Childcare Costs in North Dakota vs Salary (2026)
Full-time infant daycare in North Dakota runs about $895 a month — $10,740 a year, or 14.1% of the $76,000 median household income, and 25% below the 50-state average. Here is what that means for going back to work.
Average daycare cost in North Dakota
- Per month
- $895
- Per week
- $207
- Per year
- $10,740
Full-time infant care. Preschool-age care is about $805 a month.
Next steps
North Dakota childcare and cost-of-living figures
| Figure | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|
| Infant daycare (0–2), full time | $895 | $10,740 |
| Four-year-old care, full time | $805 | $9,660 |
| Median 2-bedroom rent | $1,050 | $12,600 |
| Commute for the returning parent | $220 | $2,640 |
| Median household income | $6,333 | $76,000 |
Childcare prices are the published 2023 state averages (North Dakota: $10,758 a year for infant care, $9,685 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 North Dakota?
One child in care
$13,500
Gross salary needed to cover $13,380 of childcare and commuting after tax.
Two children in care
$23,500
Gross salary needed to cover $23,040 for an infant plus a four-year-old, and the commute.
Childcare plus rent consumes roughly 30.7% of the median North Dakota 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 North Dakota numbers
Load the North Dakota averages into the calculator — $895 of childcare, $1,050 of rent and a $76,000 household income — then replace them with your real salary and daycare quote.
Use these North Dakota numbersNorth Dakota childcare cost FAQs
How much does daycare cost in North Dakota?
Full-time infant daycare in North Dakota averages about $895 a month ($10,740 a year) in 2026 — about 25% below the 50-state average of $1,188. Care for a four-year-old is cheaper, around $805 a month, because required staff-to-child ratios loosen.
What salary do you need to break even on childcare in North Dakota?
A returning parent in North Dakota needs roughly $13,500 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 $23,500.
What percentage of income goes to childcare in North Dakota?
One infant in full-time care eats about 14.1% of the $76,000 median North Dakota household income. Add the $1,050 median two-bedroom rent and childcare plus housing take roughly 30.7% of gross income — far above the 7% federal affordability benchmark.
Is childcare cheaper in North Dakota than the rest of the US?
At $895 a month for infant care, North Dakota is about 25% 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 Georgia — $920/mo
- Childcare costs in Texas — $920/mo
- Childcare costs in Wyoming — $925/mo
- Childcare costs in Utah — $935/mo
- Childcare costs in West Virginia — $845/mo
- Childcare costs in Idaho — $840/mo
All 50 states · Childcare costs by city · US childcare calculator