Daycare Cost: Atlanta vs Tampa (2026)
Tampa infant center care runs $1050/month — $30/month less than Atlanta's $1080/month. That's $360/year per child.
Atlanta, GA
$1080
infant/month
-$150 vs national avg
Tampa, FL
$1050
infant/month
-$180 vs national avg
Atlanta vs Tampa — All Care Types
Monthly costs. Green = lower cost. National average shown for context.
| Care Type | Atlanta | Tampa |
|---|---|---|
| Infant — Center | $1,080/mo | $1,050/mo ✓ |
| Toddler — Center | $960/mo | $910/mo ✓ |
| Preschool — Center | $820/mo | $790/mo ✓ |
| School Age | $670/mo | $650/mo ✓ |
| Infant — Home | $840/mo | $820/mo ✓ |
| Nanny (Full-Time) | $2,640/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, Tampa costs $12,600/year vs Atlanta's $12,960/year.
Monthly savings
$30
Annual savings
$360
2-year infant care
$720
% difference
3%
Savings = Atlanta cost minus Tampa 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
Tampa
16.7%
of $75k 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 →Tampa, FL — 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 Tampa?
Tampa is cheaper for infant center-based care at $1050/month, vs. $1080/month in Atlanta — a $30/month gap. Tampa wins on 6 of 6 care categories.
How much can I save on daycare moving from Atlanta to Tampa?
Infant center-based care in Tampa runs $30/month less than in Atlanta. Over a typical two-year infant care period, that's $720 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 Tampa is $180 below.
Related Comparisons
See full cost breakdown: Daycare in Atlanta · Daycare in Tampa · All city comparisons