Infant vs Toddler vs Preschool Childcare Cost in St. Lucie County, FL
In St. Lucie County, FL, center-based childcare costs $235/wk for infants, $180/wk for toddlers, $168/wk for preschoolers, and $98/wk for school-age children, based on DOL data. Care gets cheaper as a child gets older: preschool is about 29% ($67/wk, $3,484/yr) less than infant care. Infant (0-1) is the priciest age group ($235/wk) and school-age (6+) the cheapest ($98/wk).
Cost by Child's Age
Childcare prices in St. Lucie 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 $235/wk ($12,220/yr), the highest band in most counties, while preschool care runs $168/wk ($8,736/yr). That's a 29% drop — about $67/wk, or $3,484 a year, in savings as your child moves from infant to preschool.
The priciest age group in St. Lucie County is Infant (0-1) at $235/wk, and the cheapest is school-age (6+) at $98/wk — a spread of $137/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 $98/wk, since those children only need before- and after-school coverage.
| Age Group | Center/Wk | Center/Yr | vs Infant |
|---|---|---|---|
| Infant (0-1) | $235 | $12,220 | — |
| Toddler (1-2) | $180 | $9,360 | -$55 |
| Preschool (3-5) | $168 | $8,736 | -$67 |
| School-Age (6+) | $98 | $5,096 | -$137 |
Burden Index
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $66,154 |
| Burden Index | 18.5% (High) |
| National Median (Infant Center) | $174/wk |
How does St. Lucie County compare?
At $235/wk for infant center care, St. Lucie County runs 35% above the national median of $174/wk.
The Childcare Burden Index here is 18.5% 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 St. Lucie County runs $165/wk for infants — about 30% less than center-based care, or $3,640 in annual savings. School-age care is the cheapest category at $98/wk (center) or $125/wk (family).
More about St. Lucie 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.
A practical caveat: the headline answer above reflects the most recent the DOL National Database of Childcare Prices vintage; underlying data is often revised for months after first publication, and the right reference for any specific decision is whichever vintage is current at the time of the decision. The as-of date is stamped on every page.
Source: U.S. Department of Labor Women’s Bureau Childcare Prices, 2026.