Daycare Cost: Austin vs Columbus (2026)
Columbus infant center care runs $1050/month — $30/month less than Austin's $1080/month. That's $360/year per child.
Austin, TX
$1080
infant/month
-$150 vs national avg
Columbus, OH
$1050
infant/month
-$180 vs national avg
Austin vs Columbus — All Care Types
Monthly costs. Green = lower cost. National average shown for context.
| Care Type | Austin | Columbus |
|---|---|---|
| Infant — Center | $1,080/mo | $1,050/mo ✓ |
| Toddler — Center | $960/mo | $920/mo ✓ |
| Preschool — Center | $820/mo | $790/mo ✓ |
| School Age | $670/mo | $660/mo ✓ |
| Infant — Home | $840/mo | $810/mo ✓ |
| Nanny (Full-Time) | $2,640/mo | $2,420/mo ✓ |
Source: ACF Child Care Market Rate Survey + metro cost-of-living adjustment. 2026 estimates.
Annual Cost Impact
For infant center-based care, Columbus costs $12,600/year vs Austin's $12,960/year.
Monthly savings
$30
Annual savings
$360
2-year infant care
$720
% difference
3%
Savings = Austin cost minus Columbus 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.
Austin
15.8%
of $82k median income
Columbus
17.0%
of $74k 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.
Austin, TX — CCDF
Check eligibility →Columbus, OH — 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 Austin or Columbus?
Columbus is cheaper for infant center-based care at $1050/month, vs. $1080/month in Austin — a $30/month gap. Columbus wins on 6 of 6 care categories.
How much can I save on daycare moving from Austin to Columbus?
Infant center-based care in Columbus runs $30/month less than in Austin. 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. Austin is $150 below the national average, and Columbus is $180 below.
Related Comparisons
See full cost breakdown: Daycare in Austin · Daycare in Columbus · All city comparisons