Ohio

Lucas County, Ohio — the Toledo area, population 430,014 — has complete, non-imputed 2022 NDCP price data for both age groups in this example, which makes it a clean county to run the full two-child math on, instead of a hypothetical.

Infant, center-based: $295.00/week, about $1,278.33/month, $15,340.00/year — 20.2% of the county's $76,089 median family income alone.
Preschooler, center-based: $232.00/week, about $1,005.33/month, $12,064.00/year.
Combined, both children: $527.00/week, about $2,283.67/month, $27,404.00/year — 36.0% of the county's median family income.

Does a Second Child Always Cost as Much as the First?

No — each child's price depends on their own age bracket, not a flat per-child rate. In this example, the first child (an infant) costs $15,340 a year on its own. The second child, a preschooler, adds $12,064 a year — $3,276 less than a second infant would have cost, because prices fall as children get older. See how age changes daycare cost for the full national breakdown by age.

How Lucas County Compares to the National Number

Nationally, the same combination — one infant, one preschooler, both center-based — costs $429.75 a week, or $22,347 a year, using 2022 NDCP national medians. Lucas County's real price, $527.00 a week, runs about $97.25 a week above that national figure. Your own county may run well above or below either number — check it directly by browsing your state.

Ways to Lower the Cost of Two Kids in Care

Compare center-based against family child care. Family child care undercuts center-based pricing at every age except school-age, nationally — see the full center vs. family cost comparison.
Check whether a tax credit or FSA lowers your effective cost. The Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit and a Dependent Care FSA both reduce what a family actually pays — see what you can save.
Model your own two (or more) children. The childcare cost calculator lets you add a row per child, each with its own age group and setting, and totals the real cost automatically.

For how a bill like this stacks up against a second paycheck at several real salary levels, see is a second income worth it after daycare.

Frequently asked questions

How much does it cost to put two kids in daycare?: In Lucas County, Ohio, an infant and a preschooler in center-based care cost $527.00 a week combined ($27,404 a year), per real 2022 NDCP data — 36.0% of the county's median family income.
Does a second child cost the same as the first?: No. Price depends on each child's own age bracket. In this example, adding a preschooler costs $12,064 a year — $3,276 less than a second infant would cost ($15,340 a year) — because prices fall as children get older.
What percentage of income does two kids in daycare take?: In Lucas County, two children in center-based care take 36.0% of the county's median family income, versus 20.2% for one infant alone. Your own county and income will differ — use the calculator to check.
Is family child care cheaper for a second child?: Generally yes — family child care undercuts center-based care at every age except school-age, nationally. See our full center-vs-family cost comparison for exact dollar gaps by age.
How does this compare to the national average for two kids?: Nationally, the same combination — one infant, one preschooler, both in center-based care — costs $429.75 a week ($22,347 a year). Lucas County runs about $97 a week above that national figure.