Daycare Cost: Long Beach vs Arlington (2026)
Arlington infant center care runs $950/month — $1350/month less than Long Beach's $2300/month. That's $16,200/year per child.
Long Beach, CA
$2300
infant/month
+$1070 vs national avg
Arlington, TX
$950
infant/month
-$280 vs national avg
Long Beach vs Arlington — All Care Types
Monthly costs. Green = lower cost. National average shown for context.
| Care Type | Long Beach | Arlington |
|---|---|---|
| Infant — Center | $2,300/mo | $950/mo ✓ |
| Toddler — Center | $2,050/mo | $840/mo ✓ |
| Preschool — Center | $1,660/mo | $710/mo ✓ |
| School Age | $1,410/mo | $590/mo ✓ |
| Infant — Home | $1,790/mo | $740/mo ✓ |
| Nanny (Full-Time) | $4,480/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 Long Beach's $27,600/year.
Monthly savings
$1,350
Annual savings
$16,200
2-year infant care
$32,400
% difference
142%
Savings = Long Beach 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.
Long Beach
27.0%
of $102k 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.
Long Beach, CA — 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 Long Beach or Arlington?
Arlington is cheaper for infant center-based care at $950/month, vs. $2300/month in Long Beach — a $1350/month gap. Arlington wins on 6 of 6 care categories.
How much can I save on daycare moving from Long Beach to Arlington?
Infant center-based care in Arlington runs $1350/month less than in Long Beach. Over a typical two-year infant care period, that's $32,400 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. Long Beach is $1070 above the national average, and Arlington is $280 below.
See full cost breakdown: Daycare in Long Beach · Daycare in Arlington · All city comparisons