Daycare Cost: Long Beach vs San Diego (2026)
San Diego infant center care runs $2250/month — $50/month less than Long Beach's $2300/month. That's $600/year per child.
Long Beach, CA
$2300
infant/month
+$1070 vs national avg
San Diego, CA
$2250
infant/month
+$1020 vs national avg
Long Beach vs San Diego — All Care Types
Monthly costs. Green = lower cost. National average shown for context.
| Care Type | Long Beach | San Diego |
|---|---|---|
| Infant — Center | $2,300/mo | $2,250/mo ✓ |
| Toddler — Center | $2,050/mo | $2,000/mo ✓ |
| Preschool — Center | $1,660/mo | $1,630/mo ✓ |
| School Age | $1,410/mo | $1,380/mo ✓ |
| Infant — Home | $1,790/mo | $1,750/mo ✓ |
| Nanny (Full-Time) | $4,480/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, San Diego costs $27,000/year vs Long Beach's $27,600/year.
Monthly savings
$50
Annual savings
$600
2-year infant care
$1,200
% difference
2%
Savings = Long Beach cost minus San Diego 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
San Diego
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.
Long Beach, CA — CCDF
Check eligibility →San Diego, 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 Long Beach or San Diego?
San Diego is cheaper for infant center-based care at $2250/month, vs. $2300/month in Long Beach — a $50/month gap. San Diego wins on 6 of 6 care categories.
How much can I save on daycare moving from Long Beach to San Diego?
Infant center-based care in San Diego runs $50/month less than in Long Beach. Over a typical two-year infant care period, that's $1,200 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 San Diego is $1020 above.
Related Comparisons
See full cost breakdown: Daycare in Long Beach · Daycare in San Diego · All city comparisons