What will daycare actually cost?

Turn a provider’s daily fee into a practical monthly and annual Ontario child-care budget. Compare a CWELCC-eligible plan with your quoted rate, then account for extra fees and any subsidy already awarded.

Illustrated daycare cubbies with blocks, rain boots, a lunch bag and a calendar

Your estimate

Build your care budget

Use the fee your provider quoted. The calculator applies Ontario’s 2026 CWELCC base-fee cap only when the program and child are eligible.

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Include paid closures or vacation if your contract charges for them.

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Meals, supplies, late pickup or optional services.

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Enter an approved amount; this tool does not decide eligibility.

2026 CWELCC rule appliedFor eligible children in participating programs, the base fee is capped at the lower of the program’s rate or $22/day through December 31, 2026.

Ontario 2026

How the CWELCC cap works in this estimate

Ontario’s CWELCC framework reduces fees at participating licensed programs. City of Hamilton guidance says eligible children’s base fees remain capped at $22 per day through December 31, 2026. A program already charging less continues to charge the lower amount.

Confirm participation

Ask the provider whether the specific location is licensed and enrolled in CWELCC. Licensed care is not automatically participating care.

Confirm your child is eligible

The $22/day rule cited here applies to CWELCC-eligible children under six. Eligibility around a sixth birthday can depend on program and timing, so confirm with the provider.

Read the fee agreement

Check which days are billed, how closures are handled, and which extra charges are outside the quoted base fee. Enter those details above rather than relying on an “average month.”

Planning library

Make the estimate useful

01

Monthly vs. annual daycare cost

Daycare contracts often use daily fees, while household budgets run monthly. This calculator multiplies the effective daily fee by paid days and weeks, then divides by 12. The annual number is better for comparing arrangements with different closure rules.

02

Fee subsidy is separate

Municipal child-care fee subsidy rules and award amounts vary. Enter only an amount you have been approved to receive. If you have not applied, leave it at zero and contact your municipality for its current eligibility process.

03

Compare quotes consistently

Ask each provider for the daily base fee, paid closure days, registration or supply charges, meals, and withdrawal notice. Put each quote through the same days-per-week and weeks-per-year assumptions.

Common questions

Does every Ontario daycare charge $22 per day?

No. The 2026 cap applies to eligible children at participating licensed programs. Non-participating licensed care and unlicensed care can use different rates. Programs already below $22 continue charging the lower amount.

Does this calculate municipal subsidy eligibility?

No. Subsidy depends on local rules and an application. The subsidy field lets you include an award you already know, without guessing your eligibility.

Why does the monthly amount differ from daily fee × 20?

A flat 20-day month ignores longer months and paid weeks. This calculator uses days per week × paid weeks per year ÷ 12, which keeps the monthly and annual estimates consistent.

Is this a guaranteed invoice amount?

No. It is a planning estimate based on your inputs. Your provider’s agreement and municipality’s decision control the actual amount.

Source and scope

Policy value checked October 4, 2026: City of Hamilton — Canada-Wide Early Learning and Child Care Agreement. It states that 2026 parent base fees for CWELCC-eligible children remain capped at $22/day through December 31, 2026, with the lower fee retained where a program already charges less. Policies can change; confirm your own provider and municipal details.