Childcare Costs in Texas vs Salary (2026)
Full-time infant daycare in Texas runs about $920 a month — $11,040 a year, or 14.5% of the $76,000 median household income, and 23% below the 50-state average. Here is what that means for going back to work.
Average daycare cost in Texas
- Per month
- $920
- Per week
- $212
- Per year
- $11,040
Full-time infant care. Preschool-age care is about $830 a month.
Next steps
Texas childcare and cost-of-living figures
| Figure | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|
| Infant daycare (0–2), full time | $920 | $11,040 |
| Four-year-old care, full time | $830 | $9,960 |
| Median 2-bedroom rent | $1,550 | $18,600 |
| Commute for the returning parent | $220 | $2,640 |
| Median household income | $6,333 | $76,000 |
Childcare prices are the published 2023 state averages (Texas: $11,024 a year for infant care, $9,932 for a 4-year-old); income and rent are 2026 estimates. Childcare: Child Care Aware of America — Price of Care: 2023 Affordability Analysis (Table I). Income: U.S. Census Bureau — American Community Survey. Housing: HUD Fair Market Rents. Full methodology and dataset.
What salary do you need to break even in Texas?
One child in care
$14,000
Gross salary needed to cover $13,680 of childcare and commuting after tax.
Two children in care
$24,000
Gross salary needed to cover $23,640 for an infant plus a four-year-old, and the commute.
Childcare plus rent consumes roughly 39% of the median Texas household income, far above the 7% the federal government calls affordable. Below the break-even line a second income is close to unpaid work in cash terms — the second-earner trap — though pension contributions and future wage growth still argue for staying in work (see the opportunity cost of staying home).
Test your own salary against these figures with the two-income break-even calculator or see what survives your nursery bill with the childcare vs salary calculator.
Run your own Texas numbers
Load the Texas averages into the calculator — $920 of childcare, $1,550 of rent and a $76,000 household income — then replace them with your real salary and daycare quote.
Use these Texas numbersCity-level childcare costs in Texas
Prices inside Texas vary widely — metro centers typically run well above the statewide figure.
- Childcare costs in Houston, TX — $950/mo infant care
- Childcare costs in San Antonio, TX — $830/mo infant care
- Childcare costs in Dallas, TX — $1,010/mo infant care
- Childcare costs in Austin, TX — $1,100/mo infant care
Texas childcare cost FAQs
How much does daycare cost in Texas?
Full-time infant daycare in Texas averages about $920 a month ($11,040 a year) in 2026 — about 23% below the 50-state average of $1,188. Care for a four-year-old is cheaper, around $830 a month, because required staff-to-child ratios loosen.
What salary do you need to break even on childcare in Texas?
A returning parent in Texas needs roughly $14,000 gross to cover one infant in full-time care plus commuting after federal tax. With two children in care the break-even rises to about $24,000.
What percentage of income goes to childcare in Texas?
One infant in full-time care eats about 14.5% of the $76,000 median Texas household income. Add the $1,550 median two-bedroom rent and childcare plus housing take roughly 39% of gross income — far above the 7% federal affordability benchmark.
Is childcare cheaper in Texas than the rest of the US?
At $920 a month for infant care, Texas is about 23% below the 50-state average of $1,188. Prices inside the state still vary widely: metro centers typically run 20–40% above rural counties.
States with similar childcare prices
- Childcare costs in Georgia — $920/mo
- Childcare costs in Wyoming — $925/mo
- Childcare costs in Utah — $935/mo
- Childcare costs in North Dakota — $895/mo
- Childcare costs in Montana — $975/mo
- Childcare costs in Alaska — $980/mo
All 50 states · Childcare costs by city · US childcare calculator