Childcare Cost Calculator
Can you afford daycare on your income? Enter the monthly childcare quote you've been given and both salaries. The calculator works out the yearly cost, how much of the second earner's take-home pay it swallows, and what your household has left each month compared with one parent staying home.
Your numbers
The parent working in every scenario
The returning or second earner
Full-time cost while both parents work
Fares, fuel, parking
Rent or mortgage payment
Household food shop
Your result
Childcare as a share of the second salary
29.9%
Childcare takes 29.9% of the second earner's take-home pay (28.4% of gross), leaving $2,827 extra in the household each month.
| Per month | Both parents work | One parent at home | Second parent part time (60%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Take-home income | $9,794 | $5,447 | $8,153 |
| Childcare | -$1,300 | $0 | -$780 |
| Commuting | -$440 | -$220 | -$352 |
| Housing | -$1,800 | -$1,800 | -$1,800 |
| Other living costs | -$2,050 | -$2,050 | -$2,050 |
| Left over each month | $4,204 | $1,377 | $3,171 |
Taxes use published United States income-tax bands with no childcare subsidy applied. See the methodology.
Open these numbers in the full calculatorHow to read this comparison
How to use your daycare quote
Enter the full monthly fee for every child in care, before any subsidy. For daily or weekly quotes, multiply a daily rate by about 21.7 or a weekly rate by 4.33 to get a monthly figure. Add registration, meals and nappies if the centre charges them separately.
What counts as affordable
The US federal benchmark treats childcare as affordable at 7% of household income. Most families in cities pay well above that. A more practical test is whether the job that makes childcare necessary still leaves meaningful take-home pay after care, commuting and tax.
Lowering the bill
Check every subsidy and tax credit in your country first, then compare part-time days, a nanny share, or staggered working hours. Care usually gets cheaper as children move from the infant room to preschool, and again once funded hours or school start.
Frequently asked questions
How do I calculate childcare costs per month?
Take the fee you are quoted and convert it to monthly: daily rate × 21.7 working days, or weekly rate × 4.33. Add fees for each child, plus extras like meals, registration and holiday retainers. That total is the monthly figure to enter here.
Can I afford daycare on one salary?
Only if the remaining take-home pay covers housing, food and bills after the childcare fee. Enter one salary as zero to test it: the results table shows exactly what is left each month.
How much does daycare cost on average?
In the US, full-time infant care averaged about $11,582 a year in 2023 (Child Care Aware of America), ranging from under $8,000 to over $25,000 by state. See the city and state pages for local figures.
Does this childcare calculator include subsidies?
No. It shows the unsubsidised cost so you can see the full picture, then subtract any help you qualify for using the childcare subsidy guides for your country.