Daycare Cost: Seattle vs New Orleans (2026)
New Orleans infant center care runs $740/month — $1690/month less than Seattle's $2430/month. That's $20,280/year per child.
Seattle, WA
$2430
infant/month
+$1200 vs national avg
New Orleans, LA
$740
infant/month
-$490 vs national avg
Seattle vs New Orleans — All Care Types
Monthly costs. Green = lower cost. National average shown for context.
| Care Type | Seattle | New Orleans |
|---|---|---|
| Infant — Center | $2,430/mo | $740/mo ✓ |
| Toddler — Center | $2,150/mo | $650/mo ✓ |
| Preschool — Center | $1,820/mo | $560/mo ✓ |
| School Age | $1,530/mo | $460/mo ✓ |
| Infant — Home | $1,960/mo | $570/mo ✓ |
| Nanny (Full-Time) | $4,590/mo | $2,000/mo ✓ |
Source: ACF Child Care Market Rate Survey + metro cost-of-living adjustment. 2026 estimates.
Annual Cost Impact
For infant center-based care, New Orleans costs $8,880/year vs Seattle's $29,160/year.
Monthly savings
$1,690
Annual savings
$20,280
2-year infant care
$40,560
% difference
228%
Savings = Seattle cost minus New Orleans 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
New Orleans
14.2%
of $63k 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 →New Orleans, LA — 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 New Orleans?
New Orleans is cheaper for infant center-based care at $740/month, vs. $2430/month in Seattle — a $1690/month gap. New Orleans wins on 6 of 6 care categories.
How much can I save on daycare moving from Seattle to New Orleans?
Infant center-based care in New Orleans runs $1690/month less than in Seattle. Over a typical two-year infant care period, that's $40,560 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 New Orleans is $490 below.
Related Comparisons
See full cost breakdown: Daycare in Seattle · Daycare in New Orleans · All city comparisons