Free interactive calculator

Childcare Cost Comparison Calculator (2026)

Choosing childcare is one of the priciest decisions a new parent makes — and one of the hardest to compare fairly. Daycares quote weekly rates, nannies quote by the hour, and au pairs bundle fees with a stipend. This free calculator puts six options — daycare center, home daycare, nanny, nanny share, au pair, and grandparent care — on the same annual, monthly, and per-hour basis. Enter your rates, hours, and weeks per year, add dependent care FSA tax savings, and it highlights your lowest-cost option instantly. Your numbers save in your browser for when new quotes come in. Built around 2026 figures and tax limits — estimates only, so verify with providers and a tax professional.

Little Ledger Co.

Childcare Cost Comparison

Which childcare option costs YOUR family the least?

We rank all 6 — daycare center, home daycare, nanny, nanny share, au pair, grandparent care — by true yearly cost after tax savings.

Example

The Millers, 2 kids in Hartford — Home daycare wins at $14,700/yr, $188/month less than a daycare center.
With grandparent help: just $936/yr.

How to use

  1. Guide me (default): answer a few plain-English questions — we'll fill in the technical stuff and show our work.
  2. Check the summary, tap any value to adjust it, or flip to "I know my numbers" for the full sliders.
  3. Green highlights the cheapest true cost. Estimates are always labeled.
+ New here? The 30-second version

Every option — daycare, nanny, au pair, and the rest — gets boiled down to one number: what it truly costs you per year after tax savings. That way you compare apples to apples, not sticker prices.

Answer a few questions and we’ll do the math. Tap any whenever a term looks unfamiliar.

Your results

True annual cost = base + payroll taxes + extras − sibling discount − FSA tax savings .

Little Ledger Co. — for personal use only
Provided "as is" for educational purposes only — not tax, legal, financial, or benefits advice. Verify figures with a qualified professional. Liability limited to the amount paid.

Common questions

Is this childcare cost calculator really free?

Yes. It runs entirely in your browser — no account, no signup, no payment, and no feature limits.

Where do the numbers I enter go?

They stay on your device, saved in your browser’s local storage so you can pick up where you left off. Nothing is uploaded, tracked, or shared.

Does it account for tax savings?

Yes. Enter your marginal tax rate and dependent care FSA contribution to see after-tax cost. The calculator uses 2026 limits; tax rules change yearly, so verify current figures before making decisions.

What is the cheapest childcare option?

It depends on your area, hours, and number of children — that is exactly what this calculator answers for your numbers. In general, grandparent or family care is cheapest when available, followed by home daycare and au pairs for multiple children; nannies cost the most per family.

Is this financial advice?

No. It is an educational estimating tool, not tax, legal, financial, or benefits advice. Verify important decisions with a qualified professional.

Want the full kit?

This free calculator is one tool from our 10-tool Childcare Decision Toolkit — the downloadable version on Etsy adds the Excel workbook, printable provider interview questions, daycare tour scorecards, FSA planning worksheets, a nanny payroll checklist, and more.

Get the full toolkit on Etsy