Infant vs Toddler vs Preschool Childcare Cost in San Mateo County, CA
In San Mateo County, CA, center-based childcare costs $555/wk for infants, $397/wk for toddlers, $437/wk for preschoolers, and $439/wk for school-age children, based on DOL data. Care gets cheaper as a child gets older: preschool is about 21% ($117/wk, $6,104/yr) less than infant care. Infant (0-1) is the priciest age group ($555/wk) and toddler (1-2) the cheapest ($397/wk).
Cost by Child's Age
Childcare prices in San Mateo 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 $555/wk ($28,837/yr), the highest band in most counties, while preschool care runs $437/wk ($22,733/yr). That's a 21% drop — about $117/wk, or $6,104 a year, in savings as your child moves from infant to preschool.
The priciest age group in San Mateo County is Infant (0-1) at $555/wk, and the cheapest is toddler (1-2) at $397/wk — a spread of $157/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 $439/wk, since those children only need before- and after-school coverage.
| Age Group | Center/Wk | Center/Yr | vs Infant |
|---|---|---|---|
| Infant (0-1) | $555 | $28,837 | — |
| Toddler (1-2) | $397 | $20,655 | -$157 |
| Preschool (3-5) | $437 | $22,733 | -$117 |
| School-Age (6+) | $439 | $22,831 | -$115 |
Burden Index
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $149,907 |
| Burden Index | 19.2% (High) |
| National Median (Infant Center) | $174/wk |
How does San Mateo County compare?
At $555/wk for infant center care, San Mateo County runs 220% above the national median of $174/wk.
The Childcare Burden Index here is 19.2% 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 San Mateo County runs $375/wk for infants — about 32% less than center-based care, or $9,336 in annual savings. School-age care is the cheapest category at $439/wk (center) or $363/wk (family).
More about San Mateo 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.