# In New York, child care and school fees are so exorbitant that starting a family has become a luxury

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/in-new-york-child-care-and-school-fees-are-so-exorbitant-that-starting-a-family-has-become-a-luxury/
- Published: 2026-11-03T14:47:09+00:00
- Updated: 2026-11-04T10:53:30+00:00
- Original publisher: Le Monde (publisher lean: Left)
- Original article: https://www.lemonde.fr/en/economy/article/2026/11/03/in-new-york-child-care-and-school-fees-are-so-exorbitant-that-having-a-family-has-become-a-luxury_6770425_19.html
- Topics: Art, Celebrity, Culture, Entertainment, World

## Key points

- New York child care can cost $21,000 a year on average.
- Many families depend on public support to afford care.
- Costs influence parents’ work and family decisions.

## Summary

The article describes how the high cost of child care and school-related expenses in New York is making family life increasingly difficult to afford. The pressure can shape parents’ work choices, lead them to postpone having more children or prompt them to leave the city.

A full-time place at one Manhattan nursery costs $4,100 a month, while the average New York child-care place costs about $21,000 a year; some neighbourhoods approach $50,000. The article says 90% of city families cannot afford care without public support, and child care can take up 30% to 40% of a family’s budget. Public programmes for younger children are expanding, but limited places and staffing needs remain obstacles; after-school care and holiday cover can add thousands more in costs.

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.