The most affordable states for day care
So you did your research, filled out applications and survived the interview process. Congratulations! Your child is off to the best day care in town.
But with this accomplishment comes a seriously hefty price tag. The Economic Policy Institute recently released data about child care costs in the U.S. that found 33 states, plus Washington D.C., have day care facilities that charge more than college tuition for a four-year public school. That's mind-blowing, especially for families with more than one kid.
Washington D.C., has the most expensive preschool costs in the nation, at $22,631 per year. Massachusetts has the second-most expensive costs for preschool, at $17,062 per year.
The numbers don't lie -- paying for child care can get expensive and some parents who want the best for their kids may even overextend themselves financially. (Just remember -- maxing out credit cards or taking on debt to pay for child care can seriously damage your credit. You can see how your credit card balances are impacting your credit scores for free on Credit.com.)
Fortunately, some states' child care won't set parents back more than the cost of a mortgage. Using annual child care cost data from the Economic Policy Institute's study, along with their stats on annual housing, we've listed the most affordable states here.
10. Oklahoma
Annual child care costs: $6,788
With the average annual cost of housing at slightly more than $8,200 in Oklahoma, child care costs 17.2 percent less than average rent in the state.
9. Wyoming
Annual child care costs: $6,541
Wyoming parents face child care costs around $2,785 more per year than the cost of in-state tuition at a local college.
8. South Carolina
Annual child care costs: $6,475
Sending your little one off to child care in the Palmetto State costs around $70 less than in Wyoming, but it will still take about 12 percent of an average family's income.
7. Kentucky
Annual child care costs: $6,294
In Kentucky, families look at around $525 of their annual salary going to child care each month -- and that's just for one child.
6. Arkansas
Annual child care costs: $5,995
In Arkansas, minimum-wage workers dropping their little one off for the day would need to work full-time for 19 weeks straight just to pay off the costs of child care. (For more tips on saving without feeling miserly, go here.)
Click here for a lookat the five most affordable states for childcare.