childcare options comparison
five care arrangements side-by-side. enter your situation once — see annual cost, CCS subsidy, out-of-pocket and net household position for each. updates as you type.
last verified: 25 April 2026
your family
determines your CCS subsidy %
full-time-equivalent gross
used for FDC + nanny only. typical 5-day full-time = 50 hrs.
fees per option
AU centre-based average ~$130–$150/day
typical FDC $12–$15/hr
we add 30% overhead automatically (super + leave + workers comp)
biggest gap across applicable options
$110,591/yr
best for your situation: long day care at $52,503/yr net. worst: nanny (direct employment) at -$58,088/yr. stay-home is the zero baseline — anything below that means the option costs more than the parent earns.
five options, side by side
long day care
best net$52,503
net household per year
family day care
$51,502
net household per year (-$1,001 vs best)
OSHC + vacation care
your youngest isn't school-age — OSHC is for primary school students.
nanny (direct employment)
lowest net-$58,088
net household per year (-$110,591 vs best)
parent stays home
$0
net household per year (-$52,503 vs best)
how this comparison works
for each option we compute annual gross cost, apply the 2025-26 CCS taper where eligible (single-rate 90% at $85,279 down to 0% at $535,279), then subtract the parent's take-home pay (AU resident tax + 2% Medicare levy). the result is the option's net household position over a year. stay-home is the zero baseline.
weeks per year: long day care + family day care 48 (4-week shutdown), OSHC 40 term weeks, vacation care 12 holiday weeks, nanny 52. nanny overhead 30% = 12% super + ~15.7% leave + ~3% workers comp. nanny direct employment doesn't attract CCS.
sources: CCS rates, AU income tax. read our editorial policy.
this is a planner, not personal financial advice. your real situation may include FTB, Parenting Payment, partner-income test interactions or sibling discounts that aren't modelled here.
this calculator provides estimates based on published government rates and formulas. your actual entitlement may vary based on your full circumstances. always check with Services Australia for a precise figure.