Though out-of-pocket costs comprise a significant share of household income — 17 percent of the average income among NYC households with a child under six — the survey indicates that public in- vestments do make a difference. 22 Parents enrolled in 3-K, Pre-K, Head Start, or Child Care Assistance Program (child care vouchers) are spending up to 61 percent less each month on average than parents with young children not enrolled in any of the programs (Figure 10). Out-of-pocket costs are highest for parents with children under three who are not enrolled in existing programs at $2,067 on average each month, or just under $25,000 a year. “I am a SAHM [“stay-at-home mom”] because childcare cost more than my income was. I don’t feel I had a choice.” Mom of two children, ages 1 and 3, living in Manhattan Out-of-Pocket Child Care Costs for All Children Under 6, by Program Participation Figure 10 Figure 10: Costs By Program 3-K Pre-K Head Start/Early Head Start CCAP None of the programs above
$2,000
$1,831
$1,750
$1 ,15, 53322
$1,500
$1,250
1$,13,1434
$1,000
$917
$720
$750
$500
$250
$0
3-K
Pre-K
Head Start/Early Head Start
CCAP
None of the programs
Notes: Source: Robin Hood Source: Survey of 4,306 parents and caregivers of children ages 0-5 living in New York City; conducted by NORC for New America’s New Practice Lab and Robin Hood, March 31-April 20, 2026. Note: Based on responses of 3,004 parents with out-of-pocket child care costs. Parents were asked to consider any payment for child care they have on a regular basis, beyond costs covered by other sources such as a voucher or 3-K/Pre-K. Responses reflect total monthly household spending for all children under six.
22 Analysis by the Center on Poverty and Social Policy of Columbia’s Poverty Tracker finds that the average annual income among NYC households with at least one child under age six is roughly $117,000.
THE 2026 NEW YORK CITY PARENT SURVEY : WHAT CHILD CARE PARENTS WANT 24
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