In several major metros across the country, parents are facing a surprising and painful reality: the cost of full-time infant care is now higher than renting a two-bedroom apartment. A new LendingTree analysis shows that for many families, day care has become one of the biggest monthly expenses they face. Even bigger than housing!
Out of the 100 largest U.S. metros studied, 11 cities have reached the point where infant care outpaces rent. And two of those cities are in Upstate New York.
Nationally, full-time infant care averages $1,282 a month, while renting a two-bedroom unit costs about $1,716. That means child care is typically cheaper than rent across the U.S., but not everywhere. In some regions, especially in the Northeast and Midwest, parents are paying hundreds more per month just to secure a safe place for their children while they work.
Buffalo: Among the Highest Gaps in the Country
Buffalo ranks near the top of the national list, with infant care averaging $1,494 per month, compared to the average rent of $1,343. That’s an 11.2 percent difference, putting Buffalo among the metro areas where child care has officially become more expensive than housing…