How much does daycare cost in Canada?

Daycare costs in Canada range from about $200/month in Quebec (subsidized) to over $1,500/month in Toronto and Vancouver for infants. The national average is approximately $700 to $1,000 per month, varying significantly by province and child age.

Which province has the cheapest daycare in Canada?

Quebec has the cheapest daycare at $10.95/day ($219/month) for subsidized spaces. Manitoba and Newfoundland have also achieved $10/day childcare under the federal program. The most expensive provinces are Ontario and British Columbia.

Is $10-a-day childcare available across Canada?

The federal government has agreements with all provinces to reach an average of $10/day for regulated child care by 2026. Implementation timelines vary — Quebec already has $10.95/day, while Ontario is still phasing in reductions. Wait lists remain a significant challenge.

How much is daycare for an infant vs toddler?

Infant care (0–18 months) costs 20–40% more than toddler care due to legislated lower staff-to-child ratios. An infant space might cost $1,500–$2,000/month while a preschool space costs $1,000–$1,400/month in high-cost areas.

Cost of Daycare by Province in Canada (2026)

Daycare Costs by Province

The map below shows average monthly daycare costs for toddlers (18 months – 3 years) across Canadian provinces.

Average Monthly Daycare Cost (Toddlers)

Provincial Daycare Costs

Province	Infant Monthly	Toddler Monthly	Preschool Monthly
Ontario	$1,500–$2,000	$1,100–$1,600	$1,000–$1,400
British Columbia	$1,200–$1,800	$1,000–$1,400	$900–$1,200
Alberta	$1,100–$1,400	$900–$1,100	$800–$1,000
Nova Scotia	$1,000–$1,200	$850–$1,000	$750–$900
Saskatchewan	$900–$1,100	$750–$900	$650–$800
Prince Edward Island	$900–$1,100	$750–$900	$650–$800
New Brunswick	$800–$1,000	$700–$850	$600–$750
Newfoundland	$400–$600	$350–$500	$300–$450
Manitoba	$350–$500	$300–$400	$250–$350
Quebec	$220	$220	$220

Rates shown are before provincial subsidies for non-Quebec provinces still implementing $10/day.

$10-a-Day Childcare Progress by Province

Province	Target Date	Current Status (2026)
Quebec	Already there	$10.95/day since 1997
Manitoba	2023	Achieved $10/day
Newfoundland	2024	Achieved ~$10/day
Yukon	2024	Near $10/day
Nova Scotia	2026	Significant reductions
New Brunswick	2026	In progress
PEI	2026	In progress
Saskatchewan	2026	In progress
Alberta	2026	In progress
British Columbia	2026	Significant reductions
Ontario	2026	Significant reductions

How Fee Reductions Work

Province	Reduction Method
Most provinces	Funding to daycares, who reduce fees
Ontario	Opted-in daycares reduce fees by 50%+
Quebec	Flat $10.95/day for subsidized spaces

Daycare Costs by City

Most Expensive Cities

City	Median Monthly Cost (Toddler)
Toronto	$1,400–$1,800
Vancouver	$1,300–$1,600
Calgary	$1,000–$1,300
Ottawa	$1,100–$1,400
Victoria	$1,100–$1,400
Kelowna	$1,000–$1,200

After Subsidy (Participating Daycares)

City	Approximate Monthly (with $10/day subsidy)
Toronto	$700–$1,000 (50%+ reduction)
Vancouver	$600–$900 (up to 50% reduction)
Calgary	$500–$700
Montreal	$220 (available subsidized space)

Cost by Child Age

Age Group	Staff Ratio	Typical Premium
Infant (0–18 months)	1:3 or 1:4	Highest cost
Toddler (18 months–3 years)	1:5 or 1:6	Medium cost
Preschool (3–5 years)	1:8 to 1:10	Lower cost
School-age (before/after)	1:10 to 1:15	Lowest cost

Infant care requires more staff, which increases costs by 20–40%.

Types of Child Care

Licensed Options

Type	Cost Range	Pros	Cons
Daycare centre	$800–$2,000/month	Regulated, reliable	Wait lists, less flexibility
Licensed home daycare	$600–$1,200/month	Smaller groups	Limited spots
Workplace daycare	Varies	Convenient	Not always available

Unlicensed Options

Type	Cost Range	Pros	Cons
Nanny	$2,500–$4,000/month	One-on-one, flexible	Expensive, HR responsibilities
Nanny share	$1,500–$2,500/month	Lower cost than solo	Need compatible family
Family/unlicensed provider	$500–$1,000/month	Flexible, affordable	Unregulated, no subsidies

Hidden Daycare Costs

Cost	Typical Amount
Registration fee	$50–$200
Supply fee	$100–$500/year
Late pickup fee	$1–$5/minute
Vacation holds	Half or full fee
Summer closure	Find backup care
Sick day backup	Lost wages or backup care

Tax Benefits for Childcare

Child Care Expense Deduction

Child Age	Maximum Deduction
Under 7	$8,000/year
7–16	$5,000/year
Disabled child	$11,000/year

This deduction reduces taxable income, not taxes directly. At a 30% marginal rate, $8,000 deduction saves $2,400.

How to Claim

Requirement	Details
Who claims	Lower-income spouse (usually)
Receipts needed	Yes, from provider
Eligible expenses	Licensed or registered care
Nanny expenses	Eligible if have SIN

How to Find Affordable Daycare

Strategies

Strategy	Potential Savings
Get on wait lists early	Access to subsidized spots
Check workplace benefits	Some offer subsidies
Apply for provincial subsidies	Income-tested support
Consider licensed home daycare	Often 20–30% cheaper
Look at not-for-profit centres	Often more affordable

Provincial Subsidy Programs

Province	Program	Income Threshold
Ontario	OCCMS	Based on income
BC	Affordable Child Care Benefit	Up to $200K family income
Alberta	Child Care Subsidy	Income-tested
Most provinces	Sliding scale subsidies	Varies

Daycare Wait Lists

City/Region	Typical Wait Time
Toronto	1–2+ years for infant
Vancouver	1–2 years
Calgary	6–12 months
Montreal (subsidized)	1–2+ years
Smaller cities	3–12 months

Tips for wait lists:

Register immediately upon pregnancy confirmation
Apply to multiple centres
Check unlicensed options as backup
Ask about priority lists for siblings

Comparing Full-Time vs Part-Time

Option	Monthly Cost	Notes
Full-time (5 days)	$1,000–$1,800	Most common
Part-time (3 days)	$600–$1,100	Not pro-rated
Part-time (2 days)	$400–$900	Limited availability
Drop-in	$50–$100/day	For occasional use

Part-time daycare is rarely 40% of full-time cost — spots are less efficient for centres.

Daycare vs Nanny: Cost Comparison

For one child:

Option	Monthly Cost
Daycare (Toronto)	$1,400–$1,800
Nanny (live-out)	$3,000–$4,000
Nanny share	$1,500–$2,500

For two children:

Option	Monthly Cost
Two daycare spots	$2,600–$3,400
Nanny	$3,200–$4,500
Nanny share	$2,000–$3,000

Nanny costs may be similar or cheaper with 2+ children.

Key Takeaways

Daycare costs range from $220/month (Quebec) to $2,000/month (Toronto infant)
$10/day childcare is rolling out — check with local daycares
Get on wait lists as early as possible (even before birth)
Tax deduction of up to $8,000/child under age 7
Consider licensed home daycare as a more affordable option
Provincial subsidies available for lower-income families

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