# Daycare Cost Guide in Seattle — Average Prices & Ranges
_Last updated: 2026-10-05T07:43:17Z_

> For a Seattle address, plan on $497 to $1,738 per job for daycare, with the midpoint near $929.

## Typical cost at a glance

| Level | Price |
| --- | --- |
| Low | ~$497 |
| Typical | ~$929 |
| High | ~$1,738 |

_Currency: USD, per job._

## Cost by type

| Type | Low | Typical | High |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Standard cost | ~$497 | ~$1,118 | ~$1,738 |
| Part-time or occasional option | ~$189 | ~$599 | ~$1,008 |
| Supplies and extras | ~$55.00 | ~$228 | ~$400 |
| Full-time or premium option | ~$721 | ~$2,142 | ~$3,563 |
| Summer or holiday coverage | ~$557 | ~$1,539 | ~$2,520 |

## Who sets daycare prices

daycare prices are set by the providers who do the work, not by a regulator or a single market rate. Their costs, capacity and risk assessment decide the figure you see.

## Timing your daycare

Timing changes what you pay for daycare. Demand peaks around holidays, seasonal deadlines and the start of the busy season, and prices follow. Booking in a quieter window is one of the few levers that lowers the figure without cutting scope.

## What moves the price of daycare

The scope you agree drives most of the cost of daycare. Every extra task, upgraded material or access complication adds labour and risk, and the provider prices that risk into the quote.

## What Daycare typically costs

Daycare does not carry one published price. Across Seattle, most jobs fall between $497 and $1,738 per job, and the number in between, about $929, is the fairest single figure to plan around.

## How to compare quotes for daycare

When you compare quotes for daycare, line up the scope, the materials and the timeline rather than just the totals. Ask each provider what would make the price rise after the quote is accepted.

## Frequently asked questions

### How much does daycare cost?

Most daycare falls between $497 and $1,738, with a typical figure near $929 per job. The low end is a straightforward job with no surprises; the high end covers complex scope, premium materials or urgent timing. It is worth testing that against a couple of quotes in Seattle.

### What affects the price of daycare?

No single factor decides it — scope, materials, access and timing all move the total, and the biggest swings usually come from access and scheduling. Local providers in Seattle can confirm how that applies to your area.

### Is Daycare cheaper in smaller cities?

Often, but not always. Smaller markets can carry a travel or availability premium that offsets a lower local rate, so it is worth checking a nearby city before assuming the lowest published figure applies to you. In Seattle, that is worth confirming with a local provider before you commit.

### How many quotes should I get for daycare?

Two or three written quotes are enough to see the real market range. Compare the same scope side by side, and ask each provider what is excluded and what would change the price after the quote is accepted. The answer can shift with the Seattle market, so check locally.

## Keep comparing

- [Kids and Family](/category/kids-family/)
- [Adoption](/seattle/adoption/)
- [Doula Services](/seattle/doula/)
- [Baby Costs](/seattle/baby-costs/)
- [Child Support](/seattle/childcare-legal/)
- [Summer Camps](/seattle/summer-camps/)
- [Fisher Baby Swing](/seattle/fisher-baby-swing/)
- [Bellevue](/bellevue/daycare/)
- [Everett](/everett/daycare/)
- [Kent](/kent/daycare/)
- [Seattle](/seattle/daycare/)
- [Spokane](/spokane/daycare/)
- [Tacoma](/tacoma/daycare/)

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These are planning ranges drawn from public price data and market research. They are not a quote, an offer or financial advice, and your actual price depends on the provider, the location and the scope of the work.