{"id":373,"date":"2025-07-27T16:56:24","date_gmt":"2025-07-27T16:56:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/stagingloom.com\/elc\/parent-resources\/childcare-costs-nsw\/"},"modified":"2025-07-27T16:56:24","modified_gmt":"2025-07-27T16:56:24","slug":"childcare-costs-nsw","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/stagingloom.com\/elc\/parent-resources\/childcare-costs-nsw\/","title":{"rendered":"Childcare Costs NSW"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-page\" data-elementor-id=\"373\" class=\"elementor elementor-373\" data-elementor-post-type=\"page\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b146f01 e-con e-atomic-element e-flexbox-base e-default-div e-57d0aae \" data-id=\"b146f01\" data-element_type=\"e-flexbox\" data-e-type=\"e-flexbox\" data-interaction-id=\"b146f01\">\n    \t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5defb30 elementor-widget elementor-widget-html\" data-id=\"5defb30\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"html.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<!-- WEB_CONTENT_START -->\n<!--\n===================================================================\nLEAD EARLY LEARNING CENTRES | 55 CHILDCARE COSTS NSW | BODY ONLY\nDesign: \"Bright Blocks\" (client approved). Built to plan PAGE 055 \/ P72 (Guide, Tier 2, NEW)\nof the Lead ELC Topical Authority Map.\nScope: every selector is prefixed with #lelc-cost. No html\/body\/* rules.\nIncludes the theme-proof protection layer (theme\/Elementor typography,\nborders and spacing cannot leak in). Paste this whole file into ONE\nElementor HTML widget (full-width container, 0 padding). Header +\nfooter come from Headerfooter.html templates.\nImages point to \/wp-content\/uploads\/<file>: upload the images\/upload\nfolder first, with month\/year folders switched off (Settings > Media).\n-------------------------------------------------------------------\nSEO PLUGIN FIELDS (paste into Rank Math \/ Yoast, not into the widget)\nMeta Title  (47): How Much Does Childcare Cost in NSW? 2026 Guide\nMeta Desc  (137): What childcare actually costs in NSW in 2026, what drives the differences, and how the Child Care Subsidy changes your out of pocket fee.\nCanonical: https:\/\/leadearlylearningcentres.com.au\/parent-resources\/childcare-costs-nsw\/\nSlug: \/parent-resources\/childcare-costs-nsw\/  |  Primary: childcare cost nsw\nBreadcrumb: Home > Parent Resources and Guides > How Much Does Childcare Cost in NSW?\n-------------------------------------------------------------------\nNOTES\n- Averages: Department of Education CCS data report, March quarter 2026 (read 25 Sep 2026): centre based day care average hourly fee NSW $14.75, national $14.50, ACT $16.35 (highest), TAS and NT $13.20 (lowest); cap that quarter $14.63; 59.1% of centres at or under the cap; NSW average 34.2 hours a week. Daily equivalents ($147.50 for 10 hours, $162.25 for 11, $177.00 for 12) are simple multiplications, labelled as such.\n- Local: StartingBlocks full-day fees for St Ives long day care centres ranged $135 to $216 (24 Sep 2026); Lead $170 for an 11-hour day ($15.45 an hour).\n- Worked examples (2026-27 rules, 11-hour day, $167.09 capped base, 5% withholding): $80k 90% gap $27.14\/day; $150k two children, older 77.70% gap $46.66, younger (higher rate) 93.81% gap $21.09; $250k 57.70% gap $78.41\/day. 4 days = 88 hours a fortnight, needing the 100-hour entitlement (both parents over 48 hours of recognised activity a fortnight).\n===================================================================\n-->\n<link rel=\"preconnect\" href=\"https:\/\/fonts.googleapis.com\">\n<link rel=\"preconnect\" href=\"https:\/\/fonts.gstatic.com\" crossorigin>\n<link href=\"https:\/\/fonts.googleapis.com\/css2?family=Fredoka:wght@500;600;700&family=Karla:ital,wght@0,400;0,600;0,700;0,800;1,400&display=swap\" 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in early 2026, according to the federal Department of Education. For a typical 10 to 12-hour day that works out at roughly $148 to $177 before the Child Care Subsidy. After the subsidy, most families pay a fraction of that, and this guide shows how much.<\/p>\n      <div class=\"pfacts\">\n        <div><b>$14.75<\/b><span>NSW average per hour<\/span><\/div>\n        <div><b>$15.19<\/b><span>Subsidy cap per hour<\/span><\/div>\n        <div><b>90%<\/b><span>Top subsidy rate<\/span><\/div>\n      <\/div>\n      <div class=\"btnrow\">\n        <a class=\"btn-y\" href=\"#lelc-cost-ex\">See Worked Examples<\/a>\n        <a class=\"btn-w\" href=\"\/elc\/fees\/cost-estimator\/\">Try the Estimator<\/a>\n      <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n    <figure class=\"pfig\">\n      <div class=\"ph\">\n        <img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/stagingloom.com\/elc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/lead-elc-kids-cooking-class.webp\" alt=\"Children in a cooking class, one of the inclusions that shapes childcare cost NSW families compare\" width=\"900\" height=\"600\" fetchpriority=\"high\">\n      <\/div>\n      <div class=\"stick\">Look past the headline fee<\/div>\n    <\/figure>\n  <\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n<section class=\"sec\" style=\"padding-bottom:0;\">\n  <div class=\"wrap\">\n    <div style=\"max-width:880px;\">\n      <p class=\"lead-p\">Few household costs are as confusing as childcare. Centres quote daily fees for sessions of different lengths, include different things, and the government subsidy that pays most of the bill depends on your income, your activity and how many children you have in care.<\/p>\n      <p>This guide cuts through that. It starts with what NSW families actually pay on average, using the latest official data, then explains why fees differ so much between centres, what an all-inclusive fee saves you, and how the subsidy turns a sticker price into the gap you really pay. Three worked examples follow, then a list of extras worth checking before you sign anything.<\/p>\n      <p>We are a long day care centre in St Ives, and we use our own fee in the examples because it is a real, published number. The method works for any centre. For more practical guides, see our <a href=\"\/elc\/parent-resources\/\">resources for parents<\/a>.<\/p>\n    <\/div>\n  <\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n<!-- ============ H2 1 ============ -->\n<section class=\"sec\">\n  <div class=\"wrap\">\n    <span class=\"kick\">The benchmark<\/span>\n    <h2>Average daily rates in NSW<\/h2>\n    <p class=\"lead-p\" style=\"max-width:880px;\">The childcare cost NSW families faced in the March quarter of 2026 averaged $14.75 an hour in centre based day care, slightly above the national average of $14.50. Because centres run sessions of different lengths, the daily fee equivalent ranges from about $148 for a 10-hour day to $177 for a 12-hour day.<\/p>\n    <div class=\"tbl-wrap\">\n      <table class=\"ratio agetbl num\">\n        <caption>Average hourly fee, centre based day care, March quarter 2026<\/caption>\n        <thead><tr><th>State or territory<\/th><th>Average per hour<\/th><\/tr><\/thead>\n        <tbody>\n          <tr><td>Australian Capital Territory<\/td><td>$16.35<\/td><\/tr>\n          <tr><td>Western Australia<\/td><td>$14.80<\/td><\/tr>\n          <tr class=\"hl\"><td>New South Wales<\/td><td>$14.75<\/td><\/tr>\n          <tr><td>Victoria<\/td><td>$14.55<\/td><\/tr>\n          <tr><td>Queensland<\/td><td>$14.10<\/td><\/tr>\n          <tr><td>South Australia<\/td><td>$14.05<\/td><\/tr>\n          <tr><td>Tasmania and Northern Territory<\/td><td>$13.20<\/td><\/tr>\n          <tr><td><b>Australia<\/b><\/td><td><b>$14.50<\/b><\/td><\/tr>\n        <\/tbody>\n      <\/table>\n    <\/div>\n    <div style=\"max-width:880px;\">\n      <p>Source: the Department of Education's <a href=\"https:\/\/www.education.gov.au\/early-childhood\/about\/data-and-reports\/quarterly-reports\/child-care-subsidy-data-report-march-quarter-2026\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Child Care Subsidy data report for the March quarter 2026<\/a>.<\/p>\n      <p>Averages hide a wide spread between suburbs, regions and individual centres, so treat the state figure as a starting point rather than a price guide.<\/p>\n      <p>Closer to home, full-day fees listed for St Ives long day care centres on the government's StartingBlocks site ranged from $135 to $216 when we checked on 24 September 2026.<\/p>\n      <p>If a centre quotes a weekly or fortnightly price instead, divide it back to a daily and hourly figure before comparing.<\/p>\n      <p>Our own fee is $170 for an 11-hour day, which is about $15.45 an hour, including meals, nappies and programs.<\/p>\n      <p>Read the averages with care. They blend every age group and every session length, and they are fees before any subsidy, so they tell you about the market rather than your bill.<\/p>\n      <p>Multiply the NSW hourly average by the average weekly hours and you get about $504 a week before subsidy. That is the figure the subsidy then works on.<\/p>\n      <p>NSW children in long day care attended 34.2 hours a week on average in that quarter, roughly three days. That is why most families think about cost per week rather than per day.<\/p>\n    <\/div>\n  <\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n<!-- ============ H2 2 ============ -->\n<section class=\"sec why\">\n  <div class=\"wrap split\">\n    <div>\n      <span class=\"kick\">The drivers<\/span>\n      <h2>Why fees vary between centres<\/h2>\n      <p class=\"lead-p\">Fees vary mainly because of location, session length, what the fee includes, and the ages of children in each room. Property costs in Sydney push rents up, baby rooms need one educator for every four children, and a fee that includes meals, nappies and extra programs naturally looks higher than one that does not.<\/p>\n      <p>Here is the practical upshot. When you compare centres, convert each fee to an hourly price and note what it includes, then compare the gap after subsidy rather than the fee itself.<\/p>\n      <p>Location is the biggest single factor. Rent and wages are higher in Sydney than in regional NSW.<\/p>\n      <p>Demand plays a part as well. Where waitlists are long, fees tend to sit higher; where there are more places than children, centres compete on price and inclusions.<\/p>\n      <p>Age matters. Babies need more educators per child than preschoolers, so some centres charge more for nursery places. We charge the same $170 in every room.<\/p>\n      <p>Session length changes the maths. A $150 fee for 10 hours costs $15 an hour; a $170 fee for 11 hours costs about $15.45.<\/p>\n      <p>Staffing above the legal minimum, degree-qualified teachers in more rooms and specialist programs all add cost, and often show up in quality ratings.<\/p>\n      <p>Ownership structure can matter. Community-run and not-for-profit centres sometimes charge less, while privately run centres vary widely in both price and what they include.<\/p>\n      <p>Buildings count too. A purpose-built centre with large outdoor space costs more to run than a converted house, and that flows into fees.<\/p>\n      <p>Inclusions shift the headline. Food, nappies, sunscreen and extra classes all cost money somewhere.<\/p>\n      <div class=\"tbl-wrap\"><table class=\"ratio agetbl num\"><caption>Turning daily fees into hourly prices (illustrative fees, plus our own)<\/caption><thead><tr><th>Daily fee and session<\/th><th>Per hour<\/th><th>Above the $15.19 cap?<\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td>$150 for 10 hours<\/td><td>$15.00<\/td><td>No<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>$170 for 11 hours (Lead)<\/td><td>$15.45<\/td><td>Slightly<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>$180 for 12 hours<\/td><td>$15.00<\/td><td>No<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>$200 for 10 hours<\/td><td>$20.00<\/td><td>Yes, by $4.81<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/div>\n      <p>Compare two centres properly in our <a href=\"\/elc\/fees\/cost-estimator\/\">childcare cost calculator<\/a>, which applies your subsidy to each fee.<\/p>\n    <\/div>\n    <div class=\"stack\">\n      <div class=\"side card\">\n        <p class=\"side-h\">What moves the fee<\/p>\n        <ul class=\"ticks\">\n          <li>Suburb and rent<\/li>\n          <li>Hours in a session<\/li>\n          <li>Age of the room<\/li>\n          <li>Meals, nappies and extras<\/li>\n          <li>Staffing above minimum ratios<\/li>\n        <\/ul>\n      <\/div>\n      <div class=\"fill art a-y\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/stagingloom.com\/elc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/lead-elc-art-swirl.webp\" alt=\"A swirl of colour drawn by a child\" width=\"400\" height=\"552\" loading=\"lazy\"><span class=\"tag\">Same care, different sums<\/span><\/div>\n    <\/div>\n  <\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n<!-- ============ H2 3 ============ -->\n<section class=\"sec\">\n  <div class=\"wrap\">\n    <span class=\"kick\">Inclusive fees<\/span>\n    <h2>What all-inclusive means and what it saves<\/h2>\n    <p class=\"lead-p\" style=\"max-width:880px;\">An all-inclusive fee means the daily rate already covers the things families would otherwise buy or pack themselves, typically meals, nappies, wipes and sunscreen, and often extra classes. It saves money only if those items would cost you more than the difference in fee, so it is worth adding up.<\/p>\n    <div class=\"tbl-wrap\">\n      <table class=\"ratio agetbl\">\n        <caption>What our $170 daily fee covers<\/caption>\n        <thead><tr><th>Item<\/th><th>Included at Lead<\/th><\/tr><\/thead>\n        <tbody>\n          <tr><td>Food<\/td><td>Five meals and snacks a day, prepared fresh on site<\/td><\/tr>\n          <tr><td>Nappies and wipes<\/td><td>Yes, all day<\/td><\/tr>\n          <tr><td>Sunscreen<\/td><td>Yes<\/td><\/tr>\n          <tr><td>Extracurricular classes<\/td><td>Weekly cooking, yoga, sport and language sessions<\/td><\/tr>\n          <tr><td>Learning programs<\/td><td>Reading Eggs and Mathseeds, STEM, sustainability, school readiness<\/td><\/tr>\n          <tr><td>Incursions<\/td><td>Program incursions included<\/td><\/tr>\n        <\/tbody>\n      <\/table>\n    <\/div>\n    <div style=\"max-width:880px;\">\n      <p>At our centre, the kitchen serves five meals and snacks a day, so children arriving at 7am have breakfast and those collected at 6pm have had a late snack.<\/p>\n      <p>The subsidy applies to the whole fee, up to the hourly cap. Food and nappies you buy yourself get no subsidy at all.<\/p>\n      <p>That is the quiet advantage of inclusive fees. Paying for nappies inside a subsidised fee can cost less than buying them at the supermarket.<\/p>\n      <p>To test the saving yourself, list what you would spend on lunch, snacks, nappies, wipes and sunscreen for one day, then compare that with the difference between an inclusive and a basic fee after subsidy.<\/p>\n      <p>Time counts too. Not packing lunch, snacks and a nappy bag every morning is worth something on a busy workday.<\/p>\n      <p>Inclusive does not mean identical. One centre's \"meals included\" might be lunch only, while another provides breakfast, morning tea, lunch, afternoon tea and a late snack. Ask exactly which meals are covered and who prepares them.<\/p>\n      <p>The same goes for classes. Weekly sessions run by the centre's own team are different from occasional visiting programs, and some centres charge separately for the latter.<\/p>\n      <p>Ask each centre for a written list of inclusions. See ours in full on our <a href=\"\/elc\/fees\/what-is-included\/\">daily fee inclusions page<\/a>, which also has a savings calculator.<\/p>\n    <\/div>\n  <\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n<!-- ============ H2 4 ============ -->\n<section class=\"sec prog\">\n  <div class=\"wrap\">\n    <span class=\"kick\">The subsidy<\/span>\n    <h2>How CCS changes your real cost<\/h2>\n    <p class=\"lead-p\" style=\"max-width:880px;\">The Child Care Subsidy pays a percentage of your fee directly to the centre, from 90% for family incomes up to $88,520 down to nothing above $538,520. It is worked out on your actual fee or on an hourly cap, whichever is lower; that cap is $15.19 before a child starts school, and you pay what is left.<\/p>\n    <div class=\"tbl-wrap\">\n      <table class=\"ratio agetbl num\">\n        <caption>Standard subsidy rate by family income, 2026 to 2027<\/caption>\n        <thead><tr><th>Family income<\/th><th>Subsidy rate<\/th><\/tr><\/thead>\n        <tbody>\n          <tr><td>Up to $88,520<\/td><td>90%<\/td><\/tr>\n          <tr><td>$100,000<\/td><td>87.70%<\/td><\/tr>\n          <tr><td>$150,000<\/td><td>77.70%<\/td><\/tr>\n          <tr><td>$200,000<\/td><td>67.70%<\/td><\/tr>\n          <tr><td>$250,000<\/td><td>57.70%<\/td><\/tr>\n          <tr><td>$538,520 or more<\/td><td>0%<\/td><\/tr>\n        <\/tbody>\n      <\/table>\n    <\/div>\n    <div style=\"max-width:880px;\">\n      <p>Past $88,520, the rate slips by a point with each further $5,000 a family earns.<\/p>\n      <p>A second or younger child in care, if five or under, may qualify for the higher rate. It starts at 95% up to $146,437, eases by one point per $3,000 to 80% at $191,437, holds there until $270,727, then tapers to 50% and ends above $370,727.<\/p>\n      <p>Most families never apply for the subsidy rate itself. Services Australia works it out from the income estimate you give, and adjusts it after the financial year using your tax return.<\/p>\n      <p>The hourly cap limits what is subsidised. Above $15.19 an hour for a child under school age, every extra dollar comes from you.<\/p>\n      <p>Families facing hardship, grandparent carers and children at risk can be eligible for top-up support; our page on the <a href=\"\/elc\/fees\/child-care-subsidy\/additional-child-care-subsidy\/\">Additional Child Care Subsidy<\/a> sets out who qualifies.<\/p>\n      <p>Hours matter as much as rates. A family booking five 11-hour days uses 110 hours a fortnight, so even with the 100-hour entitlement, 10 of those hours are charged at the full fee.<\/p>\n      <p>Since January 2026, every eligible family gets at least 72 subsidised hours a fortnight, rising to 100 hours when each parent logs over 48 hours of recognised activity a fortnight.<\/p>\n      <p>Your subsidy rate also depends on getting your income estimate right. Estimate too low and you may owe money after balancing; estimate a little high and you are more likely to receive a top-up.<\/p>\n      <p>5% of the subsidy is held back until the end of the financial year, when your income is confirmed. Learn more in our <a href=\"\/elc\/fees\/child-care-subsidy\/\">guide to the Child Care Subsidy<\/a>.<\/p>\n    <\/div>\n  <\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n<!-- ============ H2 5 ============ -->\n<section class=\"sec\" id=\"lelc-cost-ex\">\n  <div class=\"wrap\">\n    <span class=\"kick\">Real numbers<\/span>\n    <h2>Worked examples<\/h2>\n    <p class=\"lead-p\" style=\"max-width:880px;\">Here is what three different St Ives families would pay at our $170 fee under the 2026 to 2027 rules. Each assumes an 11-hour day, which is subsidised on $167.09 because of the hourly cap, and shows the gap after the 5% withholding.<\/p>\n    <div class=\"ex3\">\n      <div class=\"card\"><span class=\"tag2\">Family A<\/span><h3>$80,000, one child, 2 days<\/h3>\n        <dl><div><dt>Subsidy rate<\/dt><dd>90%<\/dd><\/div><div><dt>Subsidy per day<\/dt><dd>$150.38<\/dd><\/div><div><dt>Gap per day<\/dt><dd>$27.14<\/dd><\/div><\/dl>\n        <p class=\"big\">$54.28 a week<\/p><\/div>\n      <div class=\"card\"><span class=\"tag2\">Family B<\/span><h3>$150,000, two children, 3 days<\/h3>\n        <dl><div><dt>Older child rate<\/dt><dd>77.70%<\/dd><\/div><div><dt>Younger child rate<\/dt><dd>93.81%<\/dd><\/div><div><dt>Combined gap per day<\/dt><dd>$67.75<\/dd><\/div><\/dl>\n        <p class=\"big\">$203.25 a week<\/p><\/div>\n      <div class=\"card\"><span class=\"tag2\">Family C<\/span><h3>$250,000, one child, 4 days<\/h3>\n        <dl><div><dt>Subsidy rate<\/dt><dd>57.70%<\/dd><\/div><div><dt>Subsidy per day<\/dt><dd>$96.41<\/dd><\/div><div><dt>Gap per day<\/dt><dd>$78.41<\/dd><\/div><\/dl>\n        <p class=\"big\">$313.64 a week<\/p><\/div>\n    <\/div>\n    <div style=\"max-width:880px;\">\n      <p>None of these families is receiving Start Strong funding or the Additional Child Care Subsidy, both of which would lower the gap further for eligible children.<\/p>\n      <p>These examples use one centre's fee on purpose. Swap in any other centre's fee and session length and the same steps give you a fair comparison.<\/p>\n      <p>Family A pays less than a third of the full $340 a week, because the subsidy covers 90% of the capped fee.<\/p>\n      <p>Family A is typical of a household with one parent working part-time. With income under $88,520, the maximum 90% rate applies, and the gap is closer to the price of a family takeaway meal than a full day of care.<\/p>\n      <p>Family B shows the sibling effect. The younger child's higher rate cuts that child's gap to about $21 a day.<\/p>\n      <p>Family C shows how the subsidy tapers. On a quarter of a million dollars the rate is still above half, so the gap is far from the full fee, but it is nearly three times Family A's daily cost.<\/p>\n      <p>Family C needs the 100-hour entitlement. Four 11-hour days use 88 hours a fortnight, above the 72-hour baseline.<\/p>\n      <p>Across a 48-week year, those weekly gaps come to about $2,605 for Family A, $9,756 for Family B and $15,055 for Family C.<\/p>\n      <p>Part of each withheld amount can come back after balancing, so the true yearly cost may be slightly lower.<\/p>\n    <\/div>\n  <\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n<!-- ============ H2 6 ============ -->\n<section class=\"sec why\">\n  <div class=\"wrap split\">\n    <div>\n      <span class=\"kick\">Read the fine print<\/span>\n      <h2>Hidden extras to check for<\/h2>\n      <p class=\"lead-p\">Hidden extras are charges that sit outside the daily fee, such as enrolment or administration fees, bonds, late pick-up fees, charges for excursions or special classes, and costs for food or nappies you must supply. None are unusual, but they change the real cost, so ask for them in writing.<\/p>\n      <p>Public holidays are often charged when they fall on a booked day. The subsidy can still apply, within your absence days.<\/p>\n      <p>Absences add up. If your child is sick for a week, the booked days are still charged, though the subsidy keeps paying for a set number of absences each financial year.<\/p>\n      <p>Late fees can be steep. Ask how they are calculated and when they start.<\/p>\n      <p>Bonds and deposits are sometimes asked for when you accept a place. Find out whether they are refundable and when.<\/p>\n      <p>School-age care has its own fees. Before and after school care is charged per session, with a lower hourly cap of $13.30 once a child is at school.<\/p>\n      <p>Fees rise too. Many centres review them once a year, so ask when the next change is due.<\/p>\n      <p>Some centres charge extra for a longer day, such as an early start or late finish outside the standard session. Check whether the session you book actually covers your working day.<\/p>\n      <p>Holiday closures matter. A centre that closes for two weeks at Christmas may mean paying for other care. Our centre stays open right through the year, including the Christmas period, apart from public holidays.<\/p>\n    <\/div>\n    <div class=\"stack\">\n      <div class=\"side card\">\n        <p class=\"side-h\">Ask every centre about<\/p>\n        <ul class=\"ticks\">\n          <li>Enrolment or admin fees<\/li>\n          <li>Bonds or deposits<\/li>\n          <li>Late pick-up charges<\/li>\n          <li>Excursion and class costs<\/li>\n          <li>Public holiday charging<\/li>\n          <li>Annual fee reviews<\/li>\n        <\/ul>\n      <\/div>\n      <div class=\"fill art a-p\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/stagingloom.com\/elc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/lead-elc-art-handprints.webp\" alt=\"Painted handprints in bright colours\" width=\"560\" height=\"472\" loading=\"lazy\"><span class=\"tag\">No surprises<\/span><\/div>\n    <\/div>\n  <\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n<!-- ============ H2 7 ============ -->\n<section class=\"sec\">\n  <div class=\"wrap\">\n    <span class=\"kick\">Your turn<\/span>\n    <h2>Estimating your own cost<\/h2>\n    <p class=\"lead-p\" style=\"max-width:880px;\">To estimate your own cost, you need four numbers: your family income, the daily fee and session length, the number of days a week, and your subsidised hours. Multiply the capped fee by your subsidy rate, take off 5%, subtract from the fee, and you have your daily gap.<\/p>\n    <ol class=\"tline\" style=\"margin-top:22px;\">\n      <li><span class=\"tm\">1<\/span><div class=\"tx card\"><h3>Find your rate<\/h3><p>Start at 90% and take one point off for every $5,000 above $88,520.<\/p><\/div><\/li>\n      <li><span class=\"tm\">2<\/span><div class=\"tx card\"><h3>Cap the fee<\/h3><p>Use the lower of the daily fee or $15.19 times the session hours.<\/p><\/div><\/li>\n      <li><span class=\"tm\">3<\/span><div class=\"tx card\"><h3>Work out the subsidy<\/h3><p>Multiply the capped fee by your rate, then take off 5% for withholding.<\/p><\/div><\/li>\n      <li><span class=\"tm\">4<\/span><div class=\"tx card\"><h3>Find the gap<\/h3><p>Subtract the subsidy paid from the full fee, then multiply by your days.<\/p><\/div><\/li>\n    <\/ol>\n    <div style=\"max-width:880px;margin-top:22px;\">\n      <p>Or skip the arithmetic. Our <a href=\"\/elc\/fees\/cost-estimator\/\">online cost estimator<\/a> does every step, including siblings and the 72 or 100-hour limit.<\/p>\n      <p>Here is the method in action for a family on $180,000 with one child. The rate is 71.70%. On the capped $167.09 that gives $119.80, or $113.81 after withholding, leaving a gap of $56.19 a day.<\/p>\n      <p>For four-year-olds, the NSW Government's Start Strong program can reduce fees again at long day care services that take part. See our <a href=\"\/elc\/fees\/start-strong-funding-nsw\/\">Start Strong explainer<\/a> for the 2026 amounts.<\/p>\n      <p>Your subsidy estimate is only as good as your income estimate. Update Centrelink if your income changes during the year.<\/p>\n      <ul class=\"ckl ticks\" style=\"max-width:880px;\"><li>Using gross fees instead of the gap after subsidy<\/li><li>Forgetting the 5% withholding when budgeting week to week<\/li><li>Booking more hours than your fortnightly entitlement covers<\/li><li>Leaving out food and nappies when a fee does not include them<\/li><li>Not updating Centrelink when income or work hours change<\/li><\/ul>\n      <p>Those five slips cause most of the surprises families tell us about, and each is easy to avoid once you know to look for it.<\/p>\n      <p>Remember to include the whole year: a 48-week estimate, plus any public holidays that fall on booked days, gives a realistic annual budget.<\/p>\n      <p>Want to talk through your numbers? Call us on <a href=\"tel:0272388668\">(02) 7238 8668<\/a> and our accounts team can walk you through them.<\/p>\n    <\/div>\n  <\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n<!-- ============ FAQ ============ -->\n<section class=\"sec why\">\n  <div class=\"wrap\">\n    <div style=\"text-align:center;max-width:780px;margin:0 auto;\">\n      <span class=\"kick\">Common questions<\/span>\n      <p class=\"fqh\">Childcare costs, answered<\/p>\n    <\/div>\n    <div class=\"faqwrap\">\n      <details class=\"fq\">\n        <summary>What is the average daily fee?<span class=\"pm\">+<\/span><\/summary>\n        <div class=\"ans\"><p>In NSW, long day care averaged $14.75 an hour in the March quarter of 2026, which is about $148 to $177 for a 10 to 12-hour day before subsidy. Individual centres vary widely around that figure, and so does what each fee includes.<\/p><\/div>\n      <\/details>\n      <details class=\"fq\">\n        <summary>Why are Sydney fees higher?<span class=\"pm\">+<\/span><\/summary>\n        <div class=\"ans\"><p>Fees in Sydney tend to run higher mainly because rent, land and wages cost more in the city than in much of regional NSW, and NSW's average sits above the national one. Comparing gaps after subsidy, not headline fees, gives the fairest picture.<\/p><\/div>\n      <\/details>\n      <details class=\"fq\">\n        <summary>What is a gap fee?<span class=\"pm\">+<\/span><\/summary>\n        <div class=\"ans\"><p>The gap fee is what you pay after the Child Care Subsidy is deducted from your fee. The government pays the subsidy straight to the centre, which then invoices you for the rest. Your gap depends on your income, the fee, the hourly cap and your subsidised hours.<\/p><\/div>\n      <\/details>\n    <\/div>\n    <p style=\"max-width:780px;margin:22px auto 0;text-align:center;\">See our <a href=\"\/elc\/\">St Ives centre<\/a> and its fees in person.<\/p>\n  <\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n<!-- ============ CTA BAND ============ -->\n<section class=\"band\">\n  <div class=\"wrap\">\n    <div>\n      <p class=\"bandh\">Know your number before you visit<\/p>\n      <p>Run your figures, then come and see what the fee includes.<\/p>\n    <\/div>\n    <a class=\"btn-y\" href=\"\/elc\/enrolment\/book-a-tour\/\">Book a Tour<\/a>\n  <\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\">\n{\n  \"@context\": \"https:\/\/schema.org\",\n  \"@graph\": [\n    {\n      \"@type\": \"WebPage\",\n      \"@id\": \"https:\/\/leadearlylearningcentres.com.au\/parent-resources\/childcare-costs-nsw\/#webpage\",\n      \"url\": \"https:\/\/leadearlylearningcentres.com.au\/parent-resources\/childcare-costs-nsw\/\",\n      \"name\": \"How Much Does Childcare Cost in NSW? 2026 Guide\",\n      \"description\": \"What childcare actually costs in NSW in 2026, what drives the differences, and how the Child Care Subsidy changes your out of pocket fee.\",\n      \"isPartOf\": {\n        \"@id\": \"https:\/\/leadearlylearningcentres.com.au\/#website\"\n      },\n      \"about\": {\n        \"@id\": \"https:\/\/leadearlylearningcentres.com.au\/#centre\"\n      },\n      \"breadcrumb\": {\n        \"@id\": \"https:\/\/leadearlylearningcentres.com.au\/parent-resources\/childcare-costs-nsw\/#breadcrumb\"\n      },\n      \"inLanguage\": \"en-AU\"\n    },\n    {\n      \"@type\": [\n        \"ChildCare\",\n        \"LocalBusiness\"\n      ],\n      \"@id\": \"https:\/\/leadearlylearningcentres.com.au\/#centre\",\n      \"name\": \"Lead Early Learning Centres\",\n      \"url\": \"https:\/\/leadearlylearningcentres.com.au\/\",\n      \"telephone\": \"+61272388668\",\n      \"address\": {\n        \"@type\": \"PostalAddress\",\n        \"streetAddress\": \"75 Killeaton Street\",\n        \"addressLocality\": \"St Ives\",\n        \"addressRegion\": \"NSW\",\n        \"postalCode\": \"2075\",\n        \"addressCountry\": \"AU\"\n      }\n    },\n    {\n      \"@type\": \"BreadcrumbList\",\n      \"@id\": \"https:\/\/leadearlylearningcentres.com.au\/parent-resources\/childcare-costs-nsw\/#breadcrumb\",\n      \"itemListElement\": [\n        {\n          \"@type\": \"ListItem\",\n          \"position\": 1,\n          \"name\": \"Home\",\n          \"item\": \"https:\/\/leadearlylearningcentres.com.au\/\"\n        },\n        {\n          \"@type\": \"ListItem\",\n          \"position\": 2,\n          \"name\": \"Parent Resources and Guides\",\n          \"item\": \"https:\/\/leadearlylearningcentres.com.au\/parent-resources\/\"\n        },\n        {\n          \"@type\": \"ListItem\",\n          \"position\": 3,\n          \"name\": \"How Much Does Childcare Cost in NSW?\",\n          \"item\": \"https:\/\/leadearlylearningcentres.com.au\/parent-resources\/childcare-costs-nsw\/\"\n        }\n      ]\n    },\n    {\n      \"@type\": \"Article\",\n      \"@id\": \"https:\/\/leadearlylearningcentres.com.au\/parent-resources\/childcare-costs-nsw\/#article\",\n      \"headline\": \"How Much Does Childcare Cost in NSW?\",\n      \"description\": \"Average NSW childcare fees in 2026 from government data, why fees vary between centres, what all-inclusive fees save, how the Child Care Subsidy changes the real cost, worked examples and hidden extras to check.\",\n      \"inLanguage\": \"en-AU\",\n      \"author\": {\n        \"@id\": \"https:\/\/leadearlylearningcentres.com.au\/#centre\"\n      },\n      \"publisher\": {\n        \"@id\": \"https:\/\/leadearlylearningcentres.com.au\/#centre\"\n      },\n      \"mainEntityOfPage\": \"https:\/\/leadearlylearningcentres.com.au\/parent-resources\/childcare-costs-nsw\/\",\n      \"image\": \"https:\/\/stagingloom.com\/elc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/lead-elc-kids-cooking-class.webp\",\n      \"datePublished\": \"2026-09-25\",\n      \"dateModified\": \"2026-09-25\"\n    },\n    {\n      \"@type\": \"FAQPage\",\n      \"@id\": \"https:\/\/leadearlylearningcentres.com.au\/parent-resources\/childcare-costs-nsw\/#faq\",\n      \"mainEntity\": [\n        {\n          \"@type\": \"Question\",\n          \"name\": \"What is the average daily fee?\",\n          \"acceptedAnswer\": {\n            \"@type\": \"Answer\",\n            \"text\": \"In NSW, long day care averaged $14.75 an hour in the March quarter of 2026, which is about $148 to $177 for a 10 to 12-hour day before subsidy. 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