Daycare Cost: Seattle vs Long Beach (2026)
Long Beach infant center care runs $2300/month — $130/month less than Seattle's $2430/month. That's $1,560/year per child.
Seattle, WA
$2430
infant/month
+$1200 vs national avg
Long Beach, CA
$2300
infant/month
+$1070 vs national avg
Seattle vs Long Beach — All Care Types
Monthly costs. Green = lower cost. National average shown for context.
| Care Type | Seattle | Long Beach |
|---|---|---|
| Infant — Center | $2,430/mo | $2,300/mo ✓ |
| Toddler — Center | $2,150/mo | $2,050/mo ✓ |
| Preschool — Center | $1,820/mo | $1,660/mo ✓ |
| School Age | $1,530/mo | $1,410/mo ✓ |
| Infant — Home | $1,960/mo | $1,790/mo ✓ |
| Nanny (Full-Time) | $4,590/mo | $4,480/mo ✓ |
Source: ACF Child Care Market Rate Survey + metro cost-of-living adjustment. 2026 estimates.
Annual Cost Impact
For infant center-based care, Long Beach costs $27,600/year vs Seattle's $29,160/year.
Monthly savings
$130
Annual savings
$1,560
2-year infant care
$3,120
% difference
6%
Savings = Seattle cost minus Long Beach 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
Long Beach
27.0%
of $102k 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 →Long Beach, CA — 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 Long Beach?
Long Beach is cheaper for infant center-based care at $2300/month, vs. $2430/month in Seattle — a $130/month gap. Long Beach wins on 6 of 6 care categories.
How much can I save on daycare moving from Seattle to Long Beach?
Infant center-based care in Long Beach runs $130/month less than in Seattle. Over a typical two-year infant care period, that's $3,120 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 Long Beach is $1070 above.
Related Comparisons
See full cost breakdown: Daycare in Seattle · Daycare in Long Beach · All city comparisons