Nebraska childcare costs.
Median weekly prices for full-time care across 93 Nebraska counties, from the federal National Database of Childcare Prices. Infant care at Nebraska centers runs about $187 per week at the median, above the national median of $173.
Statewide medians, per child
| Age group | Center, weekly | Center, monthly | Home-based, weekly |
|---|---|---|---|
| Infant | $187 | $810 | $108 |
| Toddler | $178 | $771 | $113 |
| Preschool | $163 | $706 | $115 |
| School-age | $158 | $685 | $118 |
Medians across Nebraska counties with published prices, most recent study year per county (mostly 2022).
Prices by county
| County | Infant, center | Preschool, center | Infant, home-based |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adams County | $187/wk | $163/wk | $108/wk |
| Antelope County | $187/wk | $163/wk | $108/wk |
| Arthur County | $187/wk | $163/wk | $108/wk |
| Banner County | $187/wk | $163/wk | $108/wk |
| Blaine County | $187/wk | $163/wk | $108/wk |
| Boone County | $187/wk | $163/wk | $108/wk |
| Box Butte County | $187/wk | $163/wk | $108/wk |
| Boyd County | $187/wk | $163/wk | $108/wk |
| Brown County | $187/wk | $163/wk | $108/wk |
| Buffalo County | $187/wk | $163/wk | $108/wk |
| Burt County | $187/wk | $163/wk | $108/wk |
| Butler County | $187/wk | $163/wk | $108/wk |
| Cass County | $187/wk | $163/wk | $108/wk |
| Cedar County | $187/wk | $163/wk | $108/wk |
| Chase County | $187/wk | $163/wk | $108/wk |
| Cherry County | $187/wk | $163/wk | $108/wk |
| Cheyenne County | $187/wk | $163/wk | $108/wk |
| Clay County | $187/wk | $163/wk | $108/wk |
| Colfax County | $187/wk | $163/wk | $108/wk |
| Cuming County | $187/wk | $163/wk | $108/wk |
| Custer County | $187/wk | $163/wk | $108/wk |
| Dakota County | $244/wk | $205/wk | $150/wk |
| Dawes County | $187/wk | $163/wk | $108/wk |
| Dawson County | $187/wk | $163/wk | $108/wk |
| Deuel County | $187/wk | $163/wk | $108/wk |
| Dixon County | $187/wk | $163/wk | $108/wk |
| Dodge County | $187/wk | $163/wk | $108/wk |
| Douglas County | $244/wk | $205/wk | $150/wk |
| Dundy County | $187/wk | $163/wk | $108/wk |
| Fillmore County | $187/wk | $163/wk | $108/wk |
| Franklin County | $187/wk | $163/wk | $108/wk |
| Frontier County | $187/wk | $163/wk | $108/wk |
| Furnas County | $187/wk | $163/wk | $108/wk |
| Gage County | $187/wk | $163/wk | $108/wk |
| Garden County | $187/wk | $163/wk | $108/wk |
| Garfield County | $187/wk | $163/wk | $108/wk |
| Gosper County | $187/wk | $163/wk | $108/wk |
| Grant County | $187/wk | $163/wk | $108/wk |
| Greeley County | $187/wk | $163/wk | $108/wk |
| Hall County | $187/wk | $163/wk | $108/wk |
| Hamilton County | $187/wk | $163/wk | $108/wk |
| Harlan County | $187/wk | $163/wk | $108/wk |
| Hayes County | $187/wk | $163/wk | $108/wk |
| Hitchcock County | $187/wk | $163/wk | $108/wk |
| Holt County | $187/wk | $163/wk | $108/wk |
| Hooker County | $187/wk | $163/wk | $108/wk |
| Howard County | $187/wk | $163/wk | $108/wk |
| Jefferson County | $187/wk | $163/wk | $108/wk |
| Johnson County | $187/wk | $163/wk | $108/wk |
| Kearney County | $187/wk | $163/wk | $108/wk |
| Keith County | $187/wk | $163/wk | $108/wk |
| Keya Paha County | $187/wk | $163/wk | $108/wk |
| Kimball County | $187/wk | $163/wk | $108/wk |
| Knox County | $187/wk | $163/wk | $108/wk |
| Lancaster County | $244/wk | $205/wk | $150/wk |
| Lincoln County | $187/wk | $163/wk | $108/wk |
| Logan County | $187/wk | $163/wk | $108/wk |
| Loup County | $187/wk | $163/wk | $108/wk |
| Madison County | $187/wk | $163/wk | $108/wk |
| McPherson County | $187/wk | $163/wk | $108/wk |
| Merrick County | $187/wk | $163/wk | $108/wk |
| Morrill County | $187/wk | $163/wk | $108/wk |
| Nance County | $187/wk | $163/wk | $108/wk |
| Nemaha County | $187/wk | $163/wk | $108/wk |
| Nuckolls County | $187/wk | $163/wk | $108/wk |
| Otoe County | $187/wk | $163/wk | $108/wk |
| Pawnee County | $187/wk | $163/wk | $108/wk |
| Perkins County | $187/wk | $163/wk | $108/wk |
| Phelps County | $187/wk | $163/wk | $108/wk |
| Pierce County | $187/wk | $163/wk | $108/wk |
| Platte County | $187/wk | $163/wk | $108/wk |
| Polk County | $187/wk | $163/wk | $108/wk |
| Red Willow County | $187/wk | $163/wk | $108/wk |
| Richardson County | $187/wk | $163/wk | $108/wk |
| Rock County | $187/wk | $163/wk | $108/wk |
| Saline County | $187/wk | $163/wk | $108/wk |
| Sarpy County | $244/wk | $205/wk | $150/wk |
| Saunders County | $187/wk | $163/wk | $108/wk |
| Scotts Bluff County | $187/wk | $163/wk | $108/wk |
| Seward County | $187/wk | $163/wk | $108/wk |
| Sheridan County | $187/wk | $163/wk | $108/wk |
| Sherman County | $187/wk | $163/wk | $108/wk |
| Sioux County | $187/wk | $163/wk | $108/wk |
| Stanton County | $187/wk | $163/wk | $108/wk |
| Thayer County | $187/wk | $163/wk | $108/wk |
| Thomas County | $187/wk | $163/wk | $108/wk |
| Thurston County | $187/wk | $163/wk | $108/wk |
| Valley County | $187/wk | $163/wk | $108/wk |
| Washington County | $187/wk | $163/wk | $108/wk |
| Wayne County | $187/wk | $163/wk | $108/wk |
| Webster County | $187/wk | $163/wk | $108/wk |
| Wheeler County | $187/wk | $163/wk | $108/wk |
| York County | $187/wk | $163/wk | $108/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: Nebraska requires one adult for every 4 infants at licensed centers. See the full requirements by age group.
Nebraska childcare ratiosCommon questions
How much does childcare cost in Nebraska?
The median price for full-time infant care at Nebraska centers is about $187 per week, roughly $810 per month, and preschool-age care runs about $163 per week. Prices vary a lot by county, so check your county's page for local figures.
Which Nebraska county has the most expensive childcare?
Among counties with published prices, Dakota County has the highest median for center-based infant care at about $244 per week, while Adams County has the lowest at about $187 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 Nebraska, the median for infant care is about $108 per week home-based versus $187 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.