School-Age Childcare Cost 2026: Before & After School Care Prices
Before-school, after-school, and summer care for kids aged 5–12
School-age childcare (ages 5–12) is the cheapest category because kids only need care for a few hours before and after school, plus full days during school breaks and summer. Expect to pay $5,500–$14,000/year for before/after care, with summer camps adding $1,500–$5,000 on top.
Use our free calculator for a personalized school-age care cost estimate in your exact zip code — including nanny, daycare, nanny share, and au pair comparisons plus tax savings.
Most Expensive Cities for School-Age Daycare (2026)
The 10 U.S. metros with the highest school-age daycare center costs:
| Rank | City | Annual | Monthly |
|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | San Francisco Bay Area, CA | $14,000 | $1,167 |
| #2 | San Jose, CA | $13,000 | $1,083 |
| #3 | New York City, NY | $12,500 | $1,042 |
| #4 | Washington, DC | $12,500 | $1,042 |
| #5 | Boston, MA | $12,000 | $1,000 |
| #6 | Seattle, WA | $11,500 | $958 |
| #7 | Los Angeles, CA | $11,000 | $917 |
| #8 | Chicago, IL | $10,000 | $833 |
| #9 | Denver, CO | $10,000 | $833 |
| #10 | San Diego, CA | $10,000 | $833 |
Most Affordable Cities for School-Age Daycare (2026)
The 10 most budget-friendly U.S. metros for school-age daycare:
| Rank | City | Annual | Monthly |
|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Memphis, TN | $5,500 | $458 |
| #2 | San Antonio, TX | $6,500 | $542 |
| #3 | Las Vegas, NV | $7,000 | $583 |
| #4 | Indianapolis, IN | $7,000 | $583 |
| #5 | Kansas City, MO | $7,000 | $583 |
| #6 | St. Louis, MO | $7,000 | $583 |
| #7 | Cleveland, OH | $7,000 | $583 |
| #8 | Jacksonville, FL | $7,000 | $583 |
| #9 | Oklahoma City, OK | $7,000 | $583 |
| #10 | Houston, TX | $7,500 | $625 |
School-Age Care by Type (National Averages)
How school-age care costs compare across the five main childcare options:
| Care Type | Annual (National Avg) | Monthly |
|---|---|---|
| Daycare Center | $8,000 | $667 |
| In-Home Daycare | $6,500 | $542 |
| Nanny Share | $10,240 | $853 |
| Au Pair | $22,000 | $1,833 |
| After-School Nanny | $15,370 | $1,281 |
Winter Break Childcare Cost 2026
A typical two-week school winter break running Monday, December 21, 2026 through Friday, January 1, 2027 has 8 workdays, since Christmas Day and New Year's Day both fall on a Friday. At Care.com's 2026 Cost of Care Report national babysitter rate of $21.88/hour for one child (2025 rates, published February 2026), covering those 8 days at 9 hours a day costs about $1,575. Check your district's calendar: a 10-workday break costs about $1,969 at the same rate.
| Winter break care (9 hrs/day, 1 child) | Hourly rate | 8 workdays | 10 workdays |
|---|---|---|---|
| Babysitter | $21.88 | $1,575 | $1,969 |
| Nanny | $22.26 | $1,603 | $2,003 |
Math: $21.88 × 9 hours × 8 days = $1,575; nanny rate $22.26 is the Care.com Cost of Care Calculator U.S. average (October 2026). Local rates vary widely, so get your city's numbers from the babysitter cost calculator.
Tax rules for winter break care (2026)
- Day camps count, overnight camps don't. IRS Publication 503: a day camp may be a work-related expense, but the cost of an overnight camp isn't. Holiday day camps and sitters you pay so you can work both qualify for kids under 13.
- December care falls in tax year 2026. All 8 workdays above are in 2026. Pub 503 counts prepaid care only in the year it's received, so January 2027 camp you prepay now belongs to 2027.
- Unused 2026 DCFSA money. The 2026 Dependent Care FSA limit is $7,500 per household ($3,750 married filing separately). If your plan year ends December 31 and you still have a balance, winter break care is a way to use it. Unused funds are forfeited unless your employer's plan has a grace period. See our 2026 Dependent Care FSA guide.
- No FSA? Those expenses can count toward the Child and Dependent Care Credit (expense cap $3,000 for one child, $6,000 for two or more, reduced by any DCFSA money you excluded).
Scenario: one child, married filing jointly, 22% bracket, $1,575 of winter break sitter costs paid from a DCFSA saves about $467 in income tax and FICA ($1,575 × 29.65%). For your full-year budget with tax savings applied, run the childcare cost calculator. Sources: Care.com 2026 Cost of Care Report; IRS Publication 503; Dependent Care FSA limit per P.L. 119-21 (IRC §129) as of November 3, 2026. This is general information, not tax advice; consult a qualified tax professional.
Summer and School Breaks: What Counts for Tax Breaks
Most school-age care is before and after school, which is why it averages $8,000 a year nationally, well below full-day care for younger children. Summer and school breaks are where costs jump, and where families often miss tax savings:
- Day camp counts. Summer day camp, including specialty camps for sports or coding, qualifies for the Dependent Care FSA and the Child and Dependent Care Credit when it lets you work. Overnight camp doesn't.
- Plan your FSA election for the whole year. The $7,500 household limit covers before- and after-school care and summer together, so leave room for camp when you enroll. See our Dependent Care FSA guide.
- Before- and after-school care counts for kindergartners and older children, but school and kindergarten tuition don't.
- The age-13 cutoff: care stops counting once your child turns 13, unless they can't care for themselves.
Tax rules from IRS Publication 503; prices from the Care.com 2026 Cost of Care Report. Checked November 3, 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does before and after school care cost?
Before and after school programs cost $5,500–$14,000 per year across the 44 metros we track, or $458–$1,167 per month (national average about $8,000/year). Costs are highest in expensive metros like San Francisco, San Jose, and Washington DC, and lowest in cities like Memphis, San Antonio, and Las Vegas.
What are the options for school-age childcare?
The main options are: (1) Before/after school programs run by the school or a nonprofit like YMCA, (2) Private center-based after-school care, (3) In-home daycares that offer school-age care, (4) Part-time nannies or "household managers" who handle pickups and homework, and (5) Summer camps for school breaks.
How much does summer camp cost for kids?
Day camps average $150–$800/week depending on location and program. Specialty camps (sports, STEM, arts) are usually more expensive than general recreation camps. Plan for $1,500–$5,000 per child for an 8-week summer depending on your mix of camps and home care.
Can DCFSA be used for school-age care?
Yes. Dependent Care FSA funds can be used for before/after school care, summer day camps, and any childcare for kids under 13 while you work. You cannot use DCFSA for overnight camps, tutoring, or kindergarten tuition.
School-Age Care Cost by City (2026)
After-school and full-day care costs for children ages 5–12 in each metro:
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