FY 2025–26 rates · Free · No registration
What Will Childcare Actually Cost Your Family?
Enter your family income, care type, and provider fee. Get your exact Child Care Subsidy rate and annual out-of-pocket cost in under 2 minutes — no login, no sales calls.
Based on official Services Australia and education.gov.au rates · Not financial advice
- ✓Free — no registration required
- ✓Based on official government rates
- ✓FY 2025–26 rates
- ✓Takes about 2 minutes
What Does Childcare Cost in Australia?
These figures are based on the current government rates. Your family's actual cost depends on your income, care type, and provider fee — use the calculator for your personalised figure.
Up to 90%
Maximum CCS rate
Families earning under $85,279/year qualify for the maximum subsidy — the government pays up to 90% of your childcare fee.
~$150/day
Average centre-based fee
National average before your CCS is applied. State averages range from ~$120/day (NT) to ~$175/day (ACT).
$3k–$12k/yr
Typical annual out-of-pocket
After CCS — varies widely by family income, care type, provider fee, and days per week in care.
Your exact out-of-pocket cost depends on your circumstances. Get your personalised estimate →
What This Site Helps You Understand
The three questions every parent asks — answered clearly, with your real numbers.
Your exact CCS rate and what childcare will cost
The subsidy depends on your combined family income, care type, and provider fee. We calculate the precise rate that applies to you — not a range — and show your exact weekly and annual gap fee.
How your income affects childcare costs — and when
Every $5,000 above $85,279 reduces your CCS by 1%. Our income sensitivity table shows exactly where you sit, what costs jump at key income levels, and how much a pay rise really costs after childcare.
Whether going back to work is financially worthwhile
Tax, reduced CCS, extra childcare days, and work costs all erode the value of a salary. Our Back-to-Work Calculator shows your real net benefit — for 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 day scenarios — so you can find the sweet spot.
Popular Guides
Plain-language explainers on the childcare subsidy topics that matter most to Australian families.
How the Child Care Subsidy Works →
A complete plain-language guide: income test, hourly rate caps, activity test, the 3-day guarantee, and 5% withholding — with worked examples.
Is Going Back to Work Worth It? →
The real calculation: income minus tax, CCS reduction, extra childcare days, and work costs. Three worked examples at low, mid, and high income levels.
CCS Income Test Explained →
How the income taper works, which income sources count, worked examples at every key threshold, and how to estimate your family income correctly.
The 3-Day Guarantee (From January 2026) →
What changed on 5 January 2026: 72 hours of guaranteed care per fortnight regardless of activity test — who benefits and what it means in practice.
Ready to see your exact figure?
Answer a few quick questions about your income, care type, and fee. Get your CCS rate, gap fee, and annual cost — free, in under 2 minutes.