Paying Too Much? – Childcare Costs in Louisiana vs Other States

Louisiana families are not afraid of hard work. From the smallest towns in our rural parishes to the bigger cities in Lafayette, Caddo, and Calcasieu Parish the question for parents is usually the same. "Can I afford to go to work?" By that we mean, is the income generated from a second parent entering the workforce enough to balance out the cost of having professional and competent childcare?

I am willing to bet that you know of at least one scenario where both parents work but their offspring is cared for by a loving family member, often at no cost to the parents. That's because if there was a cost then it would be more economical for mom or dad just to stay home with their own child. This since the money coming in is basically the same as the money going out for childcare.

Obviously, this isn't a Louisiana-only kind of problem. Many families, especially in the rural southern states find themselves having to pay well above the national average for childcare. According to new data released by Help Advisor three of the least expensive states for childcare are in the Deep South. Those states are Mississippi, Arkansas, and Alabama.

Oddly enough the state that leads the pack when it comes to lower childcare costs is Iowa. The Help Advisor study suggested that families there pay on average $182.42. The average in Alabama, which is at #5 on the list was $230.16 per week.

Louisiana was slightly less than $100 more per week than the Alabama average. The Help Advisor study found that Louisiana families pay on average $302.66 per week for childcare. That figure puts Louisiana exactly in the middle when it comes to childcare costs nationwide. Our state was ranked #25 on the Home Advisor list.

Just to see how childcare impacts a Louisiana family, consider this. The median household income for a Louisiana family is $58,330. Now, let's look at the cost of childcare in relation to that level of income. At $302.66 per week, that would make the monthly cost of childcare in Louisiana roughly $1,271 a month. Or in annual terms, $15,250 bucks approximately.

Using those figures would mean that childcare is about 25% of a family's annual budget.  And remember, Louisiana is mid-pack when it comes to childcare costs for the nation. By the way, the national average for childcare according to Help Advisor is $325 per week, so at least Louisiana residents can finally be below average and proud of it for a change.