Childcare costs in Baltimore City, MD.
Median weekly prices for full-time care in Baltimore City from the federal National Database of Childcare Prices (2022 study year). A spot in an infant room at a local center runs about $250 per week at the median, which works out to $1,083 a month.
| Age group | Center, weekly | Center, monthly | Home-based, weekly | Home-based, monthly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Infant | $250 | $1,083 | $180 | $780 |
| Toddler | $216 | $936 | $156 | $676 |
| Preschool | $216 | $936 | $156 | $676 |
| School-age | $189 | $819 | $140 | $607 |
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), 2022 study year. A dash means the federal data published no price for that age group here. Read the full methodology.
Versus Maryland
2% lower
Infant care here is $250/week versus the Maryland median of $254 and the national median of $173.
Share of income
22.3%
A year of full-time infant care at the median ($13,000) as a share of Baltimore City's median household income ($58,349, 2022).
Common questions
How much does infant daycare cost in Baltimore City?
The median price for full-time infant care at centers in Baltimore City is about $250 per week, roughly $1,083 per month or $13,000 per year (2022 study year). Home-based programs run about $180 per week.
Is childcare in Baltimore City more expensive than the rest of Maryland?
No: median center-based infant care in Baltimore City is about $250 per week, below the Maryland statewide median of $254.
Why do these numbers differ from quotes I see locally?
These are county-wide medians for full-time care from the federal National Database of Childcare Prices, reported for the 2022 study year in that year's dollars. Half of local programs charge more and half charge less, and tuition has generally risen since the study year, so treat them as a floor for budgeting and confirm current rates with providers directly.
Why does infant care cost so much more than preschool?
Staffing. Licensing requires far more adults per infant than per preschooler (in Maryland, one adult per 3 infants versus one per 10 preschoolers), and payroll is most of a program's budget, so the youngest rooms are the most expensive to run.
Why prices look the way they do
Staffing rules set the cost floor: Maryland licensing requires one adult for every 3 infants but one for every 10 preschoolers, which is why infant rooms cost the most.
Maryland childcare ratios