Washington among least affordable states for child care, report shows

Key Takeaways Key Takeaways

Washington ranks fifth-highest in U.S. for average infant child-care costs.

Child care consumes half of a single parent's income, outpacing in-state tuition costs.

Federal-funding flatline, state delays threaten expansion of child-care assistance.

Washington consistently ranks as having one of the nation’s highest costs of living — and a new report shows that the cost of child care is a big contributor to the problem for families.

The state took home the dubious distinction of having the fifth-highest child-care costs last year compared with other states, according to recently published findings by Child Care Aware of America .

The average price tag for an infant’s day-care tuition? Roughly $21,350.

Child-care costs in Washington soar well above la