Daycare Cost Comparisons by City (2026)
Side-by-side monthly cost data for popular city pairs. Useful for families weighing a job change or relocation — daycare is often the deciding line item.
NYC vs Buffalo
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NYC vs Rochester
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NYC vs Yonkers
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San Francisco vs LA
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San Francisco vs San Diego
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San Francisco vs Fresno
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LA vs San Diego
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LA vs Sacramento
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Houston vs Dallas
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Houston vs Austin
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Dallas vs Austin
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Dallas vs San Antonio
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Austin vs San Antonio
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Tampa vs Orlando
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Chicago vs Indianapolis
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Chicago vs Columbus
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Chicago vs Milwaukee
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Columbus vs Cincinnati
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Seattle vs Spokane
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Seattle vs Tacoma
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Denver vs Colorado Springs
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NYC vs Philadelphia
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NYC vs Chicago
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LA vs Phoenix
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LA vs Las Vegas
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Seattle vs Portland
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Seattle vs Denver
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Chicago vs Minneapolis
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San Francisco vs Houston
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San Francisco vs Phoenix
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NYC vs Houston
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NYC vs Phoenix
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Seattle vs Houston
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Denver vs Dallas
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Minneapolis vs Columbus
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Atlanta vs Charlotte
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Atlanta vs Raleigh
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Nashville vs Atlanta
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Nashville vs Charlotte
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Austin vs Raleigh
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Austin vs Denver
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Washington DC vs Baltimore
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Washington DC vs Richmond
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Daycare costs vary sharply between cities — infant center-based care runs $780/month in Memphis but $2,900/month in San Francisco. For families considering a move, the daycare cost gap often rivals the housing cost gap.
These comparisons use ACF Child Care Market Rate Survey data adjusted for metro-area cost-of-living using HUD FMR and BLS wage data. Figures reflect 2026 estimates for licensed center-based care.
Want the full city breakdown? See daycare costs for 100 US cities or compare costs by state.