Free interactive calculator

Childcare Cost Comparison Calculator (2026)

Warm illustration of a parent holding their toddler

Childcare might be the biggest check your family ever writes. And nobody quotes it the same way twice. Daycares talk weekly. Nannies talk hourly. Au pairs bundle it all together. It’s exhausting. This free calculator lines up all six options — daycare center, home daycare, nanny, nanny share, au pair, grandparent care — on the same annual, monthly, and per-hour basis. Plug in your rates. Add your dependent care FSA tax savings. Your lowest-cost option lights up instantly. Built around 2026 figures and tax limits. Estimates only — always confirm with your 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 — completely. No account, no signup, no payment. It just runs in your browser.

Where do the numbers I enter go?

Nowhere. They save on your device so you can pick up where you left off. Nothing is uploaded, tracked, or shared.

Does it account for tax savings?

Yes. Enter your tax rate and dependent care FSA contribution to see your true after-tax cost. It uses 2026 limits — tax rules change yearly, so double-check current figures before you decide.

What is the cheapest childcare option?

That’s exactly what this calculator is for — it depends on your area, hours, and kids. As a rough rule: grandparent care is cheapest when you’re lucky enough to have it, then home daycare. Nannies usually cost the most.

Is this financial advice?

No. It’s a planning aid, not professional advice. For the big calls, talk to a qualified tax or financial professional.

Want the full kit?

Loved this calculator? It’s one of ten tools in the Childcare Decision Toolkit on Etsy — workbooks, interview questions, tour scorecards, FSA planners, and checklists to carry you from first quote to first day.

Get the full toolkit on Etsy