Daycare Cost: San Diego vs Raleigh (2026)
Raleigh infant center care runs $1090/month — $1160/month less than San Diego's $2250/month. That's $13,920/year per child.
San Diego, CA
$2250
infant/month
+$1020 vs national avg
Raleigh, NC
$1090
infant/month
-$140 vs national avg
San Diego vs Raleigh — All Care Types
Monthly costs. Green = lower cost. National average shown for context.
| Care Type | San Diego | Raleigh |
|---|---|---|
| Infant — Center | $2,250/mo | $1,090/mo ✓ |
| Toddler — Center | $2,000/mo | $970/mo ✓ |
| Preschool — Center | $1,630/mo | $830/mo ✓ |
| School Age | $1,380/mo | $680/mo ✓ |
| Infant — Home | $1,750/mo | $850/mo ✓ |
| Nanny (Full-Time) | $4,380/mo | $2,530/mo ✓ |
Source: ACF Child Care Market Rate Survey + metro cost-of-living adjustment. 2026 estimates.
Annual Cost Impact
For infant center-based care, Raleigh costs $13,080/year vs San Diego's $27,000/year.
Monthly savings
$1,160
Annual savings
$13,920
2-year infant care
$27,840
% difference
106%
Savings = San Diego cost minus Raleigh 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
Raleigh
17.7%
of $74k 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 →Raleigh, NC — 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 Raleigh?
Raleigh is cheaper for infant center-based care at $1090/month, vs. $2250/month in San Diego — a $1160/month gap. Raleigh wins on 6 of 6 care categories.
How much can I save on daycare moving from San Diego to Raleigh?
Infant center-based care in Raleigh runs $1160/month less than in San Diego. Over a typical two-year infant care period, that's $27,840 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 Raleigh is $140 below.
Related Comparisons
See full cost breakdown: Daycare in San Diego · Daycare in Raleigh · All city comparisons