childcare fees in Australia: what you'll actually pay
last updated: december 2025
jessie willcox is a family policy journalist and mum of three from Brisbane. she covers early childhood education, government subsidies, and parenting policy for mini mode.
the sticker price of childcare and the amount you actually pay are two different numbers, and the gap between them is where most families get surprised — in both directions. the Child Care Subsidy does the heavy lifting, but the hourly cap, above-cap fees, booking fees, holding fees and late-pickup charges all chip away at the savings.
here are the real 2026 fees by city, how the cap actually works, and every extra charge you should budget for before signing an enrolment form.
daily fees by city in 2026
long day care fees vary more by suburb than by state. the ranges below are typical for mainstream centres — boutique centres, Montessori and Reggio Emilia providers, and inner-city corporate chains can run 15-25% higher.
| city | typical daily fee | inner-city premium |
|---|---|---|
| Sydney | $150 – $180 | up to $220 |
| Melbourne | $135 – $165 | up to $195 |
| Brisbane | $120 – $150 | up to $175 |
| Perth | $120 – $145 | up to $170 |
| Adelaide | $110 – $140 | up to $160 |
| Canberra | $140 – $170 | up to $190 |
| Hobart & Darwin | $115 – $145 | up to $165 |
most centres charge a flat daily fee for a 10-11 hour session, even if your child only attends for 7-8 hours. that's standard and it's how the hourly cap calculations work.
the CCS hourly cap and above-cap fees
CCS doesn't subsidise the full fee without limit. for every provider type there's an hourly cap, and the subsidy only applies up to that cap. anything charged above it is fully out of pocket.
| provider type | hourly cap (2025-26) | equivalent at 11 hours |
|---|---|---|
| centre-based day care | $14.63 | $160.93 |
| Family Day Care | $13.56 | $149.16 |
| Outside School Hours Care | $12.81 | n/a (session-based) |
here's the key thing: if your Sydney centre charges $180 for an 11-hour day, your hourly rate is $16.36 — which is above the $14.63 cap. CCS only subsidises the first $14.63 per hour. the remaining $1.73 per hour (about $19 per day) is entirely yours to pay on top of your gap fee.
this is why two centres in the same suburb can produce wildly different out-of-pocket costs, even at the same CCS rate. ask every centre you tour: "is your fee above the hourly cap?" if yes, ask by how much.
booking, holding, excursion and late fees
the daily fee is just the start. here's what else you might see on an invoice:
- booking/enrolment fee: a one-off fee of $50-$200 to secure a place. usually non-refundable. not subsidised by CCS.
- holding fee or deposit: paid upfront to hold the spot until your child starts, typically 2 weeks of fees. refunded once your child begins attending.
- excursion and incursion fees: usually $10-$30 per outing or in-centre event. some centres bundle these into the daily fee, others charge extra.
- late pickup fees: steep. typically $1-$2 per minute after the official pickup time, sometimes a flat $20 for the first 15 minutes.
- nappy and formula surcharges: some centres provide nappies and formula at no cost; others charge $2-$5 per day.
- sunscreen and hat levy: a small annual fee ($20-$50) some centres charge.
- public holiday fee: you still pay your full daily fee on public holidays when the centre is closed, and these days count as an absence (within your 42-day allowance).
the 42 absence days rule
CCS subsidises up to 42 absence days per child per financial year — sick days, family holidays, public holidays, anything where your child doesn't attend. beyond 42, you may lose the subsidy for further absences (exceptions apply for hospital stays, bereavement, and a few other circumstances).
most families never hit the limit, but if you take a 4-week family trip overseas and your child already had a rough flu season, you can get close.
worked example: $150/day in Sydney at 90% CCS
let's run through what a family on $80,000 combined income with one child in a Sydney centre charging $150/day for an 11-hour session actually pays.
| centre's daily fee | $150.00 |
| session length | 11 hours |
| hourly rate | $13.64 |
| CCS hourly cap | $14.63 |
| above cap? | no (fee is below cap) |
| CCS rate (family income $80,000) | 90% |
| subsidy amount per day | $135.00 |
| out of pocket per day | $15.00 |
| weekly (3 days) | $45.00 |
now the same family but at a $180/day centre in the eastern suburbs. the hourly rate is $16.36 — $1.73 above the cap. CCS still applies 90% to the first $14.63, but the above-cap portion is fully out of pocket. daily gap fee: $14.63 (subsidised portion) + $19.03 (above cap) = $33.66/day. more than double the cheaper centre, even though the gross fee was only 20% higher.
this is why checking the hourly cap matters more than comparing sticker prices.
frequently asked questions
what is the average daily childcare fee in Australia in 2026?
roughly $150-180 in Sydney, $135-165 in Melbourne, $120-150 in Brisbane, $120-145 in Perth and $110-140 in Adelaide. inner-city centres often charge more than the CCS hourly cap.
what is the CCS hourly cap and why does it matter?
it's the maximum hourly fee CCS will subsidise: $14.63 for centre-based, $13.56 for Family Day Care, $12.81 for OSHC. anything above the cap is fully out of pocket.
how many absence days can I take from childcare per year?
42 absence days per child per financial year are still subsidised through CCS, covering sick days, holidays and public holidays.
do I still pay childcare fees during holidays?
yes. you're billed for your enrolled days whether your child attends or not. the 42 absence days keep those days subsidised, but you still pay the gap fee.
work out your real fees
put your centre's daily fee and your family income into the calculator to see your exact out-of-pocket amount, with and without above-cap adjustments.