Daycare Cost: Columbus vs Houston (2026)
Houston infant center care runs $1040/month — $10/month less than Columbus's $1050/month. That's $120/year per child.
Columbus, OH
$1050
infant/month
-$180 vs national avg
Houston, TX
$1040
infant/month
-$190 vs national avg
Columbus vs Houston — All Care Types
Monthly costs. Green = lower cost. National average shown for context.
| Care Type | Columbus | Houston |
|---|---|---|
| Infant — Center | $1,050/mo | $1,040/mo ✓ |
| Toddler — Center | $920/mo | $920/mo |
| Preschool — Center | $790/mo | $780/mo ✓ |
| School Age | $660/mo | $640/mo ✓ |
| Infant — Home | $810/mo | $800/mo ✓ |
| Nanny (Full-Time) | $2,420/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 Columbus's $12,600/year.
Monthly savings
$10
Annual savings
$120
2-year infant care
$240
% difference
1%
Savings = Columbus 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.
Columbus
17.0%
of $74k 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.
Columbus, OH — 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 Columbus or Houston?
Houston is cheaper for infant center-based care at $1040/month, vs. $1050/month in Columbus — a $10/month gap. Houston wins on 4 of 6 care categories.
How much can I save on daycare moving from Columbus to Houston?
Infant center-based care in Houston runs $10/month less than in Columbus. Over a typical two-year infant care period, that's $240 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. Columbus is $180 below the national average, and Houston is $190 below.
Related Comparisons
See full cost breakdown: Daycare in Columbus · Daycare in Houston · All city comparisons