Child Care Costs in Texas 2026: Complete Price Guide by City

Texas offers more affordable childcare than coastal states, making it an attractive destination for families relocating from higher-cost areas. However, costs vary significantly between booming metro areas like Austin and more affordable regions like the Rio Grande Valley. With no state income tax and a lower cost of living, Texas families often find childcare more manageable than their counterparts in states like California or New York. This guide breaks down what to expect across the Lone Star State.

Average Child Care Costs in Texas

Quick Overview

| Care Type | Monthly Average | Annual Cost | |-----------|-----------------|-------------| | Infant Daycare Center | $1,100-$1,600 | $13,200-$19,200 | | Toddler Daycare Center | $900-$1,400 | $10,800-$16,800 | | Preschool (Full-Day) | $750-$1,200 | $9,000-$14,400 | | Full-Time Nanny | $2,800-$4,000 | $33,600-$48,000 | | Home Daycare | $700-$1,100 | $8,400-$13,200 | | Au Pair | $1,800-$2,200 | $22,000-$26,000 |

Texas childcare costs are approximately 15-25% below the national average, making it one of the more affordable states for working parents.

Cost Comparison to National Average

| Care Type | Texas Avg | National Avg | Difference | |-----------|-----------|--------------|------------| | Infant Daycare | $1,200/mo | $1,350/mo | 11% below | | Toddler Daycare | $1,050/mo | $1,200/mo | 13% below | | Preschool | $900/mo | $1,100/mo | 18% below | | Nanny | $3,200/mo | $3,400/mo | 6% below |

Texas families spend an average of 10-14% of household income on childcare, which is below the national average of 15-17%.

Why Texas Childcare Is More Affordable

Several factors contribute to Texas's lower childcare costs:

1. No state income tax: Lower overall tax burden reduces cost of living
2. Lower real estate costs: Commercial space is less expensive
3. Relaxed regulations: Higher child-to-staff ratios reduce labor costs
4. Larger supply: Many centers competing for families
5. Lower wages: Childcare workers earn less than in coastal states

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Costs by Major City

Austin

Austin is the most expensive Texas market for childcare, driven by rapid tech industry growth and population influx.

| Care Type | Monthly Cost | Annual Cost | |-----------|-------------|-------------| | Infant Daycare | $1,400-$2,000 | $16,800-$24,000 | | Toddler Daycare | $1,200-$1,700 | $14,400-$20,400 | | Preschool | $1,000-$1,500 | $12,000-$18,000 | | Nanny | $3,500-$4,800 | $42,000-$57,600 | | Home Daycare | $1,000-$1,400 | $12,000-$16,800 |

By area:

| Area | Infant Daycare | Toddler Daycare | Notes | |------|---------------|-----------------|-------| | Downtown/South Congress | $1,700-$2,200 | $1,400-$1,900 | Highest costs | | West Austin/Westlake | $1,600-$2,100 | $1,350-$1,850 | Premium suburbs | | Central Austin | $1,500-$2,000 | $1,300-$1,750 | High demand | | East Austin | $1,300-$1,750 | $1,100-$1,550 | Gentrifying, rising | | Round Rock | $1,250-$1,650 | $1,050-$1,450 | Good schools | | Cedar Park | $1,200-$1,600 | $1,000-$1,400 | Family-oriented | | Pflugerville | $1,150-$1,550 | $950-$1,350 | More affordable | | Kyle/Buda | $1,100-$1,500 | $950-$1,300 | South suburbs |

Why Austin is priciest:

• Rapid population growth (40%+ in 10 years)
• Tech industry salaries driving wages up
• Limited childcare supply relative to demand
• High real estate costs increasing facility overhead
• Young professional demographic creates intense competition

Austin tip: Consider Round Rock, Cedar Park, or Pflugerville for 20-30% savings while still accessing Austin amenities.

Dallas-Fort Worth

The DFW metroplex is a large, diverse market with significant variation by neighborhood.

| Care Type | Monthly Cost | Annual Cost | |-----------|-------------|-------------| | Infant Daycare | $1,200-$1,700 | $14,400-$20,400 | | Toddler Daycare | $1,000-$1,500 | $12,000-$18,000 | | Preschool | $850-$1,300 | $10,200-$15,600 | | Nanny | $3,200-$4,200 | $38,400-$50,400 | | Home Daycare | $850-$1,200 | $10,200-$14,400 |

By area:

| Area | Infant Daycare | Toddler Daycare | Notes | |------|---------------|-----------------|-------| | Highland Park/UP | $1,800-$2,400 | $1,500-$2,100 | Most expensive | | Preston Hollow | $1,600-$2,200 | $1,400-$1,900 | Premium Dallas | | Plano | $1,400-$1,900 | $1,200-$1,650 | Top schools | | Frisco | $1,350-$1,850 | $1,150-$1,600 | Fast-growing | | McKinney | $1,250-$1,700 | $1,050-$1,500 | More affordable | | Southlake/Colleyville | $1,450-$1,950 | $1,250-$1,700 | Upscale suburbs | | Fort Worth | $1,100-$1,500 | $950-$1,300 | More affordable | | Arlington | $1,000-$1,400 | $850-$1,200 | Budget-friendly | | Irving | $1,050-$1,450 | $900-$1,250 | Near DFW Airport | | Garland/Mesquite | $950-$1,350 | $800-$1,200 | Most affordable |

DFW specifics:

• Highland Park/University Park command premium prices
• Plano and Frisco have excellent schools, driving demand
• Fort Worth side is generally 15-25% cheaper than Dallas side
• Many corporate relocation families increase competition
• Growing number of employer-sponsored childcare options

Houston

Houston is a large, diverse market with wide price ranges across its sprawling metro area.

| Care Type | Monthly Cost | Annual Cost | |-----------|-------------|-------------| | Infant Daycare | $1,100-$1,600 | $13,200-$19,200 | | Toddler Daycare | $950-$1,400 | $11,400-$16,800 | | Preschool | $800-$1,200 | $9,600-$14,400 | | Nanny | $3,000-$4,000 | $36,000-$48,000 | | Home Daycare | $750-$1,100 | $9,000-$13,200 |

By area:

| Area | Infant Daycare | Toddler Daycare | Notes | |------|---------------|-----------------|-------| | The Woodlands | $1,500-$2,000 | $1,300-$1,750 | Premium suburb | | Memorial/Tanglewood | $1,500-$2,000 | $1,300-$1,750 | Upscale Houston | | West University | $1,450-$1,950 | $1,250-$1,700 | Near Rice | | Heights | $1,350-$1,800 | $1,150-$1,600 | Trendy, family-friendly | | Katy | $1,200-$1,600 | $1,050-$1,400 | Good schools | | Sugar Land | $1,250-$1,650 | $1,050-$1,450 | Fort Bend ISD | | Pearland | $1,100-$1,500 | $950-$1,300 | South Houston | | Clear Lake | $1,100-$1,500 | $950-$1,300 | NASA area | | Cypress | $1,150-$1,550 | $1,000-$1,400 | Northwest Houston | | Pasadena/Baytown | $850-$1,250 | $750-$1,100 | Most affordable |

Houston specifics:

• Energy industry employers often offer childcare benefits
• Texas Medical Center area has hospital-affiliated care
• Significant variation by neighborhood and school district
• Many bilingual programs (Spanish-English)
• Hurricane season can affect care availability

San Antonio

San Antonio is one of the more affordable major Texas cities for childcare.

| Care Type | Monthly Cost | Annual Cost | |-----------|-------------|-------------| | Infant Daycare | $1,000-$1,400 | $12,000-$16,800 | | Toddler Daycare | $850-$1,200 | $10,200-$14,400 | | Preschool | $700-$1,100 | $8,400-$13,200 | | Nanny | $2,800-$3,600 | $33,600-$43,200 | | Home Daycare | $700-$1,000 | $8,400-$12,000 |

By area:

| Area | Infant Daycare | Toddler Daycare | Notes | |------|---------------|-----------------|-------| | Alamo Heights | $1,300-$1,700 | $1,100-$1,500 | Most expensive | | Stone Oak | $1,200-$1,600 | $1,000-$1,400 | North side premium | | The Dominion | $1,250-$1,650 | $1,050-$1,450 | Upscale | | Northwest SA | $1,050-$1,450 | $900-$1,250 | Good value | | Northeast SA | $950-$1,350 | $800-$1,200 | More affordable | | Southside | $850-$1,250 | $700-$1,100 | Budget-friendly | | Westside | $900-$1,300 | $750-$1,150 | Moderate |

San Antonio specifics:

• Military presence provides additional childcare options
• More affordable than Austin, Dallas, or Houston
• Many faith-based programs
• Growing tech sector but not as competitive as Austin
• Strong bilingual program availability

Other Texas Cities

| City | Infant Daycare | Toddler Daycare | Notes | |------|---------------|-----------------|-------| | El Paso | $800-$1,100 | $700-$950 | Border city, very affordable | | Corpus Christi | $850-$1,150 | $750-$1,000 | Coastal | | Lubbock | $750-$1,000 | $650-$900 | West Texas | | McAllen | $700-$950 | $600-$850 | Rio Grande Valley | | Amarillo | $750-$1,050 | $650-$900 | Panhandle | | Waco | $850-$1,200 | $750-$1,050 | Central Texas | | College Station | $900-$1,250 | $800-$1,100 | Texas A&M | | Tyler/Longview | $800-$1,150 | $700-$1,000 | East Texas | | Midland/Odessa | $900-$1,300 | $800-$1,150 | Oil country, volatile |

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Texas Child Care Assistance Programs

Texas Workforce Commission Child Care Services

Texas's primary childcare subsidy program.

Who qualifies:

• Working families at or below 85% State Median Income
• Teen parents completing education
• Parents in approved job training programs
• Families transitioning from TANF

Income limits (2024):

| Family Size | Maximum Income | |-------------|----------------| | 2 | $41,600/year | | 3 | $54,930/year | | 4 | $66,214/year | | 5 | $77,497/year |

What's covered:

• Licensed child care centers
• Licensed family child care homes
• Before/after school care

Copay structure:

• Based on income and family size
• Ranges from $0 to approximately $150/week

How to apply:

• Through local Workforce Solutions office
• Online at texasworkforce.org
• Processing takes approximately 30 days

Texas Rising Star (Quality Rating)

Texas's quality rating system for childcare providers.

Rating levels:

• 2 Stars: Meets quality standards
• 3 Stars: Exceeds standards
• 4 Stars: Highest quality

Benefits:

• Higher-rated providers may have priority for subsidized families
• Some subsidy programs pay higher rates for higher-rated care
• Quality indicators include teacher qualifications, curriculum, and parent engagement

Head Start & Early Head Start

Who qualifies:

• Families at or below 100% federal poverty level
• Foster children (automatic eligibility)
• Homeless families (automatic eligibility)
• Children with disabilities

What's included:

• Free preschool (Head Start: ages 3-5)
• Free infant/toddler care (Early Head Start: birth-3)
• Health and developmental screenings
• Nutritious meals
• Family support services

Cost: Completely free.

How to apply: Search at eclkc.ohs.acf.hhs.gov or contact local Head Start

Texas Public Pre-K

Texas offers free public pre-K for qualifying 4-year-olds.

Who qualifies:

• Income-eligible families (at or below 185% poverty)
• English Language Learners
• Children of active-duty military
• Foster children
• Homeless children
• Children of first responders

Program details:

• Half-day programs are most common
• Some districts offer full-day
• Quality varies by district
• Free for qualifying families

How to apply: Contact your local school district

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Ways to Reduce Texas Childcare Costs

1. Dependent Care FSA

Save up to $5,000 pre-tax through your employer.

Texas advantage: No state income tax means you save on federal taxes only, but it's still significant.

Savings on $5,000 contributed:

| Income Level | Federal Savings | |--------------|-----------------| | $50,000 | $600 | | $75,000 | $1,100 | | $100,000 | $1,200 | | $150,000+ | $1,600 |

2. Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit

Federal credit of 20-35% of childcare expenses (up to $3,000 for one child, $6,000 for two or more).

Potential savings: $600-1,200/year

3. Licensed Home Daycare

Family child care homes cost 25-35% less than centers in Texas.

| Care Type | Center Cost | Home Daycare | Savings | |-----------|------------|--------------|---------| | Infant (Houston) | $1,350/month | $925/month | $425/month | | Toddler (Houston) | $1,175/month | $800/month | $375/month |

Annual savings: $4,500-5,100/year

4. Nanny Share Arrangements

Split costs with another family.

| Arrangement | Per Family Cost (Austin) | |-------------|--------------------------| | Private nanny | $4,000/month | | Nanny share | $2,500/month | | Savings | $1,500/month |

5. Employer Benefits

Major Texas employers offering childcare benefits:

Austin:

• Dell (childcare subsidies, backup care)
• Oracle (backup care)
• Apple (subsidies at Austin campus)
• Indeed (childcare assistance)
• Samsung (on-site care at some facilities)

Dallas-Fort Worth:

• AT&T (backup care, FSA match)
• American Airlines (flight benefits, childcare assistance)
• Toyota (on-site at Plano HQ)
• JPMorgan Chase (backup care)
• Capital One (childcare subsidies)

Houston:

• ExxonMobil (subsidized care)
• Chevron (backup care)
• Shell (childcare assistance)
• Memorial Hermann (on-site at hospitals)
• MD Anderson (hospital-based care)

6. Church and Nonprofit Programs

Texas has many faith-based childcare options at 20-30% below market rates.

Benefits:

• Lower cost
• Values-based curriculum
• Community connections
• Often high quality

7. Military Family Benefits

Texas has major military installations:

| Installation | Location | Services | |--------------|----------|----------| | Fort Hood (Fort Cavazos) | Killeen | On-post CDC, FCC | | Fort Sam Houston | San Antonio | On-post CDC, FCC | | Fort Bliss | El Paso | On-post CDC, FCC | | Lackland AFB | San Antonio | On-base CDC | | Joint Base San Antonio | San Antonio | Multiple options |

Military childcare benefits:

• Income-based fees (often 40-50% less)
• Priority placement
• Fee assistance programs
• MilitaryChildCare.com for waitlist management

8. Suburban Living

| Location | Infant Cost | vs. Austin | |----------|-------------|------------| | Downtown Austin | $1,900 | baseline | | Round Rock | $1,400 | -$500/month | | San Antonio | $1,200 | -$700/month | | Lubbock | $875 | -$1,025/month |

Annual savings: $6,000-12,000 by choosing more affordable cities.

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Texas Licensing Requirements

Staff-to-Child Ratios (Licensed Centers)

| Age | Staff:Child Ratio | Maximum Group Size | |-----|-------------------|-------------------| | 0-11 months | 1:4 | 10 | | 12-17 months | 1:5 | 13 | | 18-23 months | 1:9 | 18 | | 2 years | 1:11 | 22 | | 3 years | 1:15 | 30 | | 4 years | 1:18 | 35 | | 5+ years | 1:22 | 35 |

Note: Texas has more relaxed ratios than many states (especially for toddlers and older), which helps keep costs lower but requires parents to evaluate quality carefully.

Checking Provider Quality

Texas Child Care Search: Search licensed providers and inspection reports at hhs.texas.gov

What to look for:

• Texas Rising Star rating (2-4 stars)
• Recent inspection reports
• Complaint history
• Staff qualifications
• Accreditation (NAEYC, NECPA)

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FAQ

Q: What's the cheapest city in Texas for childcare?

A: Border cities (McAllen, El Paso, Laredo) and smaller cities (Lubbock, Amarillo) have the lowest costs—often 30-40% below Austin prices. San Antonio is the most affordable major metro.

Q: Does Texas have free preschool?

A: Texas offers free public pre-K for qualifying 4-year-olds (income-eligible, ELL, military, foster, or homeless families). Most districts offer half-day programs; some offer full-day. Check with your local school district.

Q: How long are daycare waitlists in Texas?

A: Austin: 3-12 months for popular centers. Dallas/Houston: 1-6 months. San Antonio and smaller cities: Often 1-3 months or immediate availability.

Q: Is home daycare safe in Texas?

A: Licensed family child care homes must meet state safety standards. Check inspection reports at the HHS website and look for Texas Rising Star ratings for quality indicators.

Q: Why is Austin so much more expensive than other Texas cities?

A: Austin's tech boom has driven rapid population growth, high wages, and intense competition for limited childcare spots. The city has grown faster than childcare supply can keep up.

Q: Do Texas employers offer childcare benefits?

A: Many do, especially in tech, energy, and healthcare. Check your benefits package for FSA, subsidies, backup care, or on-site options.

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Conclusion

Texas offers more affordable childcare than coastal states, with significant variation by city. Austin is the most expensive market, approaching coastal prices, while San Antonio and smaller cities offer substantial savings. The state's subsidy programs and free pre-K for qualifying families provide additional support.

Key takeaways:

• Texas childcare is 15-25% below national average
• Austin is most expensive; border cities and small towns most affordable
• No state income tax means FSA provides federal savings only
• Texas Rising Star ratings help identify quality programs
• Free public pre-K available for qualifying 4-year-olds
• Military families have excellent on-base options
• Start waitlists early in Austin (3-12 months)

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More Texas childcare resources:

• How Much Does Child Care Cost? →
• How to Afford Child Care →
• Home Daycare vs Center →
• Childcare Costs in Arizona →