Daycare Cost: Seattle vs Raleigh (2026)
Raleigh infant center care runs $1090/month — $1340/month less than Seattle's $2430/month. That's $16,080/year per child.
Seattle, WA
$2430
infant/month
+$1200 vs national avg
Raleigh, NC
$1090
infant/month
-$140 vs national avg
Seattle vs Raleigh — All Care Types
Monthly costs. Green = lower cost. National average shown for context.
| Care Type | Seattle | Raleigh |
|---|---|---|
| Infant — Center | $2,430/mo | $1,090/mo ✓ |
| Toddler — Center | $2,150/mo | $970/mo ✓ |
| Preschool — Center | $1,820/mo | $830/mo ✓ |
| School Age | $1,530/mo | $680/mo ✓ |
| Infant — Home | $1,960/mo | $850/mo ✓ |
| Nanny (Full-Time) | $4,590/mo | $2,530/mo ✓ |
Source: ACF Child Care Market Rate Survey + metro cost-of-living adjustment. 2026 estimates.
Annual Cost Impact
For infant center-based care, Raleigh costs $13,080/year vs Seattle's $29,160/year.
Monthly savings
$1,340
Annual savings
$16,080
2-year infant care
$32,160
% difference
123%
Savings = Seattle cost minus Raleigh 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
Raleigh
17.7%
of $74k 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 →Raleigh, NC — 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 Raleigh?
Raleigh is cheaper for infant center-based care at $1090/month, vs. $2430/month in Seattle — a $1340/month gap. Raleigh wins on 6 of 6 care categories.
How much can I save on daycare moving from Seattle to Raleigh?
Infant center-based care in Raleigh runs $1340/month less than in Seattle. Over a typical two-year infant care period, that's $32,160 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 Raleigh is $140 below.
Related Comparisons
See full cost breakdown: Daycare in Seattle · Daycare in Raleigh · All city comparisons