Childcare
Before kids reach school age, daycare is one of the largest line items in a young family's budget — in one country far more than the other.
Norway
United States
Annual childcare cost, per child
USD/year, one child in full-time center-based care.
View as table
| Measure | Norway | United States |
|---|
What's actually happening
In the US, childcare is mostly a private market with light subsidy (means-tested vouchers in some states, limited tax credits). The national average price of center-based care reached $13,128/year in 2024 — around 10% of a median married-couple household's income, and roughly 35% of a median single parent's income.