Daycare Cost: Anaheim vs Phoenix (2026)
Phoenix infant center care runs $1050/month — $1200/month less than Anaheim's $2250/month. That's $14,400/year per child.
Anaheim, CA
$2250
infant/month
+$1020 vs national avg
Phoenix, AZ
$1050
infant/month
-$180 vs national avg
Anaheim vs Phoenix — All Care Types
Monthly costs. Green = lower cost. National average shown for context.
| Care Type | Anaheim | Phoenix |
|---|---|---|
| Infant — Center | $2,250/mo | $1,050/mo ✓ |
| Toddler — Center | $2,000/mo | $920/mo ✓ |
| Preschool — Center | $1,630/mo | $790/mo ✓ |
| School Age | $1,380/mo | $650/mo ✓ |
| Infant — Home | $1,750/mo | $790/mo ✓ |
| Nanny (Full-Time) | $4,380/mo | $2,520/mo ✓ |
Source: ACF Child Care Market Rate Survey + metro cost-of-living adjustment. 2026 estimates.
Annual Cost Impact
For infant center-based care, Phoenix costs $12,600/year vs Anaheim's $27,000/year.
Monthly savings
$1,200
Annual savings
$14,400
2-year infant care
$28,800
% difference
114%
Savings = Anaheim cost minus Phoenix cost. Infant center-based care only.
Affordability Index
Infant center care as a % of state median household income. Under 7% is considered affordable; over 10% is a heavy burden.
Anaheim
26.4%
of $102k median income
Phoenix
15.5%
of $81k median income
National Avg
18.3%
of $80.6k median income
Subsidy Availability (CCDF)
Federal Child Care and Development Fund eligibility thresholds by state. Families below the income limit may qualify for reduced-cost or free care.
Anaheim, CA — CCDF
Check eligibility →Phoenix, AZ — CCDF
Check eligibility →CCDF thresholds vary by state and are updated annually. Verify current limits at childcare.gov.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is daycare cheaper in Anaheim or Phoenix?
Phoenix is cheaper for infant center-based care at $1050/month, vs. $2250/month in Anaheim — a $1200/month gap. Phoenix wins on 6 of 6 care categories.
How much can I save on daycare moving from Anaheim to Phoenix?
Infant center-based care in Phoenix runs $1200/month less than in Anaheim. Over a typical two-year infant care period, that's $28,800 saved — not counting toddler or preschool years.
How do both cities compare to the national average?
The national average for infant center-based care is $1230/month. Anaheim is $1020 above the national average, and Phoenix is $180 below.
Related Comparisons
See full cost breakdown: Daycare in Anaheim · Daycare in Phoenix · All city comparisons