Daycare Cost: Seattle vs Colorado Springs (2026)
Colorado Springs infant center care runs $1760/month — $670/month less than Seattle's $2430/month. That's $8,040/year per child.
Seattle, WA
$2430
infant/month
+$1200 vs national avg
Colorado Springs, CO
$1760
infant/month
+$530 vs national avg
Seattle vs Colorado Springs — All Care Types
Monthly costs. Green = lower cost. National average shown for context.
| Care Type | Seattle | Colorado Springs |
|---|---|---|
| Infant — Center | $2,430/mo | $1,760/mo ✓ |
| Toddler — Center | $2,150/mo | $1,540/mo ✓ |
| Preschool — Center | $1,820/mo | $1,320/mo ✓ |
| School Age | $1,530/mo | $1,100/mo ✓ |
| Infant — Home | $1,960/mo | $1,320/mo ✓ |
| Nanny (Full-Time) | $4,590/mo | $3,520/mo ✓ |
Source: ACF Child Care Market Rate Survey + metro cost-of-living adjustment. 2026 estimates.
Annual Cost Impact
For infant center-based care, Colorado Springs costs $21,120/year vs Seattle's $29,160/year.
Monthly savings
$670
Annual savings
$8,040
2-year infant care
$16,080
% difference
38%
Savings = Seattle cost minus Colorado Springs 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.
Seattle
28.9%
of $101k median income
Colorado Springs
21.7%
of $97k 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.
Seattle, WA — CCDF
Check eligibility →Colorado Springs, CO — 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 Seattle or Colorado Springs?
Colorado Springs is cheaper for infant center-based care at $1760/month, vs. $2430/month in Seattle — a $670/month gap. Colorado Springs wins on 6 of 6 care categories.
How much can I save on daycare moving from Seattle to Colorado Springs?
Infant center-based care in Colorado Springs runs $670/month less than in Seattle. Over a typical two-year infant care period, that's $16,080 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. Seattle is $1200 above the national average, and Colorado Springs is $530 above.
Related Comparisons
See full cost breakdown: Daycare in Seattle · Daycare in Colorado Springs · All city comparisons