Childcare Costs in Montana vs Salary (2026)
Full-time infant daycare in Montana runs about $975 a month — $11,700 a year, or 16.5% of the $71,000 median household income, and 18% below the 50-state average. Here is what that means for going back to work.
Average daycare cost in Montana
- Per month
- $975
- Per week
- $225
- Per year
- $11,700
Full-time infant care. Preschool-age care is about $865 a month.
Next steps
Montana childcare and cost-of-living figures
| Figure | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|
| Infant daycare (0–2), full time | $975 | $11,700 |
| Four-year-old care, full time | $865 | $10,380 |
| Median 2-bedroom rent | $1,300 | $15,600 |
| Commute for the returning parent | $220 | $2,640 |
| Median household income | $5,917 | $71,000 |
Childcare prices are the published 2023 state averages (Montana: $11,700 a year for infant care, $10,400 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 Montana?
One child in care
$14,500
Gross salary needed to cover $14,340 of childcare and commuting after tax.
Two children in care
$25,000
Gross salary needed to cover $24,720 for an infant plus a four-year-old, and the commute.
Childcare plus rent consumes roughly 38.5% of the median Montana 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 Montana numbers
Load the Montana averages into the calculator — $975 of childcare, $1,300 of rent and a $71,000 household income — then replace them with your real salary and daycare quote.
Use these Montana numbersMontana childcare cost FAQs
How much does daycare cost in Montana?
Full-time infant daycare in Montana averages about $975 a month ($11,700 a year) in 2026 — about 18% below the 50-state average of $1,188. Care for a four-year-old is cheaper, around $865 a month, because required staff-to-child ratios loosen.
What salary do you need to break even on childcare in Montana?
A returning parent in Montana needs roughly $14,500 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 $25,000.
What percentage of income goes to childcare in Montana?
One infant in full-time care eats about 16.5% of the $71,000 median Montana household income. Add the $1,300 median two-bedroom rent and childcare plus housing take roughly 38.5% of gross income — far above the 7% federal affordability benchmark.
Is childcare cheaper in Montana than the rest of the US?
At $975 a month for infant care, Montana is about 18% 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 Alaska — $980/mo
- Childcare costs in Maine — $995/mo
- Childcare costs in Tennessee — $1,000/mo
- Childcare costs in Iowa — $1,015/mo
- Childcare costs in Utah — $935/mo
- Childcare costs in North Carolina — $1,020/mo
All 50 states · Childcare costs by city · US childcare calculator