Daycare Cost: Honolulu vs Anaheim (2026)
Honolulu infant center care runs $1650/month — $600/month less than Anaheim's $2250/month. That's $7,200/year per child.
Honolulu, HI
$1650
infant/month
+$420 vs national avg
Anaheim, CA
$2250
infant/month
+$1020 vs national avg
Honolulu vs Anaheim — All Care Types
Monthly costs. Green = lower cost. National average shown for context.
| Care Type | Honolulu | Anaheim |
|---|---|---|
| Infant — Center | $1,650/mo ✓ | $2,250/mo |
| Toddler — Center | $1,430/mo ✓ | $2,000/mo |
| Preschool — Center | $1,210/mo ✓ | $1,630/mo |
| School Age | $1,010/mo ✓ | $1,380/mo |
| Infant — Home | $1,320/mo ✓ | $1,750/mo |
| Nanny (Full-Time) | $3,300/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, Honolulu costs $19,800/year vs Anaheim's $27,000/year.
Monthly savings
$600
Annual savings
$7,200
2-year infant care
$14,400
% difference
36%
Savings = Anaheim cost minus Honolulu 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.
Honolulu
19.5%
of $101k median income
Anaheim
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.
Honolulu, HI — CCDF
Check eligibility →Anaheim, 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 Honolulu or Anaheim?
Honolulu is cheaper for infant center-based care at $1650/month, vs. $2250/month in Anaheim — a $600/month gap. Honolulu wins on 6 of 6 care categories.
How much can I save on daycare moving from Anaheim to Honolulu?
Infant center-based care in Honolulu runs $600/month less than in Anaheim. Over a typical two-year infant care period, that's $14,400 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. Honolulu is $420 above the national average, and Anaheim is $1020 above.
See full cost breakdown: Daycare in Honolulu · Daycare in Anaheim · All city comparisons