Daycare Cost: Atlanta vs Houston (2026)
Houston infant center care runs $1040/month — $40/month less than Atlanta's $1080/month. That's $480/year per child.
Atlanta, GA
$1080
infant/month
-$150 vs national avg
Houston, TX
$1040
infant/month
-$190 vs national avg
Atlanta vs Houston — All Care Types
Monthly costs. Green = lower cost. National average shown for context.
| Care Type | Atlanta | Houston |
|---|---|---|
| Infant — Center | $1,080/mo | $1,040/mo ✓ |
| Toddler — Center | $960/mo | $920/mo ✓ |
| Preschool — Center | $820/mo | $780/mo ✓ |
| School Age | $670/mo | $640/mo ✓ |
| Infant — Home | $840/mo | $800/mo ✓ |
| Nanny (Full-Time) | $2,640/mo | $2,530/mo ✓ |
Source: ACF Child Care Market Rate Survey + metro cost-of-living adjustment. 2026 estimates.
Annual Cost Impact
For infant center-based care, Houston costs $12,480/year vs Atlanta's $12,960/year.
Monthly savings
$40
Annual savings
$480
2-year infant care
$960
% difference
4%
Savings = Atlanta cost minus Houston 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.
Atlanta
16.4%
of $79k median income
Houston
15.2%
of $82k 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.
Atlanta, GA — CCDF
Check eligibility →Houston, TX — 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 Atlanta or Houston?
Houston is cheaper for infant center-based care at $1040/month, vs. $1080/month in Atlanta — a $40/month gap. Houston wins on 6 of 6 care categories.
How much can I save on daycare moving from Atlanta to Houston?
Infant center-based care in Houston runs $40/month less than in Atlanta. Over a typical two-year infant care period, that's $960 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. Atlanta is $150 below the national average, and Houston is $190 below.
Related Comparisons
See full cost breakdown: Daycare in Atlanta · Daycare in Houston · All city comparisons