Childcare costs make me nauseous. Not in the abstract way — in the way where you open a spreadsheet, see the number, and close your laptop for the rest of the day. We are incredibly lucky. We live somewhere with free pre-K starting at age 3, and we moved back home for two years during the pandemic, which saved us a small fortune in those early years. For a long time, we chose not to have a nanny. It was a sacrifice — for our relationship, for our own mental health on the hard days. But we believed it kept us financially strong, and it gave us something we would not trade: an extremely tight-knit bond with our kids. Having said that, we do have a nanny now. Because at some point, you need downtime just to function. This calculator breaks down what you are actually paying per hour across four options — nanny, daycare, au pair, and nanny share — including the hidden costs like employer taxes, backup care, and PTO that never show up in the quoted rate.
How the Calculator Works
This calculator compares four childcare options side-by-side: full-time nanny, daycare center, au pair, and nanny share. It includes hidden costs most families overlook — employer FICA taxes (7.65%), workers compensation insurance, paid time off, backup care days, and registration fees.
All rates are based on 2025-2026 data from Care.com, the U.S. State Department (au pair stipend minimums), and regional childcare cost surveys. Select your city for location-adjusted defaults.
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