Avg Infant (Center)
$5,783 /yr
Across 105 Kansas counties
Statewide childcare costs · DOL NDCP 2022
Childcare costs in Kansas
According to PlainChildcare's state ranking (DOL NDCP county averages), Kansas ranks #1 of 45 jurisdictions by average center-based infant care price (cheapest = #1).
Data updated 2026-09-24
- $5,783
- Avg infant (center)
- -40%
- Vs. national avg
- #1 of 45
- Corpus placement
NDCP state market brief
Kansas statewide sticker posture
- PRICE QUIET vs national NDCP mean
- AVG $5,783 Center infant avg
- SPREAD $6,663 County min–max gap
- RANK #1 of 45 National state rank
- COUNT 105 Reporting counties
- MIN $4,971 Cheapest county
- MAX $11,634 Priciest county
- PHOTO Mississippi Nearest avg peer
Avg-infant peers
Avg Toddler (Center)
$5,711 /yr
Center-based weighted average
Avg Preschool (Center)
$5,533 /yr
Center-based weighted average
Infant cost spread
$4,971 – $11,634
Lowest to highest county
Kansas center-based childcare averages by age
Annual cost averaged across all reporting counties. Source: DOL Women's Bureau NDCP 2022.
Where Kansas ranks on infant-care cost
Average center-based infant care, every U.S. state with reported prices
$5,783 Among the most affordable more affordable than 98% 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 · 2026-09-24
Kansas infant care vs. HHS 7%-of-income affordability ceiling 36.1%
HHS 7% threshold
Bar shows Kansas 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 Kansas, starting at $4,971/yr
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Most Expensive Childcare
Counties with the highest infant care costs in Kansas, up to $11,634/yr
Childcare Landscape Across Kansas
Across Kansas's 105 counties with NDCP price coverage, center-based infant care averages $5,783/year (QUIET vs the national mean), toddler $5,711/year, preschool $5,533/year. The age-based cost curve is unusually flat in Kansas - infant care runs only 5% above preschool, a narrower spread than most states. County stickers run $4,971 to $11,634 (Δ $6,663/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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Allen County | $4,971 | $5,075 | $5,075 | 9.0% |
| Anderson County | $4,971 | $5,075 | $5,075 | 7.3% |
| Atchison County | $4,971 | $5,075 | $5,075 | 9.0% |
| Barber County | $4,971 | $5,075 | $5,075 | 9.2% |
| Barton County | $4,971 | $5,075 | $5,075 | 9.1% |
| Bourbon County | $4,971 | $5,075 | $5,075 | 8.9% |
| Brown County | $4,971 | $5,075 | $5,075 | 8.9% |
| Butler County | $8,181 | $7,696 | $7,155 | 10.5% |
| Chase County | $4,971 | $5,075 | $5,075 | 9.5% |
| Chautauqua County | $4,971 | $5,075 | $5,075 | 9.7% |
| Cherokee County | $4,971 | $5,075 | $5,075 | 9.3% |
| Cheyenne County | $9,651 | $8,611 | $7,502 | 18.3% |
| Clark County | $9,651 | $8,611 | $7,502 | 16.6% |
| Clay County | $4,971 | $5,075 | $5,075 | 8.6% |
| Cloud County | $4,971 | $5,075 | $5,075 | 9.7% |
| Coffey County | $4,971 | $5,075 | $5,075 | 7.3% |
| Comanche County | $4,971 | $5,075 | $5,075 | 10.0% |
| Cowley County | $4,971 | $5,075 | $5,075 | 8.9% |
| Crawford County | $4,971 | $5,075 | $5,075 | 10.0% |
| Decatur County | $4,971 | $5,075 | $5,075 | 10.1% |
| Dickinson County | $4,971 | $5,075 | $5,075 | 7.9% |
| Doniphan County | $4,971 | $5,075 | $5,075 | 7.5% |
| Douglas County | $9,651 | $8,611 | $7,502 | 14.6% |
| Edwards County | $4,971 | $5,075 | $5,075 | 9.4% |
| Elk County | $4,971 | $5,075 | $5,075 | 9.9% |
| Ellis County | $9,651 | $8,611 | $7,502 | 16.2% |
| Ellsworth County | $4,971 | $5,075 | $5,075 | 8.3% |
| Finney County | $4,971 | $5,075 | $5,075 | 7.3% |
| Ford County | $4,971 | $5,075 | $5,075 | 7.3% |
| Franklin County | $4,971 | $5,075 | $5,075 | 7.3% |
| Geary County | $9,651 | $8,611 | $7,502 | 16.6% |
| Gove County | $4,971 | $5,075 | $5,075 | 8.4% |
| Graham County | $4,971 | $5,075 | $5,075 | 10.6% |
| Grant County | $4,971 | $5,075 | $5,075 | 5.9% |
| Gray County | $4,971 | $5,075 | $5,075 | 6.7% |
| Greeley County | $4,971 | $5,075 | $5,075 | 7.1% |
| Greenwood County | $4,971 | $5,075 | $5,075 | 9.6% |
| Hamilton County | $4,971 | $5,075 | $5,075 | 8.5% |
| Harper County | $4,971 | $5,075 | $5,075 | 9.4% |
| Harvey County | $9,651 | $8,611 | $7,502 | 13.7% |
| Haskell County | $4,971 | $5,075 | $5,075 | 7.5% |
| Hodgeman County | $4,971 | $5,075 | $5,075 | 7.9% |
| Jackson County | $4,971 | $5,075 | $5,075 | 7.1% |
| Jefferson County | $9,651 | $8,611 | $7,502 | 12.9% |
| Jewell County | $4,971 | $5,075 | $5,075 | 10.6% |
| Johnson County | $11,634 | $11,080 | $9,512 | 11.2% |
| Kearny County | $4,971 | $5,075 | $5,075 | 7.2% |
| Kingman County | $4,971 | $5,075 | $5,075 | 8.3% |
| Kiowa County | $4,971 | $5,075 | $5,075 | 7.1% |
| Labette County | $4,971 | $5,075 | $5,075 | 8.9% |
| Lane County | $4,971 | $5,075 | $5,075 | 9.5% |
| Leavenworth County | $8,181 | $7,696 | $7,155 | 9.7% |
| Lincoln County | $4,971 | $5,075 | $5,075 | 9.5% |
| Linn County | $4,971 | $5,075 | $5,075 | 8.8% |
| Logan County | $4,971 | $5,075 | $5,075 | 7.1% |
| Lyon County | $4,971 | $5,075 | $5,075 | 8.8% |
| Marion County | $4,971 | $5,075 | $5,075 | 8.3% |
| Marshall County | $4,971 | $5,075 | $5,075 | 7.7% |
| McPherson County | $4,971 | $5,075 | $5,075 | 7.0% |
| Meade County | $4,971 | $5,075 | $5,075 | 6.7% |
| Miami County | $8,181 | $7,696 | $7,155 | 9.6% |
| Mitchell County | $4,971 | $5,075 | $5,075 | 7.9% |
| Montgomery County | $4,971 | $5,075 | $5,075 | 9.6% |
| Morris County | $4,971 | $5,075 | $5,075 | 9.4% |
| Morton County | $4,971 | $5,075 | $5,075 | 8.6% |
| Nemaha County | $4,971 | $5,075 | $5,075 | 6.8% |
| Neosho County | $4,971 | $5,075 | $5,075 | 9.1% |
| Ness County | $4,971 | $5,075 | $5,075 | 7.7% |
| Norton County | $9,651 | $8,611 | $7,502 | 18.3% |
| Osage County | $4,971 | $5,075 | $5,075 | 7.5% |
| Osborne County | $4,971 | $5,075 | $5,075 | 8.5% |
| Ottawa County | $4,971 | $5,075 | $5,075 | 6.7% |
| Pawnee County | $4,971 | $5,075 | $5,075 | 9.2% |
| Phillips County | $4,971 | $5,075 | $5,075 | 8.6% |
| Pottawatomie County | $8,181 | $7,696 | $7,155 | 9.6% |
| Pratt County | $4,971 | $5,075 | $5,075 | 8.1% |
| Rawlins County | $4,971 | $5,075 | $5,075 | 8.0% |
| Reno County | $4,971 | $5,075 | $5,075 | 8.7% |
| Republic County | $4,971 | $5,075 | $5,075 | 9.1% |
| Rice County | $4,971 | $5,075 | $5,075 | 8.5% |
| Riley County | $8,181 | $7,696 | $7,155 | 14.5% |
| Rooks County | $4,971 | $5,075 | $5,075 | 8.2% |
| Rush County | $9,651 | $8,611 | $7,502 | 18.0% |
| Russell County | $4,971 | $5,075 | $5,075 | 10.0% |
| Saline County | $4,971 | $5,075 | $5,075 | 8.3% |
| Scott County | $9,651 | $8,611 | $7,502 | 18.1% |
| Sedgwick County | $8,181 | $7,696 | $7,155 | 12.5% |
| Seward County | $9,651 | $8,611 | $7,502 | 16.9% |
| Shawnee County | $9,651 | $8,611 | $7,502 | 15.2% |
| Sheridan County | $4,971 | $5,075 | $5,075 | 7.5% |
| Sherman County | $4,971 | $5,075 | $5,075 | 8.1% |
| Smith County | $4,971 | $5,075 | $5,075 | 9.8% |
| Stafford County | $4,971 | $5,075 | $5,075 | 8.3% |
| Stanton County | $4,971 | $5,075 | $5,075 | 7.5% |
| Stevens County | $4,971 | $5,075 | $5,075 | 7.3% |
| Sumner County | $4,971 | $5,075 | $5,075 | 8.4% |
| Thomas County | $4,971 | $5,075 | $5,075 | 6.9% |
| Trego County | $4,971 | $5,075 | $5,075 | 6.4% |
| Wabaunsee County | $4,971 | $5,075 | $5,075 | 7.1% |
| Wallace County | $4,971 | $5,075 | $5,075 | 8.6% |
| Washington County | $4,971 | $5,075 | $5,075 | 8.4% |
| Wichita County | $4,971 | $5,075 | $5,075 | 7.1% |
| Wilson County | $4,971 | $5,075 | $5,075 | 9.0% |
| Woodson County | $4,971 | $5,075 | $5,075 | 9.8% |
| Wyandotte County | $8,181 | $7,696 | $7,155 | 14.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Where does Kansas rank on childcare costs nationally?
Kansas's average center-based infant care ($5,783/yr) is cheaper than 98% of the 45 U.S. states with reported NDCP prices (national rank #1 of 45, cheapest = #1).
Is childcare more or less expensive in Kansas than the national average?
Kansas's average infant care price runs 40% below the national NDCP average ($9,592/yr) - a QUIET band in this site's sticker scale.
Does childcare cost vary a lot within Kansas?
Yes - Kansas's 105 reporting counties range from $4,971 to $11,634/yr for infant care, a $6,663 spread.
How does childcare cost change by child age in Kansas?
The age-based cost curve is unusually flat in Kansas - infant care runs only 5% above preschool, a narrower spread than most states.
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 September 2026. Primary sources: DOL Women's Bureau NDCP and U.S. Census Bureau ACS.