Infant vs Toddler vs Preschool Childcare Cost in Miami-Dade County, FL
In Miami-Dade County, FL, center-based childcare costs $200/wk for infants, $170/wk for toddlers, $155/wk for preschoolers, and $125/wk for school-age children, based on DOL data. Care gets cheaper as a child gets older: preschool is about 23% ($45/wk, $2,340/yr) less than infant care. Infant (0-1) is the priciest age group ($200/wk) and school-age (6+) the cheapest ($125/wk).
Cost by Child's Age
Childcare prices in Miami-Dade County track a child's age closely, because state licensing rules require more staff per child for the youngest age bands. Infant center care costs $200/wk ($10,400/yr), the highest band in most counties, while preschool care runs $155/wk ($8,060/yr). That's a 23% drop — about $45/wk, or $2,340 a year, in savings as your child moves from infant to preschool.
The priciest age group in Miami-Dade County is Infant (0-1) at $200/wk, and the cheapest is school-age (6+) at $125/wk — a spread of $75/wk between the most and least expensive bands. Cost declines steadily from infant to toddler to preschool, the typical national shape. School-age care (ages 6+) is usually the most economical at $125/wk, since those children only need before- and after-school coverage.
| Age Group | Center/Wk | Center/Yr | vs Infant |
|---|---|---|---|
| Infant (0-1) | $200 | $10,400 | — |
| Toddler (1-2) | $170 | $8,840 | -$30 |
| Preschool (3-5) | $155 | $8,060 | -$45 |
| School-Age (6+) | $125 | $6,500 | -$75 |
Burden Index
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $64,215 |
| Burden Index | 16.2% (High) |
| National Median (Infant Center) | $174/wk |
How does Miami-Dade County compare?
At $200/wk for infant center care, Miami-Dade County runs 15% above the national median of $174/wk.
The Childcare Burden Index here is 16.2% of median household income — a high burden, more than double the 7% HHS affordability threshold.
For families looking to lower the bill, family-based (home) daycare in Miami-Dade County runs $150/wk for infants — about 25% less than center-based care, or $2,600 in annual savings. School-age care is the cheapest category at $125/wk (center) or $125/wk (family).
More about Miami-Dade County
This answer pulls from the DOL National Database of Childcare Prices, the authoritative federal source for U.S. childcare prices. The headline number above is the direct answer; what follows is the additional context most readers need to use the answer for a real decision rather than just a fact lookup.
For readers turning this answer into action: cross-reference against the underlying the DOL National Database of Childcare Prices record before acting on time-sensitive decisions. The site renders the data as it was published; subsequent revisions can shift the picture, and the live federal data is always the authoritative current reference.
Source: U.S. Department of Labor Women’s Bureau Childcare Prices, 2026.