If you’re budgeting for a baby or a move, the short answer to “how much does childcare cost in Canada?” is: $10 to $22 per day for a subsidized daycare spot, $35–$60 per day for unlicensed home care, and $22–$28 CAD per hour for a full-time nanny in 2026. The huge range comes down to two things — which province you live in, and whether you can actually get a subsidized spot. Here’s the province-by-province picture, what nannies and sitters charge, and the hidden costs that catch new parents off guard.
Childcare Cost in Canada: 2026 at a Glance
| Care type | Typical cost (CAD) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Licensed daycare, CWELCC-enrolled | $10–$22/day ($220–$480/month) | Set by province; wait-lists 6–18 months |
| Licensed daycare, non-enrolled | $60–$95/day ($1,300–$2,000/month) | Infant spots at the top of the range |
| Licensed home daycare | $10–$22/day if enrolled; $40–$65/day if not | Smaller groups, more flexible hours |
| Unlicensed home daycare | $35–$60/day | No subsidy; check ratios and references carefully |
| Full-time nanny (live-out) | $22–$28/hr ≈ $3,500–$4,500/month | Plus CPP/EI and vacation pay as the employer |
| Live-in nanny | $17–$22/hr (room & board deducted) | Needs a private room; provincial rules on deductions |
| After-school / evening sitter | $18–$25/hr | +$2–$4/hr for each extra child |
| Before/after-school program | $8–$20/day | Often run by the school board or the YMCA |
Daycare Fees by Province in 2026
The federal Canada-Wide Early Learning and Child Care (CWELCC) plan set a $10-a-day target for March 2026. According to the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives’ 2026 fee survey, the country now splits three ways:
At $10 a day (or less)
- Quebec — about $9.65/day in the subsidized (CPE) network, which predates the federal plan.
- Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Newfoundland and Labrador, Prince Edward Island, Nunavut — $10/day set fee at enrolled centres. Yukon and the Northwest Territories are also at or near the target.
Set fee, but above $10
- Ontario — enrolled centres are capped at about $22/day, roughly $480/month. Toronto parents were paying $1,800–$2,000/month before the program, so the drop is real, but the province has said it won’t reach $10 by the deadline.
- Alberta — a flat fee around $15/day (about $326/month) for enrolled full-time spots.
- British Columbia — a mix: a few thousand “$10 a Day ChildCareBC” spaces, with most other licensed centres landing around $20/day after fee reductions.
Different fee at every provider
- Nova Scotia and New Brunswick — fees have dropped roughly 50% from 2021 levels but still vary by centre; expect $20–$35/day.
Two caveats matter more than the daily number. First, fees only apply if the centre is enrolled in the program — non-enrolled private centres in Toronto or Vancouver still charge $1,500–$2,000/month for an infant. Second, the subsidy lowered prices faster than it added spaces, so the wait-list is the real cost: 12–18 months is normal in Toronto, Vancouver, and Calgary. Ottawa added $5.4 billion in CWELCC funding over two years in June 2026, aimed largely at new spaces, but that takes time to show up as open spots.
Nanny and Babysitter Rates in Canada
When a daycare spot isn’t available — or your hours don’t fit a 7-to-6 centre — private care fills the gap. Nannies in Canada earn roughly $15–$28/hour, with a national average near $25. In Toronto the average is about $23/hour, which works out to roughly $4,000/month for a 40-hour week; Vancouver and Calgary are similar, and smaller cities run $3–$5/hour lower.
What moves the rate:
- Experience and credentials — an Early Childhood Education (ECE) diploma, First Aid/CPR, or newborn-care experience adds $3–$6/hour.
- Number of children — each additional child usually adds $1–$2/hour for a nanny, $2–$4 for a sitter.
- Extra duties — cooking, laundry, or driving push rates toward the top of the range.
- Live-in vs live-out — live-in looks cheaper per hour, but every province limits how much you can deduct for room and board, and you still owe minimum wage on all hours worked.
Remember that a full-time nanny makes you an employer: budget an extra 10–12% for CPP, EI, vacation pay, and WSIB/WCB coverage where required. Part-time and evening sitters are simpler — most work as independent contractors at $18–$25/hour. Our babysitter cost guide breaks down sitter rates by experience level.
Hidden Childcare Costs Parents Forget
- Registration and wait-list fees — $50–$200 per centre, often non-refundable, and you’ll be on several lists.
- PD days, March break, and summer — school-age care outside the school calendar runs $45–$75/day at camps and programs.
- Backup care — sick days and centre closures typically mean a last-minute sitter at a premium rate ($25–$35/hour).
- Late-pickup penalties — commonly $1–$2 per minute after closing.
- Supplies — diapers, wipes, and lunches are usually parent-supplied at daycare.
What You Get Back: Tax Credits and Benefits
The Child Care Expense Deduction lets the lower-income spouse deduct up to $8,000 per child under 7 and $5,000 per child aged 7–16 — keep every receipt, including from nannies and sitters (you’ll need their SIN). Quebec and Ontario layer their own credits on top. The Canada Child Benefit is tax-free and paid monthly regardless of care type; check the Government of Canada childcare page for the current thresholds.
How to Find Trusted Childcare Near You
For daycare, get on wait-lists the month you learn you’re expecting and ask directly whether the centre is CWELCC-enrolled. For a nanny or sitter, insist on a criminal record check (with a vulnerable-sector screen), two references you actually phone, and current First Aid/CPR. If you’d rather not sift through classifieds, find a vetted childcare provider near you on Masters’ Guild — every pro is identity-verified with government ID and a live selfie check, and you post your schedule and budget, then compare offers. Families juggling both ends of the sandwich generation can also see our senior care cost guide for Canada.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is daycare really $10 a day in Canada?
Only in some provinces. Quebec, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Newfoundland and Labrador, PEI, and the territories are at $10/day or less; Ontario caps fees at about $22/day, Alberta at about $15/day, and BC, Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick vary by centre.
How much does a nanny cost per month in Canada?
A full-time live-out nanny costs roughly $3,500–$4,500 per month in major cities in 2026, before employer contributions (CPP, EI, vacation pay) of about 10–12%.
Is a nanny cheaper than daycare for two kids?
Usually not if you can get subsidized spots — two children at $22/day is under $1,000/month versus $4,000+ for a nanny. It can be close for two infants at a non-enrolled private centre, and a nanny share with another family splits the cost.
Can I claim childcare costs on my taxes in Canada?
Yes. The Child Care Expense Deduction covers daycare, home daycare, nannies, sitters, and camps — up to $8,000 per child under 7 — and must be claimed by the lower-income spouse.
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