Average Daycare Costs by Province
Current Costs (Without Subsidies)
| Province |
Infant/month |
Toddler/month |
Preschool/month |
| Ontario |
$1,500-$2,200 |
$1,200-$1,800 |
$1,000-$1,500 |
| BC |
$1,200-$1,800 |
$1,000-$1,500 |
$900-$1,300 |
| Alberta |
$1,000-$1,500 |
$900-$1,300 |
$800-$1,100 |
| Quebec |
~$260* |
~$260* |
~$260* |
| Manitoba |
$800-$1,200 |
$600-$1,000 |
$500-$800 |
| Saskatchewan |
$700-$1,100 |
$600-$900 |
$500-$800 |
| Nova Scotia |
$800-$1,200 |
$700-$1,000 |
$600-$900 |
| New Brunswick |
$700-$1,100 |
$600-$900 |
$500-$800 |
| PEI |
$600-$900 |
$500-$800 |
$400-$700 |
| NFLD |
$600-$1,000 |
$500-$900 |
$400-$800 |
*Quebec has subsidized regulated daycare at ~$8.85/day.
Major Cities
| City |
Infant |
Toddler |
| Toronto |
$1,800-$2,500 |
$1,400-$2,000 |
| Vancouver |
$1,400-$2,000 |
$1,200-$1,700 |
| Calgary |
$1,100-$1,600 |
$900-$1,400 |
| Montreal |
~$260* |
~$260* |
| Ottawa |
$1,300-$1,900 |
$1,100-$1,600 |
$10/Day Childcare Program
Current Status by Province
| Province |
Fee Reduction |
$10/Day Target |
| Quebec |
Already ~$8.85/day |
Already achieved |
| BC |
50% reduction |
2027 |
| Alberta |
50% reduction |
2026 |
| Ontario |
50% reduction |
2025-2026 |
| Manitoba |
$10/day reached |
2023 |
| Saskatchewan |
50% reduction |
2026 |
| Nova Scotia |
$10/day for some |
2026 |
| New Brunswick |
Significant cuts |
2026 |
| PEI |
Up to $10/day |
2024 |
| NFLD |
Significant cuts |
2026 |
How It Works
| Aspect |
Details |
| Who qualifies |
Licensed/registered daycare |
| Automatic? |
Depends on provider enrollment |
| Income tested |
No, universal |
| Available spots |
Limited - get on waitlist early |
Daycare Types & Costs
By Type
| Type |
Cost Range |
Pros |
Cons |
| Licensed centre |
$800-$2,500 |
Regulated, reliable |
Expensive, waitlists |
| Licensed home |
$600-$1,500 |
Smaller groups |
Limited availability |
| Unlicensed home |
$400-$1,200 |
Flexible, cheaper |
Less oversight |
| Nanny |
$2,500-$4,500 |
Personalized |
Most expensive |
| Au pair |
$800-$1,500 + room/board |
Affordable |
Less experienced |
| Family |
$0-$500 |
Trusted, flexible |
Not always available |
Annual Cost Comparison
| Type |
Monthly |
Annual |
| Licensed centre (ON) |
$1,800 |
$21,600 |
| Home daycare |
$1,200 |
$14,400 |
| Nanny |
$3,500 |
$42,000 |
| $10/day program |
~$217 |
~$2,600 |
| Quebec subsidized |
~$260 |
~$3,120 |
Quebec Childcare System
How It Works
| Feature |
Details |
| Daily rate |
$8.85/day (2024) |
| Monthly cost |
~$180-$270 (21-22 days) |
| Eligibility |
All Quebec residents |
| Type |
CPE (centre) or subsidized home |
| Waitlist |
Can be years long |
Non-Subsidized Quebec
| If no subsidized spot |
Cost |
| Private daycare |
$35-$70/day |
| Tax credit |
Significant refund |
| Effective cost |
Lower than other provinces |
Daycare Subsidies
Provincial Subsidies (Beyond $10/day)
| Province |
Subsidy Available |
| Ontario |
Fee reduction + income tested |
| BC |
Child Care Benefit |
| Alberta |
Income-based subsidy |
| Manitoba |
Fee reduction |
| Saskatchewan |
Child Care Subsidy |
Sample Income-Based Subsidy (Ontario)
| Family Income |
Subsidy |
| Under $20,000 |
~100% |
| $20,000-$40,000 |
75-99% |
| $40,000-$60,000 |
50-75% |
| $60,000-$100,000 |
25-50% |
| Over $150,000 |
0% |
Tax Benefits
Child Care Expense Deduction
| Child Age |
Maximum Claim |
| Under 7 |
$8,000/child |
| 7-16 |
$5,000/child |
| Disabled child |
$11,000/child |
Who Claims
| Rule |
Details |
| Lower income spouse |
Generally must claim |
| Exceptions |
Single parent, student, etc. |
| Effect |
Reduces taxable income |
Example Tax Savings
| Childcare Expense |
Tax Bracket |
Tax Savings |
| $8,000 claimed |
20% |
$1,600 |
| $8,000 claimed |
30% |
$2,400 |
| $16,000 (2 kids) |
30% |
$4,800 |
Waitlist Strategies
When to Apply
| Timeline |
Action |
| During pregnancy |
Join waitlists |
| Multiple centres |
Apply to 5-10+ |
| Home daycares |
Also apply |
| Be flexible |
Start date, location |
Typical Wait Times
| City |
Infant |
Toddler |
| Toronto |
1-3 years |
6-18 months |
| Vancouver |
1-2 years |
6-12 months |
| Montreal (CPE) |
2-4+ years |
1-3 years |
| Calgary |
6-12 months |
3-6 months |
Nanny vs Daycare
Cost Comparison
| Factor |
Nanny |
Daycare Centre |
| 1 child |
$3,500/month |
$1,800/month |
| 2 children |
$3,500/month |
$3,600/month |
| 3 children |
$3,500-$4,000/month |
$5,400/month |
Nanny Considerations
| Factor |
Details |
| Live-in |
Lower salary + room/board |
| Live-out |
Higher salary |
| Taxes |
Must remit CPP, EI |
| Vacation pay |
4% (2 weeks) |
| Benefits |
Optional |
Budgeting for Daycare
Monthly Budget Impact
| Family Income |
Daycare Cost |
% of Gross |
| $75,000 |
$1,800 |
29% |
| $100,000 |
$1,800 |
22% |
| $150,000 |
$1,800 |
14% |
| $200,000 |
$1,800 |
11% |
With $10/Day Program
| Family Income |
Daycare Cost |
% of Gross |
| $75,000 |
$217 |
3.5% |
| $100,000 |
$217 |
2.6% |
| $150,000 |
$217 |
1.7% |