Childcare Costs in Indiana vs Salary (2026)
Full-time infant daycare in Indiana runs about $1,145 a month — $13,740 a year, or 19.6% of the $70,000 median household income, and 4% below the 50-state average. Here is what that means for going back to work.
Average daycare cost in Indiana
- Per month
- $1,145
- Per week
- $264
- Per year
- $13,740
Full-time infant care. Preschool-age care is about $785 a month.
Next steps
Indiana childcare and cost-of-living figures
| Figure | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|
| Infant daycare (0–2), full time | $1,145 | $13,740 |
| Four-year-old care, full time | $785 | $9,420 |
| Median 2-bedroom rent | $1,200 | $14,400 |
| Commute for the returning parent | $220 | $2,640 |
| Median household income | $5,833 | $70,000 |
Childcare prices are the published 2023 state averages (Indiana: $13,736 a year for infant care, $9,421 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 Indiana?
One child in care
$16,500
Gross salary needed to cover $16,380 of childcare and commuting after tax.
Two children in care
$26,000
Gross salary needed to cover $25,800 for an infant plus a four-year-old, and the commute.
Childcare plus rent consumes roughly 40.2% of the median Indiana 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 Indiana numbers
Load the Indiana averages into the calculator — $1,145 of childcare, $1,200 of rent and a $70,000 household income — then replace them with your real salary and daycare quote.
Use these Indiana numbersIndiana childcare cost FAQs
How much does daycare cost in Indiana?
Full-time infant daycare in Indiana averages about $1,145 a month ($13,740 a year) in 2026 — about 4% below the 50-state average of $1,188. Care for a four-year-old is cheaper, around $785 a month, because required staff-to-child ratios loosen.
What salary do you need to break even on childcare in Indiana?
A returning parent in Indiana needs roughly $16,500 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 $26,000.
What percentage of income goes to childcare in Indiana?
One infant in full-time care eats about 19.6% of the $70,000 median Indiana household income. Add the $1,200 median two-bedroom rent and childcare plus housing take roughly 40.2% of gross income — far above the 7% federal affordability benchmark.
Is childcare cheaper in Indiana than the rest of the US?
At $1,145 a month for infant care, Indiana is about 4% below 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 Wisconsin — $1,130/mo
- Childcare costs in New Mexico — $1,125/mo
- Childcare costs in Arizona — $1,170/mo
- Childcare costs in Nebraska — $1,085/mo
- Childcare costs in Nevada — $1,085/mo
- Childcare costs in Pennsylvania — $1,205/mo
All 50 states · Childcare costs by city · US childcare calculator