Iowa childcare costs.
Median weekly prices for full-time care across 99 Iowa counties, from the federal National Database of Childcare Prices. Infant care at Iowa centers runs about $160 per week at the median, below the national median of $173.
Statewide medians, per child
| Age group | Center, weekly | Center, monthly | Home-based, weekly |
|---|---|---|---|
| Infant | $160 | $693 | $106 |
| Toddler | $138 | $598 | $104 |
| Preschool | $138 | $598 | $104 |
| School-age | $110 | $477 | $101 |
Medians across Iowa counties with published prices, most recent study year per county (mostly 2022).
Prices by county
| County | Infant, center | Preschool, center | Infant, home-based |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adair County | $159/wk | $137/wk | $105/wk |
| Adams County | $163/wk | $141/wk | $107/wk |
| Allamakee County | $159/wk | $137/wk | $104/wk |
| Appanoose County | $155/wk | $134/wk | $105/wk |
| Audubon County | $159/wk | $137/wk | $105/wk |
| Benton County | $163/wk | $141/wk | $107/wk |
| Black Hawk County | $168/wk | $145/wk | $113/wk |
| Boone County | $163/wk | $140/wk | $110/wk |
| Bremer County | $159/wk | $137/wk | $107/wk |
| Buchanan County | $159/wk | $137/wk | $107/wk |
| Buena Vista County | $157/wk | $136/wk | $106/wk |
| Butler County | $161/wk | $139/wk | $106/wk |
| Calhoun County | $158/wk | $136/wk | $104/wk |
| Carroll County | $153/wk | $132/wk | $103/wk |
| Cass County | $152/wk | $131/wk | $103/wk |
| Cedar County | $167/wk | $144/wk | $110/wk |
| Cerro Gordo County | $159/wk | $137/wk | $108/wk |
| Cherokee County | $150/wk | $129/wk | $101/wk |
| Chickasaw County | $161/wk | $139/wk | $106/wk |
| Clarke County | $153/wk | $132/wk | $103/wk |
| Clay County | $156/wk | $134/wk | $105/wk |
| Clayton County | $160/wk | $138/wk | $105/wk |
| Clinton County | $158/wk | $136/wk | $107/wk |
| Crawford County | $154/wk | $133/wk | $104/wk |
| Dallas County | $185/wk | $160/wk | $125/wk |
| Davis County | $167/wk | $144/wk | $110/wk |
| Decatur County | $152/wk | $131/wk | $100/wk |
| Delaware County | $161/wk | $138/wk | $106/wk |
| Des Moines County | $163/wk | $141/wk | $110/wk |
| Dickinson County | $165/wk | $143/wk | $112/wk |
| Dubuque County | $166/wk | $143/wk | $112/wk |
| Emmet County | $154/wk | $133/wk | $104/wk |
| Fayette County | $162/wk | $140/wk | $106/wk |
| Floyd County | $148/wk | $128/wk | $100/wk |
| Franklin County | $153/wk | $132/wk | $103/wk |
| Fremont County | $159/wk | $137/wk | $104/wk |
| Greene County | $160/wk | $138/wk | $108/wk |
| Grundy County | $162/wk | $139/wk | $106/wk |
| Guthrie County | $164/wk | $141/wk | $108/wk |
| Hamilton County | $161/wk | $138/wk | $108/wk |
| Hancock County | $163/wk | $141/wk | $107/wk |
| Hardin County | $161/wk | $139/wk | $106/wk |
| Harrison County | $166/wk | $143/wk | $109/wk |
| Henry County | $154/wk | $133/wk | $104/wk |
| Howard County | $153/wk | $132/wk | $103/wk |
| Humboldt County | $151/wk | $130/wk | $102/wk |
| Ida County | $154/wk | $133/wk | $101/wk |
| Iowa County | $160/wk | $138/wk | $105/wk |
| Jackson County | $155/wk | $133/wk | $104/wk |
| Jasper County | $160/wk | $138/wk | $108/wk |
| Jefferson County | $160/wk | $138/wk | $108/wk |
| Johnson County | $177/wk | $152/wk | $119/wk |
| Jones County | $153/wk | $132/wk | $103/wk |
| Keokuk County | $160/wk | $138/wk | $105/wk |
| Kossuth County | $160/wk | $138/wk | $108/wk |
| Lee County | $157/wk | $135/wk | $106/wk |
| Linn County | $166/wk | $143/wk | $111/wk |
| Louisa County | $161/wk | $139/wk | $106/wk |
| Lucas County | $157/wk | $135/wk | $106/wk |
| Lyon County | $163/wk | $141/wk | $107/wk |
| Madison County | $169/wk | $145/wk | $114/wk |
| Mahaska County | $157/wk | $135/wk | $106/wk |
| Marion County | $162/wk | $140/wk | $109/wk |
| Marshall County | $161/wk | $139/wk | $109/wk |
| Mills County | $163/wk | $140/wk | $110/wk |
| Mitchell County | $154/wk | $133/wk | $104/wk |
| Monona County | $161/wk | $139/wk | $106/wk |
| Monroe County | $155/wk | $134/wk | $105/wk |
| Montgomery County | $154/wk | $132/wk | $104/wk |
| Muscatine County | $167/wk | $144/wk | $113/wk |
| O'Brien County | $152/wk | $131/wk | $103/wk |
| Osceola County | $159/wk | $137/wk | $107/wk |
| Page County | $155/wk | $133/wk | $104/wk |
| Palo Alto County | $149/wk | $128/wk | $100/wk |
| Plymouth County | $161/wk | $139/wk | $109/wk |
| Pocahontas County | $160/wk | $138/wk | $105/wk |
| Polk County | $177/wk | $153/wk | $119/wk |
| Pottawattamie County | $168/wk | $145/wk | $114/wk |
| Poweshiek County | $161/wk | $139/wk | $109/wk |
| Ringgold County | $158/wk | $136/wk | $104/wk |
| Sac County | $153/wk | $132/wk | $101/wk |
| Scott County | $168/wk | $145/wk | $113/wk |
| Shelby County | $164/wk | $141/wk | $111/wk |
| Sioux County | $160/wk | $138/wk | $108/wk |
| Story County | $170/wk | $147/wk | $115/wk |
| Tama County | $166/wk | $143/wk | $109/wk |
| Taylor County | $154/wk | $133/wk | $101/wk |
| Union County | $153/wk | $132/wk | $103/wk |
| Van Buren County | $155/wk | $133/wk | $102/wk |
| Wapello County | $165/wk | $142/wk | $111/wk |
| Warren County | $169/wk | $146/wk | $114/wk |
| Washington County | $162/wk | $140/wk | $109/wk |
| Wayne County | $153/wk | $132/wk | $100/wk |
| Webster County | $156/wk | $134/wk | $105/wk |
| Winnebago County | $151/wk | $130/wk | $102/wk |
| Winneshiek County | $157/wk | $135/wk | $106/wk |
| Woodbury County | $166/wk | $143/wk | $112/wk |
| Worth County | $157/wk | $135/wk | $103/wk |
| Wright County | $154/wk | $133/wk | $104/wk |
Prices are county-level weekly medians for full-time care from the federal National Database of Childcare Prices, shown for each county’s most recent study year in that year’s dollars. Some county figures are federal estimates rather than direct survey results, and actual tuition varies widely by program, schedule, and age policies. This information is a general benchmark only, not a quote or financial advice, and Seedling makes no guarantee of its accuracy or completeness. Always confirm current rates with local providers. Source: the National Database of Childcare Prices (DOL Women's Bureau). Read the full methodology.
Staffing rules drive these prices
Staff-to-child ratios are the biggest cost driver in childcare: Iowa requires one adult for every 4 infants at licensed centers. See the full requirements by age group.
Iowa childcare ratiosCommon questions
How much does childcare cost in Iowa?
The median price for full-time infant care at Iowa centers is about $160 per week, roughly $693 per month, and preschool-age care runs about $138 per week. Prices vary a lot by county, so check your county's page for local figures.
Which Iowa county has the most expensive childcare?
Among counties with published prices, Dallas County has the highest median for center-based infant care at about $185 per week, while Floyd County has the lowest at about $148 per week.
Is center-based or home-based care cheaper?
Home-based (family childcare) programs usually charge less than centers for the same age group: in Iowa, the median for infant care is about $106 per week home-based versus $160 at centers. Centers typically offer larger programs and more structured staffing, which is part of the price difference.
Where do these numbers come from?
They are county-level medians for full-time care from the federal National Database of Childcare Prices (DOL Women's Bureau), shown for each county's most recent study year. They are a benchmark, not a quote: actual tuition depends on the program, schedule, and age policies, so always confirm rates with local providers.