Daycare Cost: Washington vs Long Beach (2026)
Long Beach infant center care runs $2300/month — $100/month less than Washington's $2400/month. That's $1,200/year per child.
Washington, DC
$2400
infant/month
+$1170 vs national avg
Long Beach, CA
$2300
infant/month
+$1070 vs national avg
Washington vs Long Beach — All Care Types
Monthly costs. Green = lower cost. National average shown for context.
| Care Type | Washington | Long Beach |
|---|---|---|
| Infant — Center | $2,400/mo | $2,300/mo ✓ |
| Toddler — Center | $2,100/mo | $2,050/mo ✓ |
| Preschool — Center | $1,800/mo | $1,660/mo ✓ |
| School Age | $1,500/mo | $1,410/mo ✓ |
| Infant — Home | $1,900/mo | $1,790/mo ✓ |
| Nanny (Full-Time) | $4,200/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 Washington's $28,800/year.
Monthly savings
$100
Annual savings
$1,200
2-year infant care
$2,400
% difference
4%
Savings = Washington 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.
Washington
20.3%
of $142k 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.
Washington, DC — 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 Washington or Long Beach?
Long Beach is cheaper for infant center-based care at $2300/month, vs. $2400/month in Washington — a $100/month gap. Long Beach wins on 5 of 6 care categories.
How much can I save on daycare moving from Washington to Long Beach?
Infant center-based care in Long Beach runs $100/month less than in Washington. Over a typical two-year infant care period, that's $2,400 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. Washington is $1170 above the national average, and Long Beach is $1070 above.
Related Comparisons
See full cost breakdown: Daycare in Washington · Daycare in Long Beach · All city comparisons