Child Care Cost Calculator
Estimate Australian child-care costs after your entered subsidy percentage. Compare weekly, fortnightly, monthly and annual out-of-pocket amounts.
Your results
This is a simplified estimate that doesn't apply the CCS hourly fee cap.
Calculation breakdown
- Out of pocket
- (daily fee × days per week) × (1 − CCS%)
Worked example
A $140 daily fee for 3 days a week with 60% CCS: gross $420, subsidy $252, out-of-pocket $168 per week.
Assumptions
- Your actual CCS rate depends on family income and activity level — confirm your rate with Services Australia.
- Does not apply the hourly fee cap that may reduce the subsidy for high daily fees.
How this calculator works
Enter your child care centre's daily fee, the number of days per week attended, and your expected Child Care Subsidy percentage to estimate your weekly out-of-pocket cost.
Estimate child-care fees after an entered subsidy
Start with the service's daily fee, the number of care days and your entered subsidy percentage. The calculator separates the estimated subsidy from the family's remaining out-of-pocket amount and converts the result into useful pay periods.
Use the fee actually charged by the centre rather than an area average. Session length, attendance, absences, extra charges and the number of weeks used can all change the annual total.
Why an official Child Care Subsidy result may differ
Australian Child Care Subsidy depends on circumstances including family income, recognised activity, the hourly-rate cap, session hours and annual reconciliation. This calculator applies the percentage you enter and does not determine official eligibility or entitlement.
Use Services Australia's current estimator or your Centrelink account for an entitlement estimate. The CalcAussie result is useful for testing fee and attendance scenarios after you have a reasonable subsidy percentage.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I find my Child Care Subsidy percentage?
Your actual CCS rate depends on your family income, activity level and other factors set by Services Australia — check your Centrelink online account or the Services Australia website for your exact rate.
Does this include the subsidy's hourly rate cap?
No, this is a simplified estimate; Services Australia applies an hourly fee cap that may reduce your subsidy if your daily fee is very high.
Can I use this for multiple children?
Run the calculator once per child, as subsidy percentages and daily fees can differ between children and centres.
Editorial review and responsibility
Reviewed by the CalcAussie editorial team on 21 September 2026. Review scope: Method, Australian terminology, material assumptions, source links and user-facing limitations.
Calculator results remain estimates based on the figures entered. Check material decisions against current official information and report a suspected error so it can be reproduced and corrected.
Results are estimates only and are not financial, tax, legal or credit advice.