Daycare Cost: Seattle vs Sacramento (2026)
Sacramento infant center care runs $2070/month — $360/month less than Seattle's $2430/month. That's $4,320/year per child.
Seattle, WA
$2430
infant/month
+$1200 vs national avg
Sacramento, CA
$2070
infant/month
+$840 vs national avg
Seattle vs Sacramento — All Care Types
Monthly costs. Green = lower cost. National average shown for context.
| Care Type | Seattle | Sacramento |
|---|---|---|
| Infant — Center | $2,430/mo | $2,070/mo ✓ |
| Toddler — Center | $2,150/mo | $1,840/mo ✓ |
| Preschool — Center | $1,820/mo | $1,490/mo ✓ |
| School Age | $1,530/mo | $1,270/mo ✓ |
| Infant — Home | $1,960/mo | $1,610/mo ✓ |
| Nanny (Full-Time) | $4,590/mo | $4,020/mo ✓ |
Source: ACF Child Care Market Rate Survey + metro cost-of-living adjustment. 2026 estimates.
Annual Cost Impact
For infant center-based care, Sacramento costs $24,840/year vs Seattle's $29,160/year.
Monthly savings
$360
Annual savings
$4,320
2-year infant care
$8,640
% difference
17%
Savings = Seattle cost minus Sacramento 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
Sacramento
24.3%
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 →Sacramento, 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 Sacramento?
Sacramento is cheaper for infant center-based care at $2070/month, vs. $2430/month in Seattle — a $360/month gap. Sacramento wins on 6 of 6 care categories.
How much can I save on daycare moving from Seattle to Sacramento?
Infant center-based care in Sacramento runs $360/month less than in Seattle. Over a typical two-year infant care period, that's $8,640 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 Sacramento is $840 above.
Related Comparisons
See full cost breakdown: Daycare in Seattle · Daycare in Sacramento · All city comparisons