childcare costs in Adelaide
the complete breakdown of childcare costs in Adelaide, SA — covering long day care, family day care, outside school hours care, nannies, and au pairs.
cost breakdown
long day care
centre-basedaverage daily fee: $105/day · median: $100/day · hourly: $10.50/hr
family day care
home-basedaverage daily fee: $80/day — typically 10-20% cheaper than centre-based long day care with smaller group sizes.
outside school hours care (OSHC)
before & after schoolaverage daily fee: $25/day — covers before-school, after-school, and vacation care.
nanny
in-homeaverage hourly rate: $26/hr — nannies are not eligible for CCS unless registered through an approved in-home care provider.
au pair
live-inaverage weekly cost: $270/week — includes pocket money plus board. au pairs are not eligible for CCS.
CCS example for Adelaide
a family earning $120K would receive ~75% CCS, reducing a $105/day fee to ~$26/day out of pocket.
estimate your costs: use our Child Care Subsidy calculator to see your estimated out-of-pocket cost based on your family income.
things to know about childcare in Adelaide
- •Adelaide has some of the most affordable childcare in capital cities.
- •SA has a unique continuous school intake — children can start reception at the beginning of the term after turning 5.
- •Family day care is widely available and well-regulated in SA.
view all city childcare costs
the complete city-by-city guide
costs are approximate 2026 averages based on Australian Government Child Care Subsidy data & ACECQA reports. actual fees vary by centre, suburb, and care type. CCS rates are subject to change. mini mode is not affiliated with any government department.