We have paid our nannies between $22-$29/hr, plus buy them a monthly metro card. We live in the UWS. Upk is great, you can get into private school from there. Although it’s easier from a private preschool. We never found private preschool to be competitive to get into, but we also aren’t shooting for “the best” ones, just the most convenient ones. Our oldest is now in a great private school. Again, not aiming for the “top tier” ones like Dalton, Brearly, Trinity. We applied to ones we liked that were within a short walk of our apartment.

Consider that many private preschools are not all day (not like daycare), so a lot of people pay for nanny plus preschool. You could be paying $25K for half-day preschool plus a full-time nanny on top of that. There is free pre-K, but you may not like your placement and decide to go private instead.

Nanny in suburb was $18/hr cash for us. Preschool (not a prestigious NYC one, in the suburbs) actually cheaper than in DC.

I moved from NYC to DC. I miss it so much! Here’s a few things to consider:

1) nanny costs aren’t much higher and might even be less. Many people pay their nannies off the books.

2) pre-schools are super competitive, especially if you want to put your kids in private school. Start researching this stuff now. The public school system is complicated and a lot of it is lottery based - again start researching now. There are books about navigating the public and private school system so use that to figure things out.

3) I loved upper Manhattan. We lived in Washington Heights. It’s quiet yet you are still close to the city because the A is express. There are beautiful parks and the area is very family friendly. I believe the public schools are not that bad but I would research that and look into inwood too. I don’t know much about the school situation since we left when my eldest was 2 years old.

4) if you aren’t going to live next to where you work then live next to an express train. It will make a huge difference.

5) consider getting a car. My friends that live in the city and have kids all have cars now and it makes life easier.

Most pay off the books. Don't forget the cost of memberships to zoos, aquariums, museums, etc. Six month olds don't need that, but older toddlers will enjoy the stimulation.

I think people in NYC are more likely to pay their nannies off the books. I think nannies there generally make less money too.

I am considering accepting a job that will be based in NYC starting sometime in 2022. Currently live in DC with husband and 6 month old. We have a great nanny share here that costs about $2k a month.

Wondering about childcare costs for those who live in a suburb or possibly the Bronx/Upper Manhattan, which is where my parents live. HHI if we move will be a little under $400k. Universal pre-k is just the 5 boroughs, right? Any other considerations we should be thinking about (aside from, obviously, difference in taxes)