Daycare Cost: Omaha vs Tampa (2026)
Omaha infant center care runs $1000/month — $50/month less than Tampa's $1050/month. That's $600/year per child.
Omaha, NE
$1000
infant/month
-$230 vs national avg
Tampa, FL
$1050
infant/month
-$180 vs national avg
Omaha vs Tampa — All Care Types
Monthly costs. Green = lower cost. National average shown for context.
| Care Type | Omaha | Tampa |
|---|---|---|
| Infant — Center | $1,000/mo ✓ | $1,050/mo |
| Toddler — Center | $880/mo ✓ | $910/mo |
| Preschool — Center | $750/mo ✓ | $790/mo |
| School Age | $630/mo ✓ | $650/mo |
| Infant — Home | $780/mo ✓ | $820/mo |
| Nanny (Full-Time) | $2,200/mo ✓ | $2,520/mo |
Source: ACF Child Care Market Rate Survey + metro cost-of-living adjustment. 2026 estimates.
Annual Cost Impact
For infant center-based care, Omaha costs $12,000/year vs Tampa's $12,600/year.
Monthly savings
$50
Annual savings
$600
2-year infant care
$1,200
% difference
5%
Savings = Tampa cost minus Omaha 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.
Omaha
15.1%
of $79k median income
Tampa
16.7%
of $75k 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.
Omaha, NE — CCDF
Check eligibility →Tampa, FL — 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 Omaha or Tampa?
Omaha is cheaper for infant center-based care at $1000/month, vs. $1050/month in Tampa — a $50/month gap. Omaha wins on 6 of 6 care categories.
How much can I save on daycare moving from Tampa to Omaha?
Infant center-based care in Omaha runs $50/month less than in Tampa. 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. Omaha is $230 below the national average, and Tampa is $180 below.
Related Comparisons
See full cost breakdown: Daycare in Omaha · Daycare in Tampa · All city comparisons