How Much Does Daycare Cost Canada 2026 | By Province
Updated
Daycare in Canada is one of the largest expenses a family will face — infant care in Toronto runs $1,800–$2,500 per month without subsidies, which can consume 22–29% of a family’s gross income. The federal $10/day childcare program is rolling out across provinces, but available spots are limited, waitlists are long (1–3 years for infant spots in major cities), and not all providers have opted in.
Quebec remains the gold standard at roughly $8.85 per day for subsidized regulated care, effectively costing families $260 per month — versus $21,600 annually for a licensed centre in Ontario at full price. The childcare expense deduction lets the lower-income spouse claim up to $8,000 per child under seven, which translates to $1,600–$2,400 in real tax savings depending on your bracket. For families with two or more children, a nanny can actually be more cost-effective than paying two centre fees — though you’ll need to register as an employer and remit CPP and EI on their behalf.
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%
The Bottom Line
Get on daycare waitlists during pregnancy — apply to at least five centres and consider home daycares as a backup. The $10/day program is transformative where available but spots are scarce, so budget for full-price care and treat subsidized placement as a bonus. Always claim the childcare expense deduction on the lower-income spouse’s return, and for two or more kids, run the nanny-versus-centre math — the break-even point is often at two children.