Avg Infant (Center)
$15,330 /yr
Across 4 Hawaii counties
Statewide childcare costs · DOL NDCP 2022
Childcare costs in Hawaii
According to PlainChildcare's state ranking (DOL NDCP county averages), Hawaii ranks #37 of 45 jurisdictions by average center-based infant care price (cheapest = #1).
Data updated 2026-07-05
- $15,330
- Avg infant (center)
- +60%
- Vs. national avg
- #37 of 45
- Corpus placement
NDCP state market brief
Hawaii statewide sticker posture
- PRICE STEEP vs national NDCP mean
- AVG $15,330 Center infant avg
- SPREAD $8,520 County min–max gap
- RANK #37 of 45 National state rank
- COUNT 4 Reporting counties
- MIN $10,500 Cheapest county
- MAX $19,020 Priciest county
- PHOTO Rhode Nearest avg peer
Avg-infant peers
Avg Toddler (Center)
$10,845 /yr
Center-based weighted average
Avg Preschool (Center)
$10,845 /yr
Center-based weighted average
Infant cost spread
$10,500 – $19,020
Lowest to highest county
Hawaii center-based childcare averages by age
Annual cost averaged across all reporting counties. Source: DOL Women's Bureau NDCP 2022.
Where Hawaii ranks on infant-care cost
Average center-based infant care, every U.S. state with reported prices
$15,330 more affordable than 18% of 45 US states
Each bar is a $2.5K-wide band; taller bars hold more US states. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source U.S. Department of Labor, National Database of Childcare Prices · 2026-07-05
Hawaii infant care vs. HHS 7%-of-income affordability ceiling 95.8%
HHS 7% threshold
Bar shows Hawaii infant care as a share of an $80,000 reference household income. The dark marker shows the HHS 7% threshold, anything past it is officially "unaffordable" by federal definition.
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Cheapest Childcare
Counties with the lowest infant care costs in Hawaii, starting at $10,500/yr
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Most Expensive Childcare
Counties with the highest infant care costs in Hawaii, up to $19,020/yr
Childcare Landscape Across Hawaii
Across Hawaii's 4 counties with NDCP price coverage, center-based infant care averages $15,330/year (STEEP vs the national mean), toddler $10,845/year, preschool $10,845/year. Unusually, Hawaii's toddler rate runs at or below its preschool rate, a reversal of the pattern most states show where cost eases as children age. County stickers run $10,500 to $19,020 (Δ $8,520/yr). Licensing ratios and background checks are uniform statewide; density and subsidy acceptance are not - use the county table and Read-with drills below, not a clone licensing essay.
Counties
| County | Infant /yr | Toddler /yr | Preschool /yr | % of income |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hawaii County | $10,500 | $9,600 | $9,600 | 14.1% |
| Honolulu County | $19,020 | $13,680 | $13,680 | 19.1% |
| Kalawao County | $16,800 | $10,200 | $10,200 | 19.1% |
| Kauai County | N/A | $9,600 | $9,600 | N/A |
| Maui County | $15,000 | $9,900 | $9,900 | 15.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Where does Hawaii rank on childcare costs nationally?
Hawaii's average center-based infant care ($15,330/yr) is cheaper than only 18% of the 45 U.S. states with reported NDCP prices (national rank #37 of 45, cheapest = #1).
Is childcare more or less expensive in Hawaii than the national average?
Hawaii's average infant care price runs 60% above the national NDCP average ($9,592/yr) - a STEEP band in this site's sticker scale.
Does childcare cost vary a lot within Hawaii?
Yes - Hawaii's 4 reporting counties range from $10,500 to $19,020/yr for infant care, a $8,520 spread.
How does childcare cost change by child age in Hawaii?
Unusually, Hawaii's toddler rate runs at or below its preschool rate, a reversal of the pattern most states show where cost eases as children age.
Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Women's Bureau, National Database of Childcare Prices (NDCP). Costs shown are annual estimates
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
PlainChildcare is rendered directly from the U.S. Department of Labor Women's Bureau National Database of Childcare Prices and Census ACS income data, no number is typed in by an editor. State averages and county ranks are computed from the NDCP price tables joined to ACS median household income. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of July 2026. Primary sources: DOL Women's Bureau NDCP and U.S. Census Bureau ACS.