Childcare Costs in Oregon vs Salary (2026)
Full-time infant daycare in Oregon runs about $1,475 a month — $17,700 a year, or 21.1% of the $84,000 median household income, and 24% above the 50-state average. Here is what that means for going back to work.
Average daycare cost in Oregon
- Per month
- $1,475
- Per week
- $340
- Per year
- $17,700
Full-time infant care. Preschool-age care is about $1,155 a month.
Next steps
Oregon childcare and cost-of-living figures
| Figure | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|
| Infant daycare (0–2), full time | $1,475 | $17,700 |
| Four-year-old care, full time | $1,155 | $13,860 |
| Median 2-bedroom rent | $1,700 | $20,400 |
| Commute for the returning parent | $220 | $2,640 |
| Median household income | $7,000 | $84,000 |
Childcare prices are the published 2023 state averages (Oregon: $17,680 a year for infant care, $13,832 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 Oregon?
One child in care
$20,500
Gross salary needed to cover $20,340 of childcare and commuting after tax.
Two children in care
$35,000
Gross salary needed to cover $34,200 for an infant plus a four-year-old, and the commute.
Childcare plus rent consumes roughly 45.4% of the median Oregon 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 Oregon numbers
Load the Oregon averages into the calculator — $1,475 of childcare, $1,700 of rent and a $84,000 household income — then replace them with your real salary and daycare quote.
Use these Oregon numbersCity-level childcare costs in Oregon
Prices inside Oregon vary widely — metro centers typically run well above the statewide figure.
- Childcare costs in Portland, OR — $1,520/mo infant care
Oregon childcare cost FAQs
How much does daycare cost in Oregon?
Full-time infant daycare in Oregon averages about $1,475 a month ($17,700 a year) in 2026 — about 24% above the 50-state average of $1,188. Care for a four-year-old is cheaper, around $1,155 a month, because required staff-to-child ratios loosen.
What salary do you need to break even on childcare in Oregon?
A returning parent in Oregon needs roughly $20,500 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 $35,000.
What percentage of income goes to childcare in Oregon?
One infant in full-time care eats about 21.1% of the $84,000 median Oregon household income. Add the $1,700 median two-bedroom rent and childcare plus housing take roughly 45.4% of gross income — far above the 7% federal affordability benchmark.
Is childcare cheaper in Oregon than the rest of the US?
At $1,475 a month for infant care, Oregon is about 24% 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 Connecticut — $1,490/mo
- Childcare costs in Vermont — $1,500/mo
- Childcare costs in New Hampshire — $1,440/mo
- Childcare costs in Rhode Island — $1,410/mo
- Childcare costs in Illinois — $1,365/mo
- Childcare costs in Virginia — $1,365/mo
All 50 states · Childcare costs by city · US childcare calculator