Childcare Costs Across Canada (2026)

Childcare Costs Across Canada (2026)

What licensed daycare costs in major Canadian cities after the $10-a-day (CWELCC) fee reductions — and which provinces have hit the $10/day target.

Last updated June 2026 · Fees from the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives and provincial sources. Free to cite with a link.

Monthly childcare cost by city

City Province Current fee (2025) Subsidy regime
Quebec City QC $9.35/day (~$203/mo) Quebec reduced-contribution (CPE)
Montreal QC $9.35/day (~$203/mo) Quebec reduced-contribution
Winnipeg MB $10/day ($217/mo) — at target CWELCC at $10/day
Edmonton AB $326/mo ($15/day) set CWELCC set fee
Calgary AB $326/mo ($15/day) set CWELCC set fee
Ottawa ON $22/day cap (~$477/mo) CWELCC set cap
Toronto ON $22/day cap (~$477/mo) CWELCC set cap
Halifax NS ~$24/day (~$521/mo) CWELCC market reduction
Vancouver BC ~$34/day median; $10/day at funded sites CWELCC market reduction

† BC groups infant and toddler into one combined median. Figures are post-subsidy; some 2023 base figures shown where a 2025 value was not isolated.

Source: Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives, Measuring Matters & The price is not right (yet) (2023-25)

The savings story

$1,866 → ~$477A Toronto infant space cost about $1,866/month in 2020; under the $10/day program the fee cap is now about $22/day (~$477/month) — among the largest cost drops for Canadian families in a generation.

$10-a-day rollout by province

Province / Territory At ~$10/day? Current
Quebec Yes (own system) $9.35/day (2025)
Manitoba Yes (since 2023) $10/day
Saskatchewan Yes ~$10/day
PEI Yes ~$10/day
Nfld & Labrador Yes ~$10/day
Nunavut Yes ~$10/day
Ontario Partial $22/day cap; ~$19/day avg
Alberta Partial $15/day flat (Apr 2025)
British Columbia Partial Market minus reduction; $10/day at funded sites
Nova Scotia Partial ~50% reduced

Source: Government of Canada / CCPA (2025)

Quebec runs a single universal indexed fee that pre-dates the national program; Ontario, BC, Alberta and Nova Scotia instead cap or reduce market fees and are still working toward the $10/day average.

Budgeting for childcare? Use our baby cost calculator, read the Canada child benefits guide, and see the best cities for families.

Fees change with provincial agreements and indexation. Confirm your local rate with your province before relying on these figures.