Daycare Cost: Austin vs San Diego (2026)
Austin infant center care runs $1080/month — $1170/month less than San Diego's $2250/month. That's $14,040/year per child.
Austin, TX
$1080
infant/month
-$150 vs national avg
San Diego, CA
$2250
infant/month
+$1020 vs national avg
Austin vs San Diego — All Care Types
Monthly costs. Green = lower cost. National average shown for context.
| Care Type | Austin | San Diego |
|---|---|---|
| Infant — Center | $1,080/mo ✓ | $2,250/mo |
| Toddler — Center | $960/mo ✓ | $2,000/mo |
| Preschool — Center | $820/mo ✓ | $1,630/mo |
| School Age | $670/mo ✓ | $1,380/mo |
| Infant — Home | $840/mo ✓ | $1,750/mo |
| Nanny (Full-Time) | $2,640/mo ✓ | $4,380/mo |
Source: ACF Child Care Market Rate Survey + metro cost-of-living adjustment. 2026 estimates.
Annual Cost Impact
For infant center-based care, Austin costs $12,960/year vs San Diego's $27,000/year.
Monthly savings
$1,170
Annual savings
$14,040
2-year infant care
$28,080
% difference
108%
Savings = San Diego cost minus Austin 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
San Diego
26.4%
of $102k 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 →San Diego, CA — 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 San Diego?
Austin is cheaper for infant center-based care at $1080/month, vs. $2250/month in San Diego — a $1170/month gap. Austin wins on 6 of 6 care categories.
How much can I save on daycare moving from San Diego to Austin?
Infant center-based care in Austin runs $1170/month less than in San Diego. Over a typical two-year infant care period, that's $28,080 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 San Diego is $1020 above.
Related Comparisons
See full cost breakdown: Daycare in Austin · Daycare in San Diego · All city comparisons