Childcare Cost Calculator

Compare the yearly cost of daycare, a nanny and after-school care.

Daycare fee per week	$300
Nanny hourly rate	$22
Hours of care per week	45 hours
Employer taxes on nanny	10 %
After-school care per week	$120
Weeks of care per year	50 weeks

Daycare fee per week

Nanny hourly rate

Hours of care per week

hours

Employer taxes on nanny

US: about 7.65% FICA plus unemployment taxes.

After-school care per week

Weeks of care per year

weeks

Cheapest full-time option

Daycare

Daycare $15,000 a year vs nanny $54,450 (a nanny may care for siblings for the same cost). After-school care $6,000 a year.

Yearly cost

Daycare$15,000
Nanny$54,450
After-school$6,000

About the Childcare Cost Calculator

Enter the weekly daycare fee, the nanny's hourly rate and hours, employer taxes, after-school costs and weeks a year. The calculator compares the yearly cost of each option.

Daycare is priced per child; a nanny is paid per hour (often with employer taxes), which can be cheaper for two or more children. Many countries offer help: the US dependent-care FSA (up to $7,500 per household from 2026) and child and dependent care credit, UK Tax-Free Childcare and funded hours.

The formula

Yearly = weekly fee × weeks; nanny = rate × hours × weeks × (1 + employer taxes)

Worked example

Daycare 300 a week; nanny 22 an hour for 45 hours plus 10% taxes; 50 weeks

Daycare: 300 × 50 = 15,000
Nanny: 22 × 45 × 50 × 1.1 = 54,450
After-school care: 6,000 a year

Questions people ask

Do I have to pay taxes for a nanny?

In the US, if you pay over the household employee threshold you owe FICA and possibly unemployment taxes.

What about a childminder?

Enter their weekly fee as daycare.