Infant vs Toddler vs Preschool Childcare Cost in San Francisco County, CA
In San Francisco County, CA, center-based childcare costs $607/wk for infants, $433/wk for toddlers, $477/wk for preschoolers, and $438/wk for school-age children, based on DOL data. Care gets cheaper as a child gets older: preschool is about 21% ($130/wk, $6,738/yr) less than infant care. Infant (0-1) is the priciest age group ($607/wk) and toddler (1-2) the cheapest ($433/wk).
Cost by Child's Age
Childcare prices in San Francisco 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 $607/wk ($31,544/yr), the highest band in most counties, while preschool care runs $477/wk ($24,806/yr). That's a 21% drop — about $130/wk, or $6,738 a year, in savings as your child moves from infant to preschool.
The priciest age group in San Francisco County is Infant (0-1) at $607/wk, and the cheapest is toddler (1-2) at $433/wk — a spread of $173/wk between the most and least expensive bands. The decline is uneven here: toddler care sits close to or above infant care, so the cost curve is not perfectly smooth. School-age care (ages 6+) is usually the most economical at $438/wk, since those children only need before- and after-school coverage.
| Age Group | Center/Wk | Center/Yr | vs Infant |
|---|---|---|---|
| Infant (0-1) | $607 | $31,544 | — |
| Toddler (1-2) | $433 | $22,539 | -$173 |
| Preschool (3-5) | $477 | $24,806 | -$130 |
| School-Age (6+) | $438 | $22,757 | -$169 |
Burden Index
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $136,689 |
| Burden Index | 23.1% (Severe) |
| National Median (Infant Center) | $174/wk |
How does San Francisco County compare?
At $607/wk for infant center care, San Francisco County runs 250% above the national median of $174/wk.
The Childcare Burden Index here is 23.1% 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 San Francisco County runs $395/wk for infants — about 35% less than center-based care, or $10,985 in annual savings. School-age care is the cheapest category at $438/wk (center) or $433/wk (family).
More about San Francisco County
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.