Daycare Cost: San Francisco vs San Diego (2026)
San Diego infant center care runs $2250/month — $410/month less than San Francisco's $2660/month. That's $4,920/year per child.
San Francisco, CA
$2660
infant/month
+$1430 vs national avg
San Diego, CA
$2250
infant/month
+$1020 vs national avg
San Francisco vs San Diego — All Care Types
Monthly costs. Green = lower cost. National average shown for context.
| Care Type | San Francisco | San Diego |
|---|---|---|
| Infant — Center | $2,660/mo | $2,250/mo ✓ |
| Toddler — Center | $2,370/mo | $2,000/mo ✓ |
| Preschool — Center | $1,920/mo | $1,630/mo ✓ |
| School Age | $1,630/mo | $1,380/mo ✓ |
| Infant — Home | $2,070/mo | $1,750/mo ✓ |
| Nanny (Full-Time) | $5,180/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 San Francisco's $31,920/year.
Monthly savings
$410
Annual savings
$4,920
2-year infant care
$9,840
% difference
18%
Savings = San Francisco cost minus San Diego cost. Infant center-based care only.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is daycare cheaper in San Francisco or San Diego?
San Diego is cheaper for infant center-based care at $2250/month, vs. $2660/month in San Francisco — a $410/month gap. San Diego wins on 6 of 6 care categories.
How much can I save on daycare moving from San Francisco to San Diego?
Infant center-based care in San Diego runs $410/month less than in San Francisco. Over a typical two-year infant care period, that's $9,840 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 Francisco is $1430 above the national average, and San Diego is $1020 above.
Related Comparisons
See full cost breakdown: Daycare in San Francisco · Daycare in San Diego · All city comparisons