Childcare Costs in South Carolina vs Salary (2026)
Full-time infant daycare in South Carolina runs about $755 a month — $9,060 a year, or 13.3% of the $68,000 median household income, and 36% below the 50-state average. Here is what that means for going back to work.
Average daycare cost in South Carolina
- Per month
- $755
- Per week
- $174
- Per year
- $9,060
Full-time infant care. Preschool-age care is about $685 a month.
Next steps
South Carolina childcare and cost-of-living figures
| Figure | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|
| Infant daycare (0–2), full time | $755 | $9,060 |
| Four-year-old care, full time | $685 | $8,220 |
| Median 2-bedroom rent | $1,400 | $16,800 |
| Commute for the returning parent | $220 | $2,640 |
| Median household income | $5,667 | $68,000 |
Childcare prices are the published 2023 state averages (South Carolina: $9,048 a year for infant care, $8,216 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 South Carolina?
One child in care
$12,000
Gross salary needed to cover $11,700 of childcare and commuting after tax.
Two children in care
$20,000
Gross salary needed to cover $19,920 for an infant plus a four-year-old, and the commute.
Childcare plus rent consumes roughly 38% of the median South Carolina 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 South Carolina numbers
Load the South Carolina averages into the calculator — $755 of childcare, $1,400 of rent and a $68,000 household income — then replace them with your real salary and daycare quote.
Use these South Carolina numbersSouth Carolina childcare cost FAQs
How much does daycare cost in South Carolina?
Full-time infant daycare in South Carolina averages about $755 a month ($9,060 a year) in 2026 — about 36% below the 50-state average of $1,188. Care for a four-year-old is cheaper, around $685 a month, because required staff-to-child ratios loosen.
What salary do you need to break even on childcare in South Carolina?
A returning parent in South Carolina needs roughly $12,000 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 $20,000.
What percentage of income goes to childcare in South Carolina?
One infant in full-time care eats about 13.3% of the $68,000 median South Carolina household income. Add the $1,400 median two-bedroom rent and childcare plus housing take roughly 38% of gross income — far above the 7% federal affordability benchmark.
Is childcare cheaper in South Carolina than the rest of the US?
At $755 a month for infant care, South Carolina is about 36% 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 Arkansas — $740/mo
- Childcare costs in Alabama — $730/mo
- Childcare costs in Kentucky — $805/mo
- Childcare costs in Mississippi — $680/mo
- Childcare costs in Idaho — $840/mo
- Childcare costs in Louisiana — $840/mo
All 50 states · Childcare costs by city · US childcare calculator