ChildcareCost
DOL Data · 2022

Santa Barbara County, CA

Infant daycare in Santa Barbara County, CA costs $453 per week ($23,532 per year) for center-based care, and $363 per week for family daycare. With a median household income of $92,332, the childcare burden is 25.5% of income, well above the 7% threshold HUD considers affordable. This is above the national median of $174/wk.

Infant Center (Weekly)
$453
$23,532/yr
Infant Family (Weekly)
$363
$18,877/yr
Median Income
$92,332
Burden Index
25.5%
Severe

Cost Breakdown by Age Group

Age GroupCenter/WkCenter/YrFamily/WkFamily/Yr
Infant (0-1)$453$23,532$363$18,877
Toddler (1-2)$309$16,070$305$15,883
Preschool (3-5)$242$12,590$286$14,891
School-Age (6+)$115$5,981$207$10,757
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Santa Barbara County Childcare FAQ

Center-based infant care in Santa Barbara County costs $453 per week ($23,532 per year). Family-based infant care costs $363 per week ($18,877 per year). Data from the DOL National Database of Childcare Prices.

The Childcare Burden Index for Santa Barbara County is 25.5%, rated "Severe". This means a family earning the median income of $92,332 would spend about 25.5% of their income on infant center-based childcare.

The national median weekly infant center care cost is $174. Santa Barbara County at $453/wk is 161% above the national median. Annualized, infant center care in Santa Barbara County costs $23,532 per year.

In Santa Barbara County, CA, the most affordable option is typically family-based (home) daycare. Infant family daycare costs $363/wk compared to $453/wk for center-based. For preschool-age children, family daycare is $286/wk vs $242/wk at a center. School-age after-care is the least expensive category at $207/wk (family) or $115/wk (center).

Childcare costs are weekly median prices from the DOL. Burden Index = annual infant center care / median household income.