Daycare Cost: Los Angeles vs Seattle (2026)
Los Angeles infant center care runs $2340/month — $90/month less than Seattle's $2430/month. That's $1,080/year per child.
Los Angeles, CA
$2340
infant/month
+$1110 vs national avg
Seattle, WA
$2430
infant/month
+$1200 vs national avg
Los Angeles vs Seattle — All Care Types
Monthly costs. Green = lower cost. National average shown for context.
| Care Type | Los Angeles | Seattle |
|---|---|---|
| Infant — Center | $2,340/mo ✓ | $2,430/mo |
| Toddler — Center | $2,080/mo ✓ | $2,150/mo |
| Preschool — Center | $1,690/mo ✓ | $1,820/mo |
| School Age | $1,430/mo ✓ | $1,530/mo |
| Infant — Home | $1,820/mo ✓ | $1,960/mo |
| Nanny (Full-Time) | $4,550/mo ✓ | $4,590/mo |
Source: ACF Child Care Market Rate Survey + metro cost-of-living adjustment. 2026 estimates.
Annual Cost Impact
For infant center-based care, Los Angeles costs $28,080/year vs Seattle's $29,160/year.
Monthly savings
$90
Annual savings
$1,080
2-year infant care
$2,160
% difference
4%
Savings = Seattle cost minus Los Angeles 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.
Los Angeles
27.4%
of $102k median income
Seattle
28.9%
of $101k 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.
Los Angeles, CA — CCDF
Check eligibility →Seattle, WA — 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 Los Angeles or Seattle?
Los Angeles is cheaper for infant center-based care at $2340/month, vs. $2430/month in Seattle — a $90/month gap. Los Angeles wins on 6 of 6 care categories.
How much can I save on daycare moving from Seattle to Los Angeles?
Infant center-based care in Los Angeles runs $90/month less than in Seattle. Over a typical two-year infant care period, that's $2,160 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. Los Angeles is $1110 above the national average, and Seattle is $1200 above.
Related Comparisons
See full cost breakdown: Daycare in Los Angeles · Daycare in Seattle · All city comparisons