Most Expensive Childcare in South Dakota
Ceiling price 41% above the South Dakota 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 South Dakota's Child Care Resource & Referral (CCR&R) agency before choosing care.
Counties with Most Expensive Childcare
| # | County | Infant Care |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Minnehaha County | $9,277/yr |
| 2 | Lincoln County | $9,277/yr |
| 3 | Pennington County | $8,008/yr |
| 4 | Yankton County | $7,800/yr |
| 5 | Union County | $7,800/yr |
| 6 | Lawrence County | $7,800/yr |
| 7 | Lake County | $7,800/yr |
| 8 | Hughes County | $7,800/yr |
| 9 | Davison County | $7,800/yr |
| 10 | Codington County | $7,800/yr |
| 11 | Clay County | $7,800/yr |
| 12 | Brown County | $7,800/yr |
| 13 | Brookings County | $7,800/yr |
| 14 | Ziebach County | $6,240/yr |
| 15 | Walworth County | $6,240/yr |
| 16 | Turner County | $6,240/yr |
| 17 | Tripp County | $6,240/yr |
| 18 | Todd County | $6,240/yr |
| 19 | Sully County | $6,240/yr |
| 20 | Stanley County | $6,240/yr |
| 21 | Spink County | $6,240/yr |
| 22 | Sanborn County | $6,240/yr |
| 23 | Roberts County | $6,240/yr |
| 24 | Potter County | $6,240/yr |
| 25 | Perkins County | $6,240/yr |
| 26 | Oglala Lakota County | $6,240/yr |
| 27 | Moody County | $6,240/yr |
| 28 | Miner County | $6,240/yr |
| 29 | Mellette County | $6,240/yr |
| 30 | Meade County | $6,240/yr |
| 31 | McPherson County | $6,240/yr |
| 32 | McCook County | $6,240/yr |
| 33 | Marshall County | $6,240/yr |
| 34 | Lyman County | $6,240/yr |
| 35 | Kingsbury County | $6,240/yr |
| 36 | Jones County | $6,240/yr |
| 37 | Jerauld County | $6,240/yr |
| 38 | Jackson County | $6,240/yr |
| 39 | Hyde County | $6,240/yr |
| 40 | Hutchinson County | $6,240/yr |
| 41 | Harding County | $6,240/yr |
| 42 | Hanson County | $6,240/yr |
| 43 | Hand County | $6,240/yr |
| 44 | Hamlin County | $6,240/yr |
| 45 | Haakon County | $6,240/yr |
| 46 | Gregory County | $6,240/yr |
| 47 | Grant County | $6,240/yr |
| 48 | Faulk County | $6,240/yr |
| 49 | Fall River County | $6,240/yr |
| 50 | Edmunds County | $6,240/yr |
Steep ceiling gap inside South Dakota
Signature read: the top price sits 41% above the South Dakota infant average — a steep in-state ceiling gap on this NDCP list. Minnehaha County and Lincoln County tie at $9,277/year, 41% over the $6,595 state average.
All 50 priced South Dakota 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 $6,595/year South Dakota average.
Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Women's Bureau National Database of Childcare Prices (NDCP) · 2022
DOL Women's Bureau NDCP · South Dakota costliest-county board, 2022
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.