What does daycare cost in Canada?

How fees are usually structured

Licensed centres typically charge a monthly or daily fee that varies by a child's age — infant care costs the most, and fees drop as children move into toddler and preschool rooms. Before the recent reductions, full-time infant care in the most expensive cities ran around [VERIFY: highest big-city infant monthly fee] per month, while lower-cost provinces sat closer to [VERIFY: lower-cost province infant monthly fee].

The $10-a-day program (CWELCC)

Under the Canada-Wide Early Learning and Child Care agreements, every province and territory signed on to reduce licensed fees toward an average of $10 a day. As of [VERIFY: current status date], average fees at participating centres have already been cut by [VERIFY: national average reduction to date], with [VERIFY: which provinces have reached $10/day] reaching the $10-a-day target and others on a phased schedule toward [VERIFY: target completion timeframe].

Two things matter for your budget: whether a given centre is enrolledin the program (not all licensed centres are), and whether the reduced fee applies to your child's age group.

Roughly what to expect by province

The table below is a framework — figures are placeholders until verified against current provincial data.

Subsidies on top of the program

Many provinces offer income-tested subsidies that reduce fees further for eligible families, and the federal Canada Child Benefit helps with overall costs. Eligibility thresholds and amounts vary — confirm current details with your province: [VERIFY: provincial subsidy program names and income thresholds].

What to ask about price before you commit

• Is this centre enrolled in the $10-a-day program?
• What is the fee for my child's age group, and what does it include (meals, diapers, field trips)?
• Is there a deposit, and is it refundable?
• Do you accept the provincial subsidy, and can you help me apply?
• How much notice do I need to give, and are fees charged for closures or holidays?