LIVING IN OTTAWA
Childcare Costs in Ottawa: What Families Pay in 2026
Last updated: October 2026 · Part of our Living in Ottawa guide
Childcare costs in Ottawa for children under 6 are capped at $22 a day at licensed programs enrolled in the Canada-Wide Early Learning and Child Care system, and Ontario reports a provincial average of $19 a day. The catch is availability: families often join waitlists through the City’s Child Care Registry and Waitlist, and full-fee programs outside the system cost more.
This guide explains what you’ll pay, how to find a space, who qualifies for help and how child care can shape where you buy.
How Much Is Daycare in Ottawa?
For a child under 6 at a licensed program enrolled in the Canada-Wide Early Learning and Child Care (CWELCC) system, Ontario says reduced fees were capped at $22 a day as of January 1, 2025, bringing the provincial average to $19 a day. The Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives’ August 2026 fee survey found that parents in Ontario’s large cities paid $22 a day for infant and preschool spaces in the program.
At $22 a day for about 21 days a month, that works out to roughly $460 a month per child before any subsidy.
Costs are higher if:
- Your provider isn’t enrolled in CWELCC
- Your child is 6 or older (after the age limits below)
- You need care outside regular hours
- You choose a private program, such as some Montessori or nanny arrangements
How Ontario’s Fee Reduction Works
According to Ontario’s child care agreement page:
- Fees at enrolled programs were cut by up to 25% in April 2022 and by another 37% at the end of 2022, for a combined reduction of 52.75%, then capped at $22 a day from January 1, 2025.
- Children under 6 qualify. A child who turns 6 before June 30 can usually stay eligible until June 30 if they’re in a licensed preschool, kindergarten, family age group or home child care program.
- Families don’t apply for the reduction. It’s applied automatically by enrolled providers.
Ontario gives the example of an 18-month-old whose care fell from $62 to $22 a day, a saving of more than $10,400 over a full year.
What $22 a Day Adds Up To
| Ottawa (CWELCC cap) | Gatineau (Quebec subsidized rate) | |
|---|---|---|
| Per day | $22.00 | $9.65 |
| Per month (about 21 days) | About $460 | About $200 |
| Per year (about 252 days) | About $5,540 | About $2,430 |
These are estimates for one child in full-time care before any fee subsidy, based on Ontario’s cap and Quebec’s 2026 rate. Before Ontario joined the national program, some Ontario spaces cost more than $70 a day, The Canadian Press reported.
Will Ottawa Get $10-a-Day Child Care?
Not in the near term. In September 2026, Ontario and the federal government agreed to a four-year extension of the national program, with funding to at least 2031. Ontario committed to keep fees at a $22 cap and about $19 a day on average until June 30, 2027, and what happens after that is still under discussion, according to The Canadian Press. Ontario is one of three provinces with set fees above $10 a day.
How Hard Is It to Get a Space in Ottawa?
Lower fees have driven demand far ahead of supply. As of September 2026, about 8,500 children were on Ottawa’s central child care waitlist, and the number of families looking for care had risen about 300% since 2019. The City says it meets roughly three-quarters of demand and needs about 7,400 more spaces, even after the province allocated about 2,900 new spaces to Ottawa between 2023 and 2026, The Canadian Press reported. Province-wide, Ontario had created just under 60,000 of the 86,000 affordable spaces it promised and now aims to reach the target by March 31, 2027.
What that means for families:
- Register early. Many parents join the registry during pregnancy, or as soon as they know their move date.
- Apply widely. Use all your choices, including home-based programs, and rank them carefully.
- Look near work and home. A space near your office can be easier to find than one near your house, depending on the area.
- Plan a backup. Parental leave timing, a relative or a temporary private arrangement can bridge a gap.
Finding a Space: The Ottawa Child Care Registry and Waitlist
The City of Ottawa’s Child Care Registry and Waitlist is the main way to apply for licensed child care. You can:
- Search centre-based, school-based, nursery and home-based programs, including CWELCC-enrolled providers
- Apply to up to nine centre or school programs and five home-based programs
- Rank your choices, so your child stays on the waitlists for higher-ranked programs even after accepting a space elsewhere
- Indicate that you need a fee subsidy
Apply early. Many families register during pregnancy or as soon as they know their move date, and infant spaces are often the hardest to find. If you need help with the system, call 3-1-1.
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Child Care Fee Subsidy in Ottawa
The City offers a child care fee subsidy for families who need help with costs. Key points:
- Reason for care: you must be working, in school or training, looking for work (up to six months in a 24-month period), or have another qualifying reason, such as a social or special need.
- Financial need: based on family income. The City’s online calculator gives a screening estimate.
- Space first: you must secure a space at a CWELCC-enrolled program before your subsidy eligibility is assessed.
- Timing: applications are processed up to 90 days before your preferred start date.
- Your contribution: depends on family income, your child’s age, the program and monthly hours of care.
Ontario says parent contributions for subsidized children in CWELCC programs were cut by half under the agreement.
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Types of Child Care in Ottawa
- Licensed child care centres: infant, toddler and preschool rooms, often with longer waitlists for infants.
- Licensed home child care: care in a provider’s home, supervised by a licensed agency.
- School-based programs: child care located in schools, including before- and after-school care for kindergarten and school-age children.
- Nursery schools: part-day programs for preschoolers.
- Unlicensed home care: private arrangements with limits on the number of children. These aren’t inspected the way licensed programs are.
You can check any licensed program’s status and recent inspection reports with Ontario’s licensed child care search.
Before- and After-School Care
Once children start kindergarten, many families need care before and after the school day. Ontario’s school boards are required to make before- and after-school programs available for kindergarten to Grade 6, either running them directly or through third-party providers. At the OCDSB, these are part of its Extended Day Program.
Ask your designated school which provider runs its program, the daily fee and whether there’s a waitlist. Before- and after-school programs are also included in the City’s fee subsidy.
Tax Help for Child Care Costs
Eligible families can claim child care expenses as a deduction on their income tax return, according to the Canada Revenue Agency. Limits depend on the child’s age and other rules, so check the CRA’s details or ask your accountant. Ontario also continues to offer the Ontario Child Care Tax Credit for eligible families.
Ottawa vs Gatineau Child Care Costs
Across the river in Quebec, subsidized child care costs $9.65 a day in 2026. That’s about $12 a day less than Ottawa’s cap, or roughly $260 a month per child over 21 days of care.
For some families with young children, that gap is a reason to consider Gatineau. But Quebec’s higher income tax, French-language schooling rules and different health and auto insurance systems also matter. See our full comparison of Ottawa vs Gatineau.
Child Care and Where You Buy
Child care is a daily trip, often in both directions. When you’re choosing a home, think about:
- Distance: a space near home or near work saves time every day.
- School-based care: a home near your designated elementary school can simplify before- and after-school care later.
- New subdivisions: child care spaces may lag behind new housing in fast-growing suburbs, so check availability early.
Our guides to cost of living in Ottawa, the best family neighbourhoods in Ottawa and Ottawa schools help you weigh the full picture.
Planning a Move With Young Children?
Jason can help you choose an area that works for daycare, school and your commute. Call or text (613) 601-9333.
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Working With Jason Polonski
Jason Polonski is an Ottawa REALTOR® with Right at Home Realty and more than 15 years of experience helping families buy homes across the city. He helps young families think through the daily logistics, from daycare and school runs to commuting, before they choose a neighbourhood.
His background in construction and the electrical trades helps him assess a home’s condition, and his Bachelor of Commerce from Concordia University, with a double major in Marketing and Finance, helps families build child care into a realistic housing budget. Read his Google reviews or learn more about Jason.
Frequently Asked Questions About Childcare Costs in Ottawa
At licensed programs enrolled in CWELCC, fees for children under 6 are capped at $22 a day, and Ontario reports a provincial average of $19 a day. Programs outside the system can cost more.
Not yet. Ontario capped fees at $22 a day from January 1, 2025, and the provincial average is $19 a day.
Create an account on the City of Ottawa’s Child Care Registry and Waitlist, then apply to up to nine centre or school programs and five home-based programs.
Families with financial need who are working, studying, looking for work or have another qualifying reason. You must first secure a space at a CWELCC-enrolled program.
No. Enrolled providers apply the reduction automatically for eligible children under 6.
Yes. Quebec’s subsidized rate is $9.65 a day in 2026, though spaces are limited and other costs of living in Quebec differ.
As of September 2026, about 8,500 children were on Ottawa’s central waitlist, and the City estimated it needed about 7,400 more spaces to meet demand. Register as early as you can and apply to several programs.
Not yet. Under the September 2026 extension of the national program, Ontario committed to keep fees at a $22 cap, about $19 a day on average, until June 30, 2027. What happens after that hasn’t been decided.
At the $22 daily cap, full-time care works out to about $460 a month, or roughly $5,500 a year per child, before any fee subsidy.
