Texas Daycare Costs 2026: Complete Price Guide by City

Texas offers relatively affordable childcare compared to coastal states—but costs still vary dramatically by city. Here's what Texas families are actually paying for daycare in 2026.

Quick Answer: Texas Daycare Costs 2026

| Care Type | Monthly Cost | Annual Cost | |-----------|-------------|-------------| | Infant Center Care | $950 | $11,400 | | Toddler Center Care | $850 | $10,200 | | Preschool (3-5 years) | $750 | $9,000 | | Family Home Daycare | $675 | $8,100 |

The range: Depending on your city, you'll pay $700 to $2,000/month for infant care.

Texas Daycare Costs by City

Austin Metro Area

Austin has the highest childcare costs in Texas, driven by rapid population growth and tech industry demand.

| Area | Infant Center | Toddler Center | Preschool | |------|---------------|----------------|-----------| | Central Austin | $1,750/mo | $1,450/mo | $1,250/mo | | North Austin/Round Rock | $1,450/mo | $1,200/mo | $1,050/mo | | South Austin | $1,350/mo | $1,150/mo | $1,000/mo | | Cedar Park | $1,400/mo | $1,150/mo | $1,000/mo | | Pflugerville | $1,300/mo | $1,100/mo | $950/mo |

Austin insight: The city has seen 40% childcare cost increases since 2020 due to population boom and provider shortages.

Dallas-Fort Worth Metro

The DFW Metroplex offers wide price variation—wealthy suburbs cost significantly more than outlying areas.

| Area | Infant Center | Toddler Center | Preschool | |------|---------------|----------------|-----------| | Uptown Dallas | $1,500/mo | $1,250/mo | $1,100/mo | | Highland Park/University Park | $1,800/mo | $1,500/mo | $1,300/mo | | Plano | $1,350/mo | $1,150/mo | $1,000/mo | | Frisco | $1,400/mo | $1,200/mo | $1,050/mo | | Fort Worth | $1,100/mo | $950/mo | $850/mo | | Arlington | $1,000/mo | $875/mo | $775/mo | | McKinney | $1,200/mo | $1,000/mo | $900/mo | | Denton | $1,050/mo | $900/mo | $800/mo |

DFW tip: North suburbs (Plano, Frisco, McKinney) are more expensive than Fort Worth or southern suburbs.

Houston Metro Area

Houston offers a wide range of options at various price points.

| Area | Infant Center | Toddler Center | Preschool | |------|---------------|----------------|-----------| | The Heights/Montrose | $1,450/mo | $1,200/mo | $1,050/mo | | River Oaks/Memorial | $1,700/mo | $1,400/mo | $1,200/mo | | Galleria Area | $1,400/mo | $1,150/mo | $1,000/mo | | Sugar Land | $1,250/mo | $1,050/mo | $925/mo | | Katy | $1,150/mo | $975/mo | $875/mo | | The Woodlands | $1,350/mo | $1,125/mo | $1,000/mo | | Pearland | $1,100/mo | $925/mo | $825/mo | | Clear Lake | $1,150/mo | $975/mo | $850/mo |

San Antonio Area

San Antonio offers some of the most affordable urban childcare in Texas.

| Area | Infant Center | Toddler Center | Preschool | |------|---------------|----------------|-----------| | Downtown/Pearl District | $1,150/mo | $975/mo | $850/mo | | Alamo Heights | $1,300/mo | $1,100/mo | $950/mo | | North San Antonio | $1,000/mo | $850/mo | $750/mo | | New Braunfels | $950/mo | $825/mo | $725/mo | | Stone Oak | $1,100/mo | $950/mo | $825/mo |

Other Texas Cities

| City | Infant Center | Toddler Center | Preschool | |------|---------------|----------------|-----------| | El Paso | $800/mo | $700/mo | $625/mo | | Corpus Christi | $850/mo | $750/mo | $675/mo | | Lubbock | $775/mo | $675/mo | $600/mo | | Amarillo | $750/mo | $650/mo | $575/mo | | Laredo | $725/mo | $625/mo | $550/mo | | Brownsville | $700/mo | $600/mo | $525/mo | | Waco | $875/mo | $775/mo | $700/mo | | Tyler | $850/mo | $750/mo | $675/mo |

Texas Daycare Costs by Age

Texas requires the following staff-to-child ratios:

| Age Group | Texas Ratio | Monthly Average | |-----------|-------------|-----------------| | Infants (0-11 months) | 1:4 | $950 | | Toddlers (12-17 months) | 1:5 | $900 | | 18-23 months | 1:9 | $850 | | 2 years | 1:11 | $800 | | 3 years | 1:15 | $750 | | 4 years | 1:18 | $725 | | 5 years | 1:22 | $700 |

Note: Texas has some of the most relaxed ratios in the country, which keeps costs lower than states like California or Massachusetts.

Licensed Home Daycare vs. Centers

| Care Type | Monthly Average | Annual Savings | |-----------|-----------------|----------------| | Center (Infant) | $950 | — | | Family Home (Infant) | $700 | $3,000/year | | Center (Preschool) | $750 | — | | Family Home (Preschool) | $575 | $2,100/year |

Texas Family Home Facts:

• Can care for up to 12 children
• Some are Texas Rising Star rated (quality indicator)
• Often more flexible hours
• Savings of 25-30% on average

Texas Childcare Subsidy Programs

Texas Workforce Commission Child Care Services

The main subsidy program for working Texas families.

Eligibility:

• Parent must be working, in job training, or attending school
• Income at or below 85% of State Median Income
• 2026 limits: ~$64,000 for family of 4

What it covers:

• Full or partial subsidy depending on income
• Works at licensed centers or family homes
• Provider must be listed with Texas Workforce

How to apply:

• Contact your local Workforce Development Board
• Apply online through WorkInTexas.com
• Or call 2-1-1 for guidance

Important: Many areas have waitlists. Apply as early as possible.

Head Start and Early Head Start

Eligibility:

• Family income at or below 100% Federal Poverty Level ($31,200 for family of 4)
• Or receiving SNAP, TANF, SSI
• Homeless families automatically eligible
• Foster children automatically eligible

What you get:

• Free full-day or part-day program
• Comprehensive services including health screenings
• Family support and parent education

Find programs: Head Start Locator

Texas Pre-K

Who qualifies: Texas offers free public pre-K to 4-year-olds who meet any of these criteria:

• Family income below 185% FPL
• Limited English proficiency
• Homeless
• Foster care or foster care history
• Child of active-duty military
• Child of fallen or injured first responder

What it covers:

• Free half-day program (3-4 hours)
• Full-day options at some districts (may require fee)

How to enroll:

• Contact your local school district
• Usually enrolling in spring for fall

Texas Rising Star: Quality Rating System

Texas Rising Star is the state's quality rating system for childcare:

| Rating | What It Means | |--------|---------------| | 2-Star | Meets all requirements; beginning quality journey | | 3-Star | High-quality programming and environment | | 4-Star | Highest quality; exceeds standards |

Why it matters:

• Rising Star providers receive higher subsidy payments
• Indicates investment in staff training and curriculum
• Parents on subsidy get priority at Rising Star providers

Find Rising Star providers: Search at texasrisingstar.org

Tax Benefits for Texas Families

Since Texas has no state income tax, focus on federal benefits:

Dependent Care FSA

• Maximum: $5,000 pre-tax annually
• Savings: $1,100-$1,600 depending on federal tax bracket
• Note: Also saves 7.65% FICA taxes ($382)

Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit

• Maximum expenses: $3,000 (one child), $6,000 (two+)
• Credit: 20-35% of expenses ($600-$2,100)

Earned Income Tax Credit

• For: Working families with moderate income
• Amount: Up to $7,830 with three or more children (2026)

How to Save on Texas Daycare

1. Choose Location Strategically

If you work remotely or have flexibility:

• San Antonio averages $300/month less than Austin
• Fort Worth averages $300/month less than Dallas
• Suburbs save 15-25% compared to urban cores

2. Apply for Subsidies

Don't assume you don't qualify. A family of four earning $60,000 may be eligible for significant assistance.

3. Ask About Sibling Discounts

Most Texas daycares offer 5-15% off for second children. Always ask—it may not be advertised.

4. Consider Part-Time Care

Many providers offer 3-day options at 60-65% of full-time rates.

5. Explore Corporate Backup Care

Major Texas employers (Shell, ExxonMobil, American Airlines, USAA) often offer backup care benefits.

6. Look at Church-Based Options

Churches often operate daycare programs at 20-30% below market rates.

Texas Childcare Licensing

Verify providers are properly licensed:

Texas Health and Human Services

• Phone: 1-800-862-5252
• Website: hhs.texas.gov/services/safety/child-care
• License Search: ccl.texas.gov

What you can verify:

• License status and type
• Capacity limits
• Deficiencies and corrective actions
• Inspection history

The Texas Daycare Landscape in 2026

Trends affecting Texas families:

1. Population growth continues to strain childcare supply, especially in Austin and DFW
2. Subsidy expansion means more families qualify for assistance
3. Texas Rising Star expansion is increasing quality options
4. Infant care shortage remains acute in urban areas
5. Church and faith-based programs remain popular and affordable

The Bottom Line

Texas daycare in 2026 costs $700-$2,000/month depending on city and care type. The statewide average of $950/month for infant center care is below the national average, making Texas one of the more affordable states for childcare.

Key takeaways:

• Austin is most expensive; San Antonio and smaller cities are most affordable
• Texas Rising Star indicates quality programs
• Subsidies available for incomes up to ~$64,000 (family of 4)
• Home daycare saves 25-30% on average

Next steps:

1. Use our daycare cost calculator for your specific area
2. Search for Texas daycares
3. Apply for subsidies through your local Workforce Development Board

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Last updated: December 2025. Costs reflect 2026 projections based on 2024-2025 data.