childcare costs in Perth
the complete breakdown of childcare costs in Perth, WA — covering long day care, family day care, outside school hours care, nannies, and au pairs.
cost breakdown
long day care
centre-basedaverage daily fee: $115/day · median: $110/day · hourly: $11.50/hr
family day care
home-basedaverage daily fee: $85/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: $28/day — covers before-school, after-school, and vacation care.
nanny
in-homeaverage hourly rate: $28/hr — nannies are not eligible for CCS unless registered through an approved in-home care provider.
au pair
live-inaverage weekly cost: $290/week — includes pocket money plus board. au pairs are not eligible for CCS.
CCS example for Perth
a family earning $120K would receive ~75% CCS, reducing a $115/day fee to ~$29/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 Perth
- •Perth childcare costs are below the national average, though inner-city rates are climbing.
- •WA offers a free kindergarten program for 4 year olds (15 hours/week).
- •Many centres in outer suburbs have shorter waitlists than eastern states.
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.