Daycare Cost: Jacksonville vs Nashville (2026)
Jacksonville infant center care runs $950/month — $30/month less than Nashville's $980/month. That's $360/year per child.
Jacksonville, FL
$950
infant/month
-$280 vs national avg
Nashville, TN
$980
infant/month
-$250 vs national avg
Jacksonville vs Nashville — All Care Types
Monthly costs. Green = lower cost. National average shown for context.
| Care Type | Jacksonville | Nashville |
|---|---|---|
| Infant — Center | $950/mo ✓ | $980/mo |
| Toddler — Center | $830/mo ✓ | $860/mo |
| Preschool — Center | $710/mo ✓ | $740/mo |
| School Age | $590/mo ✓ | $610/mo |
| Infant — Home | $740/mo ✓ | $760/mo |
| Nanny (Full-Time) | $2,280/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, Jacksonville costs $11,400/year vs Nashville's $11,760/year.
Monthly savings
$30
Annual savings
$360
2-year infant care
$720
% difference
3%
Savings = Nashville cost minus Jacksonville 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.
Jacksonville
15.1%
of $75k median income
Nashville
16.5%
of $71k 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.
Jacksonville, FL — CCDF
Check eligibility →Nashville, TN — 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 Jacksonville or Nashville?
Jacksonville is cheaper for infant center-based care at $950/month, vs. $980/month in Nashville — a $30/month gap. Jacksonville wins on 6 of 6 care categories.
How much can I save on daycare moving from Nashville to Jacksonville?
Infant center-based care in Jacksonville runs $30/month less than in Nashville. 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. Jacksonville is $280 below the national average, and Nashville is $250 below.
Related Comparisons
See full cost breakdown: Daycare in Jacksonville · Daycare in Nashville · All city comparisons