Costs are really out of control. My friends in a relatively low cost of living city (San Antonio, TX) are going to pay upwards of $1200/month for daycare for their soon to be 6 month old, once their family member providing childcare needs to return home. That's essentially an extra mortgage payment in this part of the state. There are also very long waiting lists, so long that my friends are encouraging families to get on waiting lists prior to conception!

This is all anecdotal, but I believe they did their research on this given their childcare needs.