Most Expensive Childcare in Minnesota
Ceiling price 91% above the Minnesota infant average
Ranked by reported cost only, not a quality, safety, or licensing rating. A higher price does not imply better care; verify licensing and inspection history directly with providers or Minnesota's Child Care Resource & Referral (CCR&R) agency before choosing care.
Counties with Most Expensive Childcare
| # | County | Infant Care |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Stearns County | $22,395/yr |
| 2 | Washington County | $20,280/yr |
| 3 | Scott County | $20,280/yr |
| 4 | Ramsey County | $20,280/yr |
| 5 | Olmsted County | $20,280/yr |
| 6 | Hennepin County | $20,280/yr |
| 7 | Dakota County | $20,280/yr |
| 8 | Carver County | $20,280/yr |
| 9 | Anoka County | $20,280/yr |
| 10 | Martin County | $13,260/yr |
| 11 | Lake of the Woods County | $13,260/yr |
| 12 | Beltrami County | $13,260/yr |
| 13 | Wright County | $12,844/yr |
| 14 | Rice County | $12,844/yr |
| 15 | Mille Lacs County | $12,844/yr |
| 16 | Lake County | $12,844/yr |
| 17 | Hubbard County | $12,844/yr |
| 18 | Goodhue County | $12,844/yr |
| 19 | Cook County | $12,844/yr |
| 20 | Benton County | $12,844/yr |
| 21 | Steele County | $12,203/yr |
| 22 | Sherburne County | $12,203/yr |
| 23 | Isanti County | $12,203/yr |
| 24 | Chisago County | $12,203/yr |
| 25 | Waseca County | $11,388/yr |
| 26 | Polk County | $11,388/yr |
| 27 | Pennington County | $11,388/yr |
| 28 | Otter Tail County | $11,388/yr |
| 29 | Norman County | $11,388/yr |
| 30 | Nobles County | $11,388/yr |
| 31 | Nicollet County | $11,388/yr |
| 32 | Marshall County | $11,388/yr |
| 33 | Lyon County | $11,388/yr |
| 34 | Lincoln County | $11,388/yr |
| 35 | Koochiching County | $11,388/yr |
| 36 | Kanabec County | $11,388/yr |
| 37 | Itasca County | $11,388/yr |
| 38 | Houston County | $11,388/yr |
| 39 | Clearwater County | $11,388/yr |
| 40 | Winona County | $10,972/yr |
| 41 | Wabasha County | $10,972/yr |
| 42 | St. Louis County | $10,972/yr |
| 43 | Roseau County | $10,972/yr |
| 44 | Pope County | $10,972/yr |
| 45 | Pine County | $10,972/yr |
| 46 | Mower County | $10,972/yr |
| 47 | Meeker County | $10,972/yr |
| 48 | McLeod County | $10,972/yr |
| 49 | Kandiyohi County | $10,972/yr |
| 50 | Grant County | $10,972/yr |
Steep ceiling gap inside Minnesota
Signature read: the top price sits 91% above the Minnesota infant average — a steep in-state ceiling gap on this NDCP list. Stearns County posts $22,395/year — 91% over the $11,722 state average — with toddler $19,850 and preschool $17,507.
All 50 priced Minnesota counties on this board are sorted by center infant price, highest first (NDCP). Ranked by reported cost only — not quality, safety, or licensing.
Methodology
Steep-gap board: counties sorted by NDCP center infant cost (2022); ceiling vs $11,722/year Minnesota average.
Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Women's Bureau National Database of Childcare Prices (NDCP) · 2022
DOL Women's Bureau NDCP · Minnesota costliest-county board, 2022
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.