According to a study, childcare is more expensive than rent in some major cities

WASHINGTON (TN) — The cost of child care is rising rapidly. According to a new study by Lending Tree, sending two children to daycare is about 40% more expensive than rent in 100 of the country's largest metropolitan areas.

In many cities, the relationship between childcare and rent is very unbalanced. According to this study, the average monthly cost of full-time childcare for two children is 39.4% higher than the average rent for a two-bedroom apartment.

“It's a problem that affects cities big and small in America. It's not just a big city problem, it happens in smaller cities too,” said Stan Oklobdzija, a professor in the School of Humanities at Tulane University.

The study found that families in some cities can expect to pay more than double the average rent for child care. Springfield, Massachusetts, had the highest child care-to-rent ratio, where families paid 136% more per month. Syracuse and Buffalo took the top three spots.

“In some of our states, the cost of living is a little lower, but it's still $800 to $900 a month for a child, and that's a lot of money,” says Cynthia Osborne, a professor of early childhood education at Vanderbilt University.

The study found that the average cost of child care is highest in Washington, DC, followed by Boston, Worcester and Springfield, Massachusetts.