Infant care is the most expensive year of daycare anywhere, and Aurora is no exception. Colorado is one of the pricier states for early care, and the first year buys the most staff, since the state requires roughly a 1:5 caregiver-to-infant ratio. Below is what families in Arapahoe and Adams counties actually pay for infant care in 2026, by area and care type, plus how Colorado's subsidy and the federal credits cut the bill.
Reviewed by: a credentialed early-childhood reviewer (pending assignment).
In 2026 dollars, full-time infant daycare in Aurora runs roughly $1,450 to $2,000 per month at licensed centers, and roughly $1,150 to $1,550 per month at licensed family child care homes. These ranges draw on the Colorado market-rate survey, the National Database of Childcare Prices for Arapahoe County, and our own operator survey, not single-point averages. Aurora sits a little below central Denver but well above the national median, and infant care is still the largest line in most family budgets.
Infant care prices 20 to 35 percent above preschool-age care because of staffing ratios. The Colorado Department of Early Childhood sets roughly a 1:5 caregiver-to-infant ratio, far tighter than for older children, and paying caregivers across small infant rooms is the most expensive line in any center's budget, per 2025 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data for Colorado childcare workers.
Infant costs across Aurora track the housing market. Saddle Rock and the Southlands area in southeast Aurora sit at the top of the range. The Tower Road and Murphy Creek corridors sit in the upper middle, central Aurora sits in the middle, and north or original Aurora sits at the bottom. The table shows licensed infant care at the better-rated programs in each area, per our operator survey and the National Database of Childcare Prices.
| Area | Infant, center | Infant, family child care |
|---|---|---|
| Saddle Rock, Southlands (SE Aurora) | $1,800–$2,000 / month | $1,400–$1,550 / month |
| Tower Road, Murphy Creek | $1,650–$1,850 / month | $1,300–$1,450 / month |
| Central Aurora | $1,500–$1,700 / month | $1,200–$1,350 / month |
| North and original Aurora | $1,450–$1,600 / month | $1,150–$1,300 / month |
These ranges represent licensed infant care at well-rated centers and homes, not subsidized seats. Southeast Aurora sits at the top of the local range; north and original Aurora sit at the bottom, though still above the national median for infants.
Daycare gets cheaper as your child ages out of infant ratios. In Aurora, expect the monthly bill to fall by roughly 10 to 15 percent when your child moves to the toddler room around age two, and again at the preschool stage, per the Colorado market-rate survey. Colorado's tight infant ratio is the main reason the first two years cost the most. The table shows the typical age curve at a mid-range Aurora center.
| Age group | Center, monthly | Typical infant ratio (CDEC) |
|---|---|---|
| Infant (under ~18 months) | $1,500–$2,000 / month | About 1:5 infant ratio |
| Toddler (~2 years) | $1,350–$1,750 / month | Looser than infant |
| Preschool (3–4 years) | $1,200–$1,550 / month | Loosest of the three |
Yes. Colorado offers subsidized child care through the Colorado Child Care Assistance Program (CCCAP), overseen by the Colorado Department of Early Childhood and run by Arapahoe and Adams counties, for income-eligible working and student families, including for infants. Aurora families apply through their county human services department. Because infant care is the costliest age, the subsidy makes its biggest difference in the first two years. Our Colorado childcare subsidy guide and how-to-apply guide walk through the income limits and the steps.
On top of any subsidy, three federal tools apply: the federal Child and Dependent Care Credit on IRS Form 2441, a Dependent Care FSA at many employers (up to $5,000 per family per year of pre-tax savings), and the federal Child Tax Credit. Colorado also offers the state Child Care Expenses Tax Credit through the Colorado Department of Revenue. Many larger Aurora-area employers, including hospital systems, the school districts, and aerospace and defense employers near Buckley, offer a Dependent Care FSA, so check your benefits.
Heads up. Infant daycare is expensive, and there is no easy way around the first two years in Colorado. The roughly 1:5 infant ratio means few slots per room, so the best-rated Aurora infant programs often have the longest waitlists. If you are expecting, join waitlists early, ask about infant-room openings specifically, and confirm a provider is licensed by the Colorado Department of Early Childhood.
A two-income central Aurora family placing a four-month-old in full-time licensed center care spends roughly $1,500 to $1,700 per month, or $18,000 to $20,400 per year, per the National Database of Childcare Prices for Arapahoe County and our operator survey.
If the family qualifies for CCCAP, with income within the county limits and both parents working or in school, the subsidy covers most or all of the cost at a participating provider, with a modest copay.
A Dependent Care FSA plus the federal and Colorado credits trim several hundred dollars to roughly a thousand more, and the bill falls again when the child moves to the toddler room.
Is infant care cheaper in Aurora than in Denver?
Usually a little. Aurora's licensed infant care runs roughly $1,450 to $2,000 per month at centers, modestly below central Denver's top-tier programs, per the Colorado market-rate survey and our operator survey. The gap is small because both sit in the same metro labor market, and Colorado's statewide infant ratio applies in both.
When should I join an infant waitlist in Aurora?
As early in pregnancy as you can. The roughly 1:5 infant ratio set by the Colorado Department of Early Childhood means each room holds only a handful of babies, so the strongest Aurora programs fill their infant openings months ahead. Ask specifically about infant-room timing, not general enrollment.
Walk through the cost calculator to model your own Aurora infant year with CCCAP, the FSA, and the federal and Colorado credits factored in. See the full age breakdown in our Aurora daycare cost guide. For the statewide picture, see the Colorado cost overview and the broader daycare cost pillar.
The full age breakdown for Aurora, from infants through preschool, by area and care type.
Read → SubsidyThe Colorado Child Care Assistance Program, income limits, and how it helps with infant care.
Read → ToolModel your Aurora infant year with the subsidy and the federal and Colorado credits factored in.
Open →