Childcare Costs in Louisiana vs Salary (2026)
Full-time infant daycare in Louisiana runs about $840 a month — $10,080 a year, or 16.8% of the $60,000 median household income, and 29% below the 50-state average. Here is what that means for going back to work.
Average daycare cost in Louisiana
- Per month
- $840
- Per week
- $194
- Per year
- $10,080
Full-time infant care. Preschool-age care is about $765 a month.
Next steps
Louisiana childcare and cost-of-living figures
| Figure | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|
| Infant daycare (0–2), full time | $840 | $10,080 |
| Four-year-old care, full time | $765 | $9,180 |
| Median 2-bedroom rent | $1,150 | $13,800 |
| Commute for the returning parent | $220 | $2,640 |
| Median household income | $5,000 | $60,000 |
Childcare prices are the published 2023 state averages (Louisiana: $10,101 a year for infant care, $9,183 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 Louisiana?
One child in care
$13,000
Gross salary needed to cover $12,720 of childcare and commuting after tax.
Two children in care
$22,000
Gross salary needed to cover $21,900 for an infant plus a four-year-old, and the commute.
Childcare plus rent consumes roughly 39.8% of the median Louisiana 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 Louisiana numbers
Load the Louisiana averages into the calculator — $840 of childcare, $1,150 of rent and a $60,000 household income — then replace them with your real salary and daycare quote.
Use these Louisiana numbersLouisiana childcare cost FAQs
How much does daycare cost in Louisiana?
Full-time infant daycare in Louisiana averages about $840 a month ($10,080 a year) in 2026 — about 29% below the 50-state average of $1,188. Care for a four-year-old is cheaper, around $765 a month, because required staff-to-child ratios loosen.
What salary do you need to break even on childcare in Louisiana?
A returning parent in Louisiana needs roughly $13,000 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 $22,000.
What percentage of income goes to childcare in Louisiana?
One infant in full-time care eats about 16.8% of the $60,000 median Louisiana household income. Add the $1,150 median two-bedroom rent and childcare plus housing take roughly 39.8% of gross income — far above the 7% federal affordability benchmark.
Is childcare cheaper in Louisiana than the rest of the US?
At $840 a month for infant care, Louisiana is about 29% 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 Idaho — $840/mo
- Childcare costs in Oklahoma — $840/mo
- Childcare costs in West Virginia — $845/mo
- Childcare costs in Kentucky — $805/mo
- Childcare costs in North Dakota — $895/mo
- Childcare costs in Georgia — $920/mo
All 50 states · Childcare costs by city · US childcare calculator