Child Care Costs Across Canada (2026)

Last updated: October 2026. Figures checked against the official sources listed at the end of this page on October 2, 2026.

Short answer: In 2026, median infant child care fees range from $9.65 a day in Quebec cities and $10 a day in Winnipeg, Regina and Saskatoon to $22 a day in Ontario cities and $28 to $52 a day in BC cities, according to the CCPA's survey of 35 cities. Six of 13 provinces and territories have committed to $10 a day as a set or maximum fee.

Key facts

Fact Figure Source
Quebec cities, infant $9.65/day CCPA
Alberta cities, infant $15/day CCPA
Ontario cities, infant $22/day CCPA
BC cities, infant $28–$52/day CCPA
National average, centre-based $435/month (2025) StatCan

Median infant child care fees by city, 2026

City Province / territory Median infant fee Our city guide
Montreal, Quebec City, Gatineau, Laval, Longueuil QC $9.65 a day Montreal · Quebec City
St. John's NL $10 a day —
Charlottetown PE $10 a day —
Winnipeg MB $10 a day Winnipeg
Regina, Saskatoon SK $10 a day —
Iqaluit NU $10 a day —
Calgary, Edmonton, Lethbridge AB $15 a day Calgary · Edmonton
Saint John, Moncton, Fredericton NB $19 a day —
Ontario cities (incl. Toronto, Ottawa) ON $22 a day Toronto · Ottawa
Halifax NS $23 a day Halifax
BC cities (Kelowna to Richmond) BC $28 to $52 a day Vancouver

Source: CCPA, "The $10-a-day divide: Child care fees in Canada in 2026" (David Macdonald and Martha Friendly, August 19, 2026), 35 cities. Figures are median full-time base fees, excluding add-on fees, after fee reductions; Quebec's reduced-contribution system pre-dates and sits outside the federal CWELCC agreements. Fees change; confirm the current fee with your provider or province.

Preschool-age fees, 2026

Group of cities Median preschool fee
Quebec cities $9.65 a day
Charlottetown, St. John's, Winnipeg, Saskatoon, Regina, Iqaluit $10 a day
Calgary, Edmonton, Lethbridge $15 a day
Saint John, Moncton, Fredericton $16 a day
Ontario cities, Halifax $22 a day
BC cities (Kelowna to Richmond) $24 to $42 a day

Source: CCPA 2026.

Which provinces are at $10 a day?

Six of 13 provinces and territories have committed to $10 a day as a set or maximum fee: Nunavut, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Quebec, Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland and Labrador. Elsewhere, fees have fallen but are not yet at $10 a day; the CCPA's headline finding is that "most child care fees in Canada are not at $10 a day."

How much families have saved since 2019

After adjusting for inflation, the CCPA estimates Toronto infant fees are down more than $1,800 a month compared with 2019, Toronto-area suburbs $1,300 to $1,500 a month, and most other cities $500 to $1,000 a month. BC cities saw smaller drops of $300 to $500 a month.

National average

Statistics Canada's 2025 child care survey found full-time centre-based care averaged $435 a month, down from $663 in 2022, and 58% of children aged 0 to 5 were in some form of child care.

To turn a daily fee into a monthly budget, multiply by the number of days your centre bills (often about 21 to 22 weekdays a month), or use our child care cost calculator.

Frequently asked questions

How much is daycare in Ontario in 2026?

The median infant fee in Ontario cities is $22 a day in 2026, according to the CCPA. Ontario has not yet reached the $10-a-day target.

Which provinces have $10-a-day child care?

Nunavut, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Quebec, Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland and Labrador have committed to $10 a day as a set or maximum fee, according to the CCPA 2026 survey.

Why is child care more expensive in BC?

BC reduces market fees rather than setting a fixed fee, so 2026 median infant fees range from $28 a day in Kelowna to $52 a day in Richmond.

What is the average cost of child care in Canada?

Statistics Canada reports full-time centre-based care averaged $435 a month in 2025, down from $663 in 2022.

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Related guides and tools

Sources

  1. Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives: The $10-a-day divide – Child care fees in Canada in 2026 (Aug 19, 2026) (checked October 2, 2026)
  2. Statistics Canada, The Daily: Child care arrangements, 2025 (Oct 21, 2025) (checked October 2, 2026)

This page is general information compiled from the official sources listed; it is not medical, financial or legal advice. Publishers revise figures, so check the original source before relying on or republishing a number.