Congrats Jim!
Yes, in Cali, public school is very affordable ($3.5k sounds right) and daycare isn't ($12k/year for infant care is pretty average).
However, it seems very apples/oranges comparison. Daycare is constant attention at $5/hour (what $12k equates to, full-time). Someone to tend to that baby's every need. Education is VERY different. So I am not quite sure what the point of the comparison is. (Likewise, education is so affordable here because it is largely government subsidized).
Likewise, when it comes to preschool, the "care" aspect is the expensive part. Not the "education" part - generally. But I don't know who else will watch your kids for less than $5/hour??? Nor would you want them to?
My kids can go to school for just about free, or up to $150/month if we go with them or participate in a co-op, or make it only a couple of hours a week.
Likewise, daycare ideally buys you time to work a second wage. If you can't go out and make money while your kid is in daycare, well, you wouldn't use it. So another thing that makes it very apples/oranges.
I paid under $10k for my entire college education. I'll spend $7500 this year to send my kids to daycare and enjoy a little break, while expanding their horizons. Money WELL spent. I'd gladly pay more if it enabled my spouse to go out and make some money. Yes, I will pay far more for daycare than my college education. But I don't know. The thought hadn't crossed my mind and doesn't bug me. I honestly think they're daycare provider is UNDER paid. Grossly underpaid. (I pay $3.50/hour, per kid, on average, for care that is as good/better than the care we provide for our own children). & I know I got a pretty awesome deal on my education.
