Average Cost of Daycare & Preschool in California (2024)
The average cost of daycare in California is about $1,886 a month for an infant and $1,389 a month for a 4-year-old in a licensed center (2024 data). Below that, the real published rates of 12 California schools — not an average.
Center-based preschool for a 4-year-old in California averages $16,665 a year — about $1,389 a month, above the US average of $12,503. Infant care runs higher (about $22,628/year). Source: Child Care Aware of America, 2024 Affordability Analysis, 2024.
Real published tuition: among the California preschools we list, published monthly tuition ranges $358–$3,578/month (133 programs that post prices). Most schools don't publish rates — ask for a quote.
Infant care in California runs about $5,963 more a year than preschool-age care, so the cost usually falls as your child grows. Eligible California families can pay far less — the state's public pre-K, California State Preschool Program (CSPP), is free for income- or risk-qualified children — see help paying for preschool in California.
Estimate your preschool cost
Based on California's average — adjust for your child's age, schedule, and program type.
✓ Sent. See help paying for preschool in California.
What California preschools actually charge
State averages are a starting point, not a price. These are real published rates from 12 California schools we list, taken from each school's own tuition page or rate sheet and converted to a monthly figure — cheapest program first. Click a school name to see the source.
| School | City | Program | Published rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oneonta Cooperative Nursery | South Pasadena | Greenhouse Seedlings (2-3) — T/Th 8:30-12:00 | $358/mo |
| Calvary Preschool | South Pasadena | Young Preschool (24 mo-2 yr 9 mo), All-Day M/W/F — M/W/F | $360/mo |
| Brighten Academy Preschool - Fresno Street | Fresno | Full-Day Session — 6:30 a.m. - 6:00 p.m., 5 days per week | $390/mo |
| Noe Valley Nursery School | San Francisco | Afternoon Program — 12:30pm-3:30pm, 2 days/week | $400/mo |
| Los Altos United Methodist Preschool | Long Beach | Preschool (2 days) — Tue/Thu, 9:00am-1:00pm | $400/mo |
| San Jose Parent Participating Nursery School | San Jose | 3-Day Class — Mon, Wed & Fri 9:00-11:30 AM | $437/mo |
| Bethany Lutheran Preschool | Long Beach | Part-Time, 3 days (1st child) — 8:30am-12:00 noon | $438/mo |
| Almaden Parents' Pre-School | San Jose | 3-Day Class — Mon, Wed & Fri 9:00-11:30 AM | $450/mo |
| St. James' Parish Day School | South Pasadena | Monday/Wednesday/Friday Nursery (2 yr by 09/01/2026) — M/W/F | $460/mo |
| Parkcrest Preschool | Long Beach | Core Program (3-Day) — Mon, Wed, Fri, 9:00am-1:00pm | $463/mo |
| Miraloma Cooperative Nursery School | San Francisco | Half day (8:30am-12:30pm) — 2 days/week | $578/mo |
| St. James Preschool | San Francisco | Turtle Class — 2 days (Tue & Thu) 8:45am-12:00pm | $639/mo |
Lowest published program per school, normalised to a month. Most preschools don't publish rates at all — a blank here means we haven't found a published price, not that a school is cheap or expensive. Always confirm current pricing with the school.
Prices swing with schedule and program type — full-day costs about twice a half-day, and Montessori or private programs run well above a community or church-based one; meals, registration, and materials fees add more. What drives preschool pricing → · How to afford preschool → · Compare the real price →
Preschools in California
See also: when your child can start in California · preschool costs in other states.