San Francisco Offers Child Care Aid To Families Earning $325,000

San Francisco families earning up to $325,000 a year qualify for half-price child care paid for by the city, according to figures reported by The New York Times. For families of four earning up to $235,000 annually, the child care is free.

Therapist John Marman and part-time pediatric nurse Natsumi Makiyama are one couple using the free program. They live in a 1,200-square-foot home purchased in 2023 for $1.3 million, with $8,600 a month covering their mortgage and vehicle costs. The couple has two children, and their 4-year-old daughter attends preschool at no cost. Marman said his family has lived in San Francisco for five generations.

Marman said the benefit helps but does not settle the household budget. "We're very lucky to receive the benefit for school, but life is just still very tough," he told the newspaper.

Housing in the city has climbed 26 percent over the last year, with a median two-bedroom apartment renting at $4,640 and a median house priced above $2 million. Mayor Daniel Lurie pointed to those figures in defending the program's income ceiling. "Yes, it is an incredibly, extraordinarily expensive city to live in and to work in and to thrive," Lurie said. "That's why 50 percent off at $325,000 is so essential." The New York Times first reported the eligibility limits and the family's participation.

The child care subsidy sits alongside the city's rising costs, which have moved sharply during the current AI boom. City figures reported by the newspaper show housing costs up 26 percent in the last year, and a median house price above $2 million.