Daycare Cost: Fort Worth vs Arlington (2026)
Arlington infant center care runs $950/month — $20/month less than Fort Worth's $970/month. That's $240/year per child.
Fort Worth, TX
$970
infant/month
-$260 vs national avg
Arlington, TX
$950
infant/month
-$280 vs national avg
Fort Worth vs Arlington — All Care Types
Monthly costs. Green = lower cost. National average shown for context.
| Care Type | Fort Worth | Arlington |
|---|---|---|
| Infant — Center | $970/mo | $950/mo ✓ |
| Toddler — Center | $860/mo | $840/mo ✓ |
| Preschool — Center | $730/mo | $710/mo ✓ |
| School Age | $600/mo | $590/mo ✓ |
| Infant — Home | $760/mo | $740/mo ✓ |
| Nanny (Full-Time) | $2,380/mo | $2,310/mo ✓ |
Source: ACF Child Care Market Rate Survey + metro cost-of-living adjustment. 2026 estimates.
Annual Cost Impact
For infant center-based care, Arlington costs $11,400/year vs Fort Worth's $11,640/year.
Monthly savings
$20
Annual savings
$240
2-year infant care
$480
% difference
2%
Savings = Fort Worth cost minus Arlington 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.
Fort Worth
14.2%
of $82k median income
Arlington
13.9%
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.
Fort Worth, TX — CCDF
Check eligibility →Arlington, 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 Fort Worth or Arlington?
Arlington is cheaper for infant center-based care at $950/month, vs. $970/month in Fort Worth — a $20/month gap. Arlington wins on 6 of 6 care categories.
How much can I save on daycare moving from Fort Worth to Arlington?
Infant center-based care in Arlington runs $20/month less than in Fort Worth. Over a typical two-year infant care period, that's $480 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. Fort Worth is $260 below the national average, and Arlington is $280 below.
See full cost breakdown: Daycare in Fort Worth · Daycare in Arlington · All city comparisons