Infant vs Toddler vs Preschool Childcare Cost in Santa Cruz County, CA
In Santa Cruz County, CA, center-based childcare costs $477/wk for infants, $326/wk for toddlers, $256/wk for preschoolers, and $142/wk for school-age children, based on DOL data. Care gets cheaper as a child gets older: preschool is about 46% ($221/wk, $11,506/yr) less than infant care. Infant (0-1) is the priciest age group ($477/wk) and school-age (6+) the cheapest ($142/wk).
Cost by Child's Age
Childcare prices in Santa Cruz 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 $477/wk ($24,798/yr), the highest band in most counties, while preschool care runs $256/wk ($13,292/yr). That's a 46% drop — about $221/wk, or $11,506 a year, in savings as your child moves from infant to preschool.
The priciest age group in Santa Cruz County is Infant (0-1) at $477/wk, and the cheapest is school-age (6+) at $142/wk — a spread of $335/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 $142/wk, since those children only need before- and after-school coverage.
| Age Group | Center/Wk | Center/Yr | vs Infant |
|---|---|---|---|
| Infant (0-1) | $477 | $24,798 | — |
| Toddler (1-2) | $326 | $16,941 | -$151 |
| Preschool (3-5) | $256 | $13,292 | -$221 |
| School-Age (6+) | $142 | $7,396 | -$335 |
Burden Index
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $104,409 |
| Burden Index | 23.8% (Severe) |
| National Median (Infant Center) | $174/wk |
How does Santa Cruz County compare?
At $477/wk for infant center care, Santa Cruz County runs 175% above the national median of $174/wk.
The Childcare Burden Index here is 23.8% 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 Santa Cruz County runs $408/wk for infants — about 15% less than center-based care, or $3,598 in annual savings. School-age care is the cheapest category at $142/wk (center) or $227/wk (family).
More about Santa Cruz 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.