Childcare Costs and Options in Provo: A Drummer's (Slightly Panicked) Guide

okay, so. childcare in provo. it's…a thing. like, a big thing. i'm currently on tour with this indie band, right? and the bassist just had a kid. he's freaking out, naturally. he asked me, the guy who mostly worries about cymbal angles and whether the venue has decent tape, to research provo childcare. because apparently, i'm 'organized.' i'm a drummer.

provo's kinda weird. it's got this whole 'family city' vibe, which is cool, but it also means everyone needs childcare. and when everyone needs something, prices go up. it's basic economics, people. i was talking to the sound guy - he's lived here for ages - and he was saying how the housing market is insane. apparently, the median rent for a two-bedroom is hovering around $1,600, which is…ouch. and that's before you even think about tiny humans needing supervision. it's not exactly a cheap place to raise a family, even though it feels super safe. like, statistically, the crime rate is lower than a lot of places, but honestly, i mostly judge safety by how many people are wearing neon vests. more vests = safer, obviously.

right now, it's that weird provo weather where it's sunny one minute and threatening snow the next. classic. you could be skiing in the *mountains in the morning and sweating in a t-shirt by afternoon. it's a commitment to layers, let me tell you. and you're only a short flight from las vegas if you need a serious dose of chaos.

so, options. let's break it down. i've been digging around online, and it's a mess.

*Daycare Centers: These are the most common, but also the most expensive. Expect to pay anywhere from $800 to $1,400 a month for full-time care, depending on the age of your kid and the center. I overheard someone at a coffee shop (a very serious coffee shop, more on that later) complaining about waiting lists that are like, a year long. Here's a Yelp page with some Provo daycare options.
*In-Home Daycares: A little cheaper, usually around $600-$1,000 a month. But you gotta do your due diligence. Check licenses, ask about ratios, and seriously, trust your gut. This Reddit thread has some discussion about in-home care in Utah County.
*Nannies: The most expensive option, obviously. $20-$30 an hour is pretty standard. But you get personalized care, which is a big plus if your kid is, you know, a tiny human with specific needs.
*Co-ops: This is where parents share childcare responsibilities. It can be a good way to save money, but it requires a lot of coordination. And honestly, coordinating with other parents is harder than tuning a drum kit in a moving van.

my bassist friend is leaning towards an in-home daycare. he found one near the university that seems decent. apparently, the owner is a former preschool teacher and has a fenced-in backyard. that's a win. i also stumbled across this resource from the state of utah: Utah Department of Human Services - Child Care Licensing. it's a bit dry, but it has a list of licensed providers.

drunk advice from a local: "avoid the daycare on center street. heard the staff turnover is insane. like, every week insane." i don't know who told me that, or how much they'd had to drink, but i'm passing it on.

provo childcare cost breakdown (rough estimates, because numbers are scary):

and honestly? if all else fails, maybe just learn to play the ukulele and busk on center street*. you might not make enough to cover full-time childcare, but you'll definitely have a story to tell. i'm just saying. i'm a drummer, i think outside the box. oh, and the coffee? black sheep cafe. seriously. it's worth the debt.

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