Child care costs in Nova Scotia (2026)
Rules verified against official sources on 2026-07-05. Figures below are computed by the same engine as our cost calculator.
Nova Scotia has not reached $10-a-day child care as of mid-2026. Instead, fixed daily reductions (in force since December 31, 2022) come off each funded provider's fee: $23.00/day for centre infant care, $18.25 for toddler and preschool, $10.00 for school-age, and $16.50–$17.00 in licensed family homes. What parents actually pay still varies by provider, because the reduction is fixed while sticker fees are not.
Families with assessed household income of $70,000 or less can also apply for Nova Scotia's sliding-scale Child Care Subsidy (children 12 and under; the asset test was removed in May 2024) — many lower-income families pay little or nothing. The exact scale isn't published, so MapleCub flags eligibility rather than inventing amounts.
What full-time care typically costs in Nova Scotia
Monthly figures at a typical (median) provider fee, full-time centre care, before any income-tested subsidy. Universal programs (fee caps, automatic reductions) are applied; income-tested help can lower these further.
| Age group | Typical provider fee | What parents pay | Applied program |
|---|---|---|---|
| Infant | $1,020/mo | $521.67/mo | Nova Scotia fee reduction (automatic) |
| Toddler | $900/mo | $504.58/mo | Nova Scotia fee reduction (automatic) |
| Preschool | $880/mo | $484.58/mo | Nova Scotia fee reduction (automatic) |
Typical fees are market medians; your provider's fee may differ. Use the calculator for your own income and situation.
Common questions
Is Nova Scotia child care $10 a day in 2026?
No. Nova Scotia applies fixed daily fee reductions (e.g. $23/day off centre infant care, in force since December 2022) rather than a flat parent fee, and had not announced reaching the $10/day average as of July 2026.
Who qualifies for Nova Scotia's child care subsidy?
Families with assessed household income of $70,000 or less, for children 12 and under. The asset test was removed in May 2024. It's a sliding scale on top of the universal fee reductions — apply online or ask your provider.
Official sources
- https://childcarenovascotia.ca/families/50-percent-fee-reduction
- https://childcarenovascotia.ca/families/child-care-subsidy
Estimate your own cost in Nova Scotia
The MapleCub calculator applies these rules to your income, hours, and child's age — including income-tested subsidies not shown in the table above.
Open the cost calculator →