Child care costs in Ontario (2026)
Rules verified against official sources on 2026-07-05. Figures below are computed by the same engine as our cost calculator.
Ontario is not at $10-a-day child care in 2026. Under the CWELCC agreement, parent fees for children under six at enrolled licensed programs are capped at $22 per day (about $19 on average), and the November 2025 one-year extension holds that cap through December 31, 2026 — the move to a $10 average has been deferred with no announced date. Children keep CWELCC pricing until the end of the month they turn six, or until June 30 for children turning six in the first half of the year while enrolled in an eligible group.
On top of the cap, Ontario runs an income-tested fee subsidy through municipalities: families pay nothing at or below $20,000 of family net income, 10% of income between $20,000 and $40,000, and $2,000 plus 30% of income above $40,000 per year (O. Reg. 138/15). The contribution is one amount per family, split equally across children in care, and each CWELCC-enrolled child's share is halved. If the computed monthly contribution is under $10, the family pays nothing. New subsidies cannot be used at non-enrolled programs for children under six.
What full-time care typically costs in Ontario
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 | $1,866/mo | $476.67/mo | CWELCC fee cap ($22/day) |
| Toddler | $1,578/mo | $476.67/mo | CWELCC fee cap ($22/day) |
| Preschool | $1,250/mo | $476.67/mo | CWELCC fee cap ($22/day) |
Typical fees are market medians; your provider's fee may differ. Use the calculator for your own income and situation.
Common questions
Is daycare $10 a day in Ontario in 2026?
No. The federal $10-a-day average is the CWELCC target, but Ontario's fees are held at the $22/day cap (~$19/day average) through December 31, 2026 under the one-year extension signed in late 2025. The $10 average has been deferred with no announced date.
How much is licensed infant care in Ontario in 2026?
At a CWELCC-enrolled program, at most $22/day — about $477/month full-time — regardless of the provider's sticker price. Income-tested municipal fee subsidies can reduce that further, to $0 for family net incomes at or below $20,000.
Official sources
- https://www.ontario.ca/page/canada-ontario-early-years-and-child-care-agreement
- https://www.ontario.ca/laws/regulation/150138
- https://www.canada.ca/en/employment-social-development/news/2025/12/canada-and-ontario-agree-to-one-year-extension-of-the-canada-wide-early-learning-and-child-care-agreement.html
Estimate your own cost in Ontario
The MapleCub calculator applies these rules to your income, hours, and child's age — including income-tested subsidies not shown in the table above.
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