February 23, 2026
Daycare? More like pay-care
Study shows two child household must earn $400k/year to afford childcare
Parents gasp, skeptics scoff, Canadians flex $10/day childcare
TLDR: The study says a U.S. family with two young kids would need $402,708 income to keep child care at 7% of earnings. Commenters erupted—some called it absurd, others clarified the math, and many compared it to cheaper systems abroad—highlighting a child care crisis hitting wallets and shaping life choices.
A new LendingTree study dropped a jaw-dropper: to keep child care “affordable” under a U.S. government guideline (7% of household income), a two-kid family would need to earn $402,708. With average costs for an infant and a 4‑year‑old at $28,190, most families making $145,656 are nowhere close. Commenters pounced. One user simply linked the study, but the thread exploded into chaos. Skeptics waved it off—“this seems implausible”—while outrage bubbled: “You can hire a live‑in nanny for that!” Others clarified the fine print: it’s not saying people spend $400k; it’s saying that to keep care at just 7% of income, you’d need that salary. As one voice put it, “The devil is in the details.”
International folks crashed the party with a humblebrag: “Title should really clarify: In the US,” noting Canada’s push for $10/day care and leaving Americans muttering “adopt me, Trudeau.” People traded horror stories—Hawaii’s sky-high costs, South Dakota’s “cheapest” still painful—and flagged racial gaps adding extra heat to the debate. The memes? “Daycare costs more than rent,” “Does my toddler need a side hustle?” and “My 4‑year‑old is opening a 401(k).” The final split: policy fixes like subsidies and universal pre‑K vs. survival mode with nannies, family help, or delayed parenthood. Either way, wallets are crying.
Key Points
- •Average annual child care cost for an infant and a 4-year-old in the U.S. is $28,190 (Child Care Aware of America).
- •HHS deems child care affordable at up to 7% of household income, implying a $402,708 income needed for two-child households to meet that threshold.
- •Average income for two-child households is $145,656, which is 176.5% below the benchmark income required for affordability.
- •American Indian and Black two-child households would need incomes 328.0% and 310.8% higher, respectively, to meet the 7% threshold.
- •State gaps vary widely: Hawaii requires $544,386 income for affordability; South Dakota is closest to affordable levels but still 95.4% short by the benchmark.