Daycare / Childcare Center Startup Costs: Boston, MA vs Seattle, WA (2026)
Side-by-side comparison of one-time expenses, monthly costs, and first-year budget adjusted for local cost of living.
Opening a daycare / childcare center in Seattle saves approximately $3,906 (2.0%) compared to Boston in 2026, with first-year costs of $193,998 vs $197,904.
First-Year Savings
Seattle saves $3,906 (2.0%) for a Daycare / Childcare Center
$197,904 in Boston vs $193,998 in Seattle
Boston, MA
$197,904
First-year total (mid)
COL index: 152.0
Seattle, WA
$193,998
First-year total (mid)
COL index: 149.0
First-Year Budget Comparison
Mid-range estimates for daycare / childcare center startup
| Category | Boston | Seattle | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| One-Time Costs | $77,520 | $75,990 | +$1,530 |
| Monthly Costs x 12 | $120,384 | $118,008 | +$2,376 |
| Total First Year | $197,904 | $193,998 | +$3,906 |
One-Time Startup Costs
Upfront investment comparison (mid estimates)
| Expense | Boston | Seattle | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Furniture & Equipment | $22,800 | $22,350 | +$450 |
| Initial Supplies & Curriculum | $7,600 | $7,450 | +$150 |
| Licensing & Certifications | $4,560 | $4,470 | +$90 |
| Renovations & Childproofing | $38,000 | $37,250 | +$750 |
| Safety Systems | $4,560 | $4,470 | +$90 |
| Total One-Time | $77,520 | $75,990 | +$1,530 |
Monthly Operating Costs
Recurring expense comparison (mid estimates)
| Expense | Boston/mo | Seattle/mo | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Insurance (Liability) | $1,520 | $1,490 | +$30 |
| Rent | $5,320 | $5,215 | +$105 |
| Supplies & Activities | $2,280 | $2,235 | +$45 |
| Utilities | $912 | $894 | +$18 |
| Total Monthly | $10,032 | $9,834 | +$198 |
City Business Profiles
Boston, MA
Boston has a COL index of 152 with Massachusetts's high employer SUTA and paid family leave requirements, creating one of the highest total employment cost profiles in the US.
biotechnology & life sciences, higher education & research, financial services
Boston's world-leading concentration of universities creates an unmatched pipeline of research and engineering talent, partially justifying the premium cost structure for knowledge industries.
Seattle, WA
Seattle's COL index of 149 reflects tech-driven housing inflation, and Washington's high SUTA wage base plus paid family leave makes total employer cost very high despite no income tax.
cloud computing (Amazon, Microsoft), aerospace (Boeing), retail (Starbucks, Costco)
Seattle's high minimum wage is among the highest city minimums in the country; small employers get a phase-in period but must plan for labor cost step-ups in multi-year projections.
What This Means for Your Daycare / Childcare Center
Boston has a cost of living index of 152.0 while Seattle sits at 149.0 (national average = 100). This means every expense — rent, equipment, supplies, insurance — costs proportionally more in the higher-indexed city.
Over the first year, opening a daycare / childcare center in Seattle saves an estimated $3,906 (2.0%) compared to Boston. The monthly operating cost difference alone accounts for $2,376 of that gap over 12 months.
These estimates use national average startup costs for a daycare / childcare center, adjusted by each city's cost of living factor. Actual costs vary based on your specific location, size of operation, and current market conditions. Use the interactive Startup Cost Calculator to customize expenses for your situation.
Explore Each City
Compare Other Business Types: Boston vs Seattle
Tools to Launch Your Business in Boston and Seattle
Track expenses, manage finances, and stay on budget from day one.
Track startup expenses, manage cash flow, and see where every dollar goes.
Simple invoicing and expense tracking built for small business owners.
Bookkeeping service so you can focus on building your business, not spreadsheets.
Some links may be affiliate links. CostCrunch may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
Get startup cost updates for your city
We update startup cost data when cost-of-living changes. Get an alert when your city's data is refreshed.
More Daycare / Childcare Center City Comparisons
Was this calculator helpful?
Your feedback helps us improve CostCrunch
Thank you for your feedback! ✓
Save Your Results
Download a professional PDF report with your complete analysis, charts, and key insights.
Download Your Report
Enter your email to get your personalized PDF report. We'll also send you useful financial tips.
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
More Free Calculators
Break-Even Calculator
Find how many units to sell to cover costs
Markup & Margin
Convert between markup and margin percentages
Startup Cost Estimator
Estimate one-time and recurring startup costs
Loan Comparison
Compare loan options side by side
Profit Margin Calculator
Calculate gross, operating, and net margins
Employee Cost Calculator
Find the true cost of hiring an employee
Payroll Tax Calculator
Estimate employer payroll taxes by state
Cash Flow Forecast
Project cash flow and calculate runway
W-2 vs 1099 Calculator
Compare employee vs contractor costs
Self-Employment Tax Calculator
Estimate SE tax and quarterly payments for freelancers
Salary to Hourly Calculator
Convert between salary and hourly rate
Get notified when tax rates change
We monitor payroll tax rates, SUTA, and cost-of-living data across all 50 states. When rates change, we'll let you know. Free, no spam.
We respect your privacy. Unsubscribe with one click.