Affordability Calculator
About the Calculator
The Committee for Economic Development of The Conference Board (CED) worked in partnership with Early Learner South Dakota to develop a price calculator that shows child care affordability for families.
Sources
Customize Expenses
Auto-populated expenses reflect the monthly averages for all South Dakota households.
Type in actual monthly expenses if higher or lower than the average. Do not use the $ sign. Just insert the number.
Health Insurance. For a family of 3, type in 1858 (no $ signs, no commas). Or, use the monthly cost of your health insurance.
Vehicle Expenses
In South Dakota, 95% of households have at least one car. SD has the 3rd highest rate of car ownership in the country.
Vehicle related expenses reflect the monthly averages for one vehicle and one driver in South Dakota. Double these expenses if the family has 2 cars. If the family has 1 car, but 2 drivers, double the car insurance payment field.
Type in actual monthly expenses if higher or lower than the average. Do not use the $ sign. Just insert the number.
A market rate study collects child care prices from providers statewide.
Check to see where your county is grouped. Prices vary across the groups.
The child care prices reflect prices at the 75th percentile of the 2024 South Dakota Child Care Market Rate Study. The 75th percentile means that parents have choices among 75 percent of providers, a benchmark for equal access (parent choice).
Child Care Prices
The price of child care varies based on the age and number of children in care as well as the type of setting and the locality.
Customize Need for Child Care
In this field, enter 1 if you have 1 child who needs care. Enter 2 if you have 2 children who need care. If you have triplets, enter 3.
Customize Need for Child Care
In this field, enter 1 if you have 1 child who needs care. Enter 2 if you have 2 children who need care. If you have 3 children in this age bracket who need care, enter 3.
Customize Need for Child Care
In this field, enter 1 if you have 1 child who needs care. Enter 2 if you have 2 children who need care. If you have 3 children in this age bracket who need care, enter 3.
Customize Need for Child Care
In this field, enter 1 if you have 1 child who needs care. Enter 2 if you have 2 children who need care. If you have 3 children in this age bracket who need care, enter 3.
Price for all Children
In this field, your selections are added together for a total monthly price.
Child Care Subsidy
In South Dakota, initial income eligibility for child care subsidy is about 65% of the state median income (SMI) for a family of 3 -- a monthly income of $4,498. For a family of 4, initial income eligibility is $5,434 monthly (about 67% of SMI). Federal law allows states to set initial income eligibility up to 85% of SMI (in South Dakota, about 270% of the federal poverty line). Current eligibility is 209% of FPL.