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Best Daycares in San Diego County

Top 20 licensed childcare facilities ranked by compliance record, parent reviews, and capacity.

2,578 licensed facilities
0 top rated
100% clean record

Typical tuition

Average monthly cost in San Diego County

2022 median
$1,642
/ month
infant
$1,166
/ month
toddler
$1,051
/ month
preschool

Median cost at licensed child care centers. Licensed family child care homes typically cost 20-30% less (infant care around $739/month).

San Diego County offers one of the largest daycare markets in California with 2,578 licensed facilities, including 12 Family Child Care Homes and 5 Child Care Centers. We ranked the top 20 based on their official compliance record and parent reviews to help you find the best fit for your family.

The daycare landscape in San Diego County is strong — 100% of the top-ranked facilities have a clean inspection record with no citations. Our top pick, A Children's Garden - Leucadia, holds an Excellent facility score.

When it comes to cost, licensed child care centers in San Diego County charge a median of $1,550 per month for infant care and $1,070 for preschool. These are county-level estimates — individual facilities may vary. Family child care homes are typically more affordable, with infant care averaging around $1,017 per month.

Each facility listed below links to a detailed profile page where you can review inspection history, complaint records, capacity, and contact information. We update our rankings regularly as new licensing data becomes available.

Top 20 Daycares in San Diego County

1

A Children's Garden - Leucadia

Excellent

Child Care Center · Encinitas

Capacity: 44 Est. tuition: $900 – $1,250/mo
2

A Creative Beginning

Excellent

Child Care - Infant Center · Fallbrook

Capacity: 18 Est. tuition: $900 – $1,250/mo
3

A Rising Star Academy Childcare Center, Inc.

Excellent

Child Care Center · Oceanside

Capacity: 68 Est. tuition: $900 – $1,250/mo
4

Abc Barn Children's Place

Excellent

Child Care Center · La Mesa

Capacity: 87 Est. tuition: $900 – $1,250/mo
5

Abc Barn Children's Place-extended Day

Excellent

School Age Child Care Center · La Mesa

Capacity: 34
6

Abdikarim Warsame Family Child Care

Excellent

Family Child Care Home · San Diego

Capacity: 14 Est. tuition: $800 – $1,100/mo
7

Abigail Rangel Family Child Care

Excellent

Family Child Care Home · Chula Vista

Capacity: 14 Est. tuition: $800 – $1,100/mo
8

Abigain Martinez Family Child Care

Excellent

Family Child Care Home · San Diego

Capacity: 14 Est. tuition: $800 – $1,100/mo
9

Academy of Play

Excellent

Single Licensed Child Care Center · El Cajon

Capacity: 94 Est. tuition: $900 – $1,250/mo
10

Adam Yusuf & Hawo Liban Family Child Care

Excellent

Family Child Care Home · San Diego

Capacity: 14 Est. tuition: $800 – $1,100/mo
11

Adams State Preschool

Excellent

Child Care Center · San Diego

Capacity: 24 Est. tuition: $900 – $1,250/mo
12

Adela Cruz Family Child Care

Excellent

Family Child Care Home · San Diego

Capacity: 14 Est. tuition: $800 – $1,100/mo
13

Adelah Shakori Family Child Care

Excellent

Family Child Care Home · El Cajon

Capacity: 14 Est. tuition: $800 – $1,100/mo
14

Adele Perez Family Child Care

Excellent

Family Child Care Home · San Diego

Capacity: 14 Est. tuition: $800 – $1,100/mo
15

Adelina Fuentes Family Child Care

Excellent

Family Child Care Home · San Diego

Capacity: 14 Est. tuition: $800 – $1,100/mo
16

Adham Naseeb Family Child Care

Excellent

Family Child Care Home · El Cajon

Capacity: 14 Est. tuition: $800 – $1,100/mo
17

Adila Amarkhil Family Child Care

Excellent

Family Child Care Home · El Cajon

Capacity: 14 Est. tuition: $800 – $1,100/mo
18

Adila Faizi Family Child Care

Excellent

Family Child Care Home · El Cajon

Capacity: 14 Est. tuition: $800 – $1,100/mo
19

Adina & Zia Nooristani Family Child Care

Excellent

Family Child Care Home · El Cajon

Capacity: 14 Est. tuition: $800 – $1,100/mo
20

Adobe Bluffs Preschool

Excellent

Child Care Center · San Diego

Capacity: 22 Est. tuition: $900 – $1,250/mo
View all 2,578 facilities in San Diego County

Frequently Asked Questions

How many licensed daycares are in San Diego County?
There are 2,578 licensed daycare facilities in San Diego County, California, including family child care homes and child care centers.
What types of daycare are available in San Diego County?
San Diego County has 5 Child Care Center, 1 Child Care - Infant Center, 1 School Age Child Care Center, 12 Family Child Care Home, 1 Single Licensed Child Care Center. Use the search filters to narrow by type.
How are daycares in San Diego County rated?
Each facility is rated based on state inspection data, including Type A and Type B citations. 100% of facilities in San Diego County have no citations on record.
How much does daycare cost in San Diego County?
Based on typical county pricing data, licensed child care centers in San Diego County charge approximately $1,550/month for infants, $1,127/month for toddlers, and $1,070/month for preschool-age children. Licensed family child care homes are typically 20–30% less, with infant care around $1,017/month. Exact pricing varies by facility.

Top Cities in San Diego County

Alpine
12 facilities
Bonita
11 facilities
Borrego Springs
3 facilities
Cardiff
3 facilities
Cardiff by the Sea
4 facilities
Carlsbad
64 facilities
Chula Vista
259 facilities
Coronado
14 facilities
View county-wide rankings →

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