Childcare Costs in Hawaii vs Salary (2026)
Full-time infant daycare in Hawaii runs about $1,880 a month — $22,560 a year, or 23% of the $98,000 median household income, and 58% above the 50-state average. Here is what that means for going back to work.
Average daycare cost in Hawaii
- Per month
- $1,880
- Per week
- $434
- Per year
- $22,560
Full-time infant care. Preschool-age care is about $1,095 a month.
Next steps
Hawaii childcare and cost-of-living figures
| Figure | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|
| Infant daycare (0–2), full time | $1,880 | $22,560 |
| Four-year-old care, full time | $1,095 | $13,140 |
| Median 2-bedroom rent | $2,300 | $27,600 |
| Commute for the returning parent | $220 | $2,640 |
| Median household income | $8,167 | $98,000 |
Childcare prices are the published 2023 state averages (Hawaii: $22,585 a year for infant care, $13,156 for a 4-year-old); income and rent are 2026 estimates. Childcare: Child Care Aware of America — Price of Care: 2023 Affordability Analysis (Table I). Income: U.S. Census Bureau — American Community Survey. Housing: HUD Fair Market Rents. Full methodology and dataset.
What salary do you need to break even in Hawaii?
One child in care
$25,500
Gross salary needed to cover $25,200 of childcare and commuting after tax.
Two children in care
$40,000
Gross salary needed to cover $38,340 for an infant plus a four-year-old, and the commute.
Childcare plus rent consumes roughly 51.2% of the median Hawaii household income, far above the 7% the federal government calls affordable. Below the break-even line a second income is close to unpaid work in cash terms — the second-earner trap — though pension contributions and future wage growth still argue for staying in work (see the opportunity cost of staying home).
Test your own salary against these figures with the two-income break-even calculator or see what survives your nursery bill with the childcare vs salary calculator.
Run your own Hawaii numbers
Load the Hawaii averages into the calculator — $1,880 of childcare, $2,300 of rent and a $98,000 household income — then replace them with your real salary and daycare quote.
Use these Hawaii numbersHawaii childcare cost FAQs
How much does daycare cost in Hawaii?
Full-time infant daycare in Hawaii averages about $1,880 a month ($22,560 a year) in 2026 — about 58% above the 50-state average of $1,188. Care for a four-year-old is cheaper, around $1,095 a month, because required staff-to-child ratios loosen.
What salary do you need to break even on childcare in Hawaii?
A returning parent in Hawaii needs roughly $25,500 gross to cover one infant in full-time care plus commuting after federal tax. With two children in care the break-even rises to about $40,000.
What percentage of income goes to childcare in Hawaii?
One infant in full-time care eats about 23% of the $98,000 median Hawaii household income. Add the $2,300 median two-bedroom rent and childcare plus housing take roughly 51.2% of gross income — far above the 7% federal affordability benchmark.
Is childcare cheaper in Hawaii than the rest of the US?
At $1,880 a month for infant care, Hawaii is about 58% above the 50-state average of $1,188. Prices inside the state still vary widely: metro centers typically run 20–40% above rural counties.
States with similar childcare prices
- Childcare costs in Massachusetts — $2,000/mo
- Childcare costs in Washington — $1,700/mo
- Childcare costs in Minnesota — $1,675/mo
- Childcare costs in Maryland — $1,660/mo
- Childcare costs in District of Columbia — $2,125/mo
- Childcare costs in New Jersey — $1,635/mo
All 50 states · Childcare costs by city · US childcare calculator