Daycare Cost: Seattle vs Oklahoma City (2026)
Oklahoma City infant center care runs $680/month — $1750/month less than Seattle's $2430/month. That's $21,000/year per child.
Seattle, WA
$2430
infant/month
+$1200 vs national avg
Oklahoma City, OK
$680
infant/month
-$550 vs national avg
Seattle vs Oklahoma City — All Care Types
Monthly costs. Green = lower cost. National average shown for context.
| Care Type | Seattle | Oklahoma City |
|---|---|---|
| Infant — Center | $2,430/mo | $680/mo ✓ |
| Toddler — Center | $2,150/mo | $590/mo ✓ |
| Preschool — Center | $1,820/mo | $500/mo ✓ |
| School Age | $1,530/mo | $420/mo ✓ |
| Infant — Home | $1,960/mo | $520/mo ✓ |
| Nanny (Full-Time) | $4,590/mo | $1,710/mo ✓ |
Source: ACF Child Care Market Rate Survey + metro cost-of-living adjustment. 2026 estimates.
Annual Cost Impact
For infant center-based care, Oklahoma City costs $8,160/year vs Seattle's $29,160/year.
Monthly savings
$1,750
Annual savings
$21,000
2-year infant care
$42,000
% difference
257%
Savings = Seattle cost minus Oklahoma City 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
Oklahoma City
12.2%
of $67k 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 →Oklahoma City, OK — 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 Oklahoma City?
Oklahoma City is cheaper for infant center-based care at $680/month, vs. $2430/month in Seattle — a $1750/month gap. Oklahoma City wins on 6 of 6 care categories.
How much can I save on daycare moving from Seattle to Oklahoma City?
Infant center-based care in Oklahoma City runs $1750/month less than in Seattle. Over a typical two-year infant care period, that's $42,000 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 Oklahoma City is $550 below.
Related Comparisons
See full cost breakdown: Daycare in Seattle · Daycare in Oklahoma City · All city comparisons