Avg Infant (Center)
$15,433 /yr
Across 5 Rhode Island counties
Statewide childcare costs · DOL NDCP 2022
Childcare costs in Rhode Island
According to PlainChildcare's state ranking (DOL NDCP county averages), Rhode Island ranks #38 of 45 jurisdictions by average center-based infant care price (cheapest = #1).
Data updated 2026-07-05
- $15,433
- Avg infant (center)
- +61%
- Vs. national avg
- #38 of 45
- Corpus placement
NDCP state market brief
Rhode Island statewide sticker posture
- PRICE STEEP vs national NDCP mean
- AVG $15,433 Center infant avg
- SPREAD $1,109 County min–max gap
- RANK #38 of 45 National state rank
- COUNT 5 Reporting counties
- MIN $15,059 Cheapest county
- MAX $16,168 Priciest county
- PHOTO Hawaii Nearest avg peer
Avg-infant peers
Avg Toddler (Center)
$14,883 /yr
Center-based weighted average
Avg Preschool (Center)
$13,066 /yr
Center-based weighted average
Infant cost spread
$15,059 – $16,168
Lowest to highest county
Rhode Island center-based childcare averages by age
Annual cost averaged across all reporting counties. Source: DOL Women's Bureau NDCP 2022.
Where Rhode Island ranks on infant-care cost
Average center-based infant care, every U.S. state with reported prices
$15,433 more affordable than 16% 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
Rhode Island infant care vs. HHS 7%-of-income affordability ceiling 96.5%
HHS 7% threshold
Bar shows Rhode Island 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 Rhode Island, starting at $15,059/yr
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Most Expensive Childcare
Counties with the highest infant care costs in Rhode Island, up to $16,168/yr
Childcare Landscape Across Rhode Island
Across Rhode Island's 5 counties with NDCP price coverage, center-based infant care averages $15,433/year (STEEP vs the national mean), toddler $14,883/year, preschool $13,066/year. Costs step down gradually with age here, tracking the typical national pattern where lower infant staffing ratios drive early-years pricing higher. County stickers run $15,059 to $16,168 (Δ $1,109/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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bristol County | $15,255 | $14,714 | $12,915 | 14.4% |
| Kent County | $15,432 | $14,880 | $13,068 | 18.0% |
| Newport County | $16,168 | $15,595 | $13,685 | 16.8% |
| Providence County | $15,059 | $14,518 | $12,754 | 20.7% |
| Washington County | $15,251 | $14,710 | $12,910 | 15.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Where does Rhode Island rank on childcare costs nationally?
Rhode Island's average center-based infant care ($15,433/yr) is cheaper than only 16% of the 45 U.S. states with reported NDCP prices (national rank #38 of 45, cheapest = #1).
Is childcare more or less expensive in Rhode Island than the national average?
Rhode Island's average infant care price runs 61% above the national NDCP average ($9,592/yr) - a STEEP band in this site's sticker scale.
Does childcare cost vary a lot within Rhode Island?
Yes - Rhode Island's 5 reporting counties range from $15,059 to $16,168/yr for infant care, a $1,109 spread.
How does childcare cost change by child age in Rhode Island?
Costs step down gradually with age here, tracking the typical national pattern where lower infant staffing ratios drive early-years pricing higher.
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.