Kentucky childcare costs.
Median weekly prices for full-time care across 120 Kentucky counties, from the federal National Database of Childcare Prices. Infant care at Kentucky centers runs about $128 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 | $128 | $555 | $120 |
| Toddler | $120 | $520 | $105 |
| Preschool | $120 | $520 | $105 |
| School-age | $120 | $520 | $103 |
Medians across Kentucky 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 | $96/wk | $88/wk | $113/wk |
| Allen County | $142/wk | $134/wk | $123/wk |
| Anderson County | $151/wk | $132/wk | $123/wk |
| Ballard County | $128/wk | $120/wk | $120/wk |
| Barren County | $125/wk | $115/wk | $115/wk |
| Bath County | $113/wk | $113/wk | $80/wk |
| Bell County | $100/wk | $93/wk | $115/wk |
| Boone County | $199/wk | $170/wk | $168/wk |
| Bourbon County | $196/wk | $167/wk | $167/wk |
| Boyd County | $107/wk | $107/wk | $83/wk |
| Boyle County | $181/wk | $153/wk | $131/wk |
| Bracken County | $113/wk | $113/wk | $80/wk |
| Breathitt County | $113/wk | $113/wk | $80/wk |
| Breckinridge County | $169/wk | $149/wk | $130/wk |
| Bullitt County | $151/wk | $132/wk | $123/wk |
| Butler County | $142/wk | $134/wk | $123/wk |
| Caldwell County | $121/wk | $114/wk | $119/wk |
| Calloway County | $111/wk | $101/wk | $112/wk |
| Campbell County | $199/wk | $170/wk | $168/wk |
| Carlisle County | $128/wk | $120/wk | $120/wk |
| Carroll County | $212/wk | $181/wk | $185/wk |
| Carter County | $113/wk | $113/wk | $80/wk |
| Casey County | $96/wk | $88/wk | $113/wk |
| Christian County | $111/wk | $101/wk | $112/wk |
| Clark County | $181/wk | $153/wk | $131/wk |
| Clay County | $106/wk | $98/wk | $113/wk |
| Clinton County | $96/wk | $88/wk | $113/wk |
| Crittenden County | $128/wk | $120/wk | $120/wk |
| Cumberland County | $96/wk | $88/wk | $113/wk |
| Daviess County | $125/wk | $115/wk | $115/wk |
| Edmonson County | $142/wk | $134/wk | $123/wk |
| Elliott County | $113/wk | $113/wk | $80/wk |
| Estill County | $204/wk | $175/wk | $151/wk |
| Fayette County | $184/wk | $156/wk | $132/wk |
| Fleming County | $113/wk | $113/wk | $80/wk |
| Floyd County | $113/wk | $113/wk | $80/wk |
| Franklin County | $135/wk | $119/wk | $103/wk |
| Fulton County | $121/wk | $114/wk | $119/wk |
| Gallatin County | $222/wk | $189/wk | $186/wk |
| Garrard County | $204/wk | $175/wk | $151/wk |
| Grant County | $212/wk | $181/wk | $185/wk |
| Graves County | $111/wk | $101/wk | $112/wk |
| Grayson County | $169/wk | $149/wk | $130/wk |
| Green County | $96/wk | $88/wk | $113/wk |
| Greenup County | $107/wk | $107/wk | $83/wk |
| Hancock County | $142/wk | $134/wk | $123/wk |
| Hardin County | $151/wk | $129/wk | $123/wk |
| Harlan County | $100/wk | $93/wk | $112/wk |
| Harrison County | $212/wk | $181/wk | $185/wk |
| Hart County | $142/wk | $134/wk | $123/wk |
| Henderson County | $125/wk | $115/wk | $115/wk |
| Henry County | $159/wk | $139/wk | $124/wk |
| Hickman County | $128/wk | $120/wk | $120/wk |
| Hopkins County | $121/wk | $114/wk | $119/wk |
| Jackson County | $106/wk | $98/wk | $113/wk |
| Jefferson County | $216/wk | $184/wk | $118/wk |
| Jessamine County | $181/wk | $153/wk | $131/wk |
| Johnson County | $113/wk | $113/wk | $80/wk |
| Kenton County | $199/wk | $170/wk | $168/wk |
| Knott County | $113/wk | $113/wk | $80/wk |
| Knox County | $100/wk | $93/wk | $112/wk |
| Larue County | $169/wk | $149/wk | $130/wk |
| Laurel County | $100/wk | $93/wk | $112/wk |
| Lawrence County | $113/wk | $113/wk | $80/wk |
| Lee County | $113/wk | $113/wk | $80/wk |
| Leslie County | $113/wk | $113/wk | $80/wk |
| Letcher County | $113/wk | $113/wk | $80/wk |
| Lewis County | $113/wk | $113/wk | $80/wk |
| Lincoln County | $204/wk | $175/wk | $151/wk |
| Livingston County | $128/wk | $120/wk | $120/wk |
| Logan County | $142/wk | $134/wk | $123/wk |
| Lyon County | $128/wk | $120/wk | $120/wk |
| Madison County | $181/wk | $153/wk | $131/wk |
| Magoffin County | $113/wk | $113/wk | $80/wk |
| Marion County | $169/wk | $149/wk | $130/wk |
| Marshall County | $128/wk | $120/wk | $120/wk |
| Martin County | $113/wk | $113/wk | $80/wk |
| Mason County | $107/wk | $107/wk | $83/wk |
| McCracken County | $111/wk | $101/wk | $112/wk |
| McCreary County | $96/wk | $88/wk | $113/wk |
| McLean County | $142/wk | $134/wk | $123/wk |
| Meade County | $169/wk | $149/wk | $130/wk |
| Menifee County | $113/wk | $113/wk | $80/wk |
| Mercer County | $195/wk | $167/wk | $149/wk |
| Metcalfe County | $142/wk | $134/wk | $123/wk |
| Monroe County | $142/wk | $134/wk | $123/wk |
| Montgomery County | $107/wk | $107/wk | $79/wk |
| Morgan County | $113/wk | $113/wk | $80/wk |
| Muhlenberg County | $121/wk | $114/wk | $119/wk |
| Nelson County | $161/wk | $142/wk | $129/wk |
| Nicholas County | $222/wk | $189/wk | $186/wk |
| Ohio County | $142/wk | $134/wk | $123/wk |
| Oldham County | $151/wk | $132/wk | $123/wk |
| Owen County | $222/wk | $189/wk | $186/wk |
| Owsley County | $113/wk | $113/wk | $80/wk |
| Pendleton County | $222/wk | $189/wk | $186/wk |
| Perry County | $113/wk | $113/wk | $84/wk |
| Pike County | $113/wk | $113/wk | $84/wk |
| Powell County | $195/wk | $167/wk | $149/wk |
| Pulaski County | $104/wk | $96/wk | $92/wk |
| Robertson County | $113/wk | $113/wk | $80/wk |
| Rockcastle County | $106/wk | $98/wk | $113/wk |
| Rowan County | $107/wk | $107/wk | $79/wk |
| Russell County | $96/wk | $88/wk | $113/wk |
| Scott County | $212/wk | $181/wk | $185/wk |
| Shelby County | $151/wk | $132/wk | $123/wk |
| Simpson County | $135/wk | $128/wk | $122/wk |
| Spencer County | $159/wk | $139/wk | $124/wk |
| Taylor County | $104/wk | $96/wk | $92/wk |
| Todd County | $128/wk | $120/wk | $120/wk |
| Trigg County | $128/wk | $120/wk | $120/wk |
| Trimble County | $159/wk | $139/wk | $124/wk |
| Union County | $135/wk | $128/wk | $122/wk |
| Warren County | $125/wk | $115/wk | $115/wk |
| Washington County | $169/wk | $149/wk | $130/wk |
| Wayne County | $90/wk | $83/wk | $112/wk |
| Webster County | $142/wk | $134/wk | $123/wk |
| Whitley County | $100/wk | $93/wk | $112/wk |
| Wolfe County | $113/wk | $113/wk | $80/wk |
| Woodford County | $151/wk | $132/wk | $123/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: Kentucky requires one adult for every 5 infants at licensed centers. See the full requirements by age group.
Kentucky childcare ratiosCommon questions
How much does childcare cost in Kentucky?
The median price for full-time infant care at Kentucky centers is about $128 per week, roughly $555 per month, and preschool-age care runs about $120 per week. Prices vary a lot by county, so check your county's page for local figures.
Which Kentucky county has the most expensive childcare?
Among counties with published prices, Gallatin County has the highest median for center-based infant care at about $222 per week, while Wayne County has the lowest at about $90 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 Kentucky, the median for infant care is about $120 per week home-based versus $128 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.