CO state hub · 2026
Cost of Raising a Child in Colorado (2026 Guide)
Averages across 2 tracked Colorado metros, ranked city leaderboards, and links into each local cost guide.
Colorado overview stats
- Avg monthly childcare
- $1,419
- State avg annual expense
- $33,456
- Cost vs national average
- +5%
Infant–school-age center care blend
School-age reference year, one child
+5% vs national average
Most Expensive Cities in Colorado
Most Affordable Cities in Colorado
State financial context
What shapes family costs in Colorado
Colorado’s Child Care Assistance Program and expanding universal preschool ease toddler years, while Denver–Boulder housing premiums remain the main budget shock. Outdoor-activity and transport costs also run above the Mountain West average.
National curated baseline average: $31,900 / yr. See our methodology for sources and 2026 indexing.
Colorado city directory
Every programmatic city guide currently tracked for Colorado.