Daycare Cost: San Diego vs El Paso (2026)
El Paso infant center care runs $790/month — $1460/month less than San Diego's $2250/month. That's $17,520/year per child.
San Diego, CA
$2250
infant/month
+$1020 vs national avg
El Paso, TX
$790
infant/month
-$440 vs national avg
San Diego vs El Paso — All Care Types
Monthly costs. Green = lower cost. National average shown for context.
| Care Type | San Diego | El Paso |
|---|---|---|
| Infant — Center | $2,250/mo | $790/mo ✓ |
| Toddler — Center | $2,000/mo | $700/mo ✓ |
| Preschool — Center | $1,630/mo | $600/mo ✓ |
| School Age | $1,380/mo | $490/mo ✓ |
| Infant — Home | $1,750/mo | $620/mo ✓ |
| Nanny (Full-Time) | $4,380/mo | $1,940/mo ✓ |
Source: ACF Child Care Market Rate Survey + metro cost-of-living adjustment. 2026 estimates.
Annual Cost Impact
For infant center-based care, El Paso costs $9,480/year vs San Diego's $27,000/year.
Monthly savings
$1,460
Annual savings
$17,520
2-year infant care
$35,040
% difference
185%
Savings = San Diego cost minus El Paso 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.
San Diego
26.4%
of $102k median income
El Paso
11.6%
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.
San Diego, CA — CCDF
Check eligibility →El Paso, 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 San Diego or El Paso?
El Paso is cheaper for infant center-based care at $790/month, vs. $2250/month in San Diego — a $1460/month gap. El Paso wins on 6 of 6 care categories.
How much can I save on daycare moving from San Diego to El Paso?
Infant center-based care in El Paso runs $1460/month less than in San Diego. Over a typical two-year infant care period, that's $35,040 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. San Diego is $1020 above the national average, and El Paso is $440 below.
Related Comparisons
See full cost breakdown: Daycare in San Diego · Daycare in El Paso · All city comparisons