Infant vs Toddler vs Preschool Childcare Cost in Richmond City, VA
In Richmond City, VA, center-based childcare costs $308/wk for infants, $202/wk for toddlers, $186/wk for preschoolers, and $148/wk for school-age children, based on DOL data. Care gets cheaper as a child gets older: preschool is about 40% ($122/wk, $6,368/yr) less than infant care. Infant (0-1) is the priciest age group ($308/wk) and school-age (6+) the cheapest ($148/wk).
Cost by Child's Age
Childcare prices in Richmond City track a child's age closely, because state licensing rules require more staff per child for the youngest age bands. Infant center care costs $308/wk ($16,037/yr), the highest band in most counties, while preschool care runs $186/wk ($9,669/yr). That's a 40% drop — about $122/wk, or $6,368 a year, in savings as your child moves from infant to preschool.
The priciest age group in Richmond City is Infant (0-1) at $308/wk, and the cheapest is school-age (6+) at $148/wk — a spread of $160/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 $148/wk, since those children only need before- and after-school coverage.
| Age Group | Center/Wk | Center/Yr | vs Infant |
|---|---|---|---|
| Infant (0-1) | $308 | $16,037 | — |
| Toddler (1-2) | $202 | $10,525 | -$106 |
| Preschool (3-5) | $186 | $9,669 | -$122 |
| School-Age (6+) | $148 | $7,697 | -$160 |
Burden Index
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $59,606 |
| Burden Index | 26.9% (Severe) |
| National Median (Infant Center) | $174/wk |
How does Richmond City compare?
At $308/wk for infant center care, Richmond City runs 78% above the national median of $174/wk.
The Childcare Burden Index here is 26.9% of median household income — a severe burden, more than triple the 7% affordability threshold the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services uses.
For families looking to lower the bill, family-based (home) daycare in Richmond City runs $177/wk for infants — about 43% less than center-based care, or $6,854 in annual savings. School-age care is the cheapest category at $148/wk (center) or $129/wk (family).
More about Richmond City
The data source behind this answer is the DOL National Database of Childcare Prices. Every figure on the page traces back to that source; the methodology page describes the inputs and the refresh cadence in full detail.
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.