Kids · Canada
Alberta Child Care Costs in 2026: Affordability Grants, Subsidy and What You Pay
In Alberta, child care for children up to kindergarten age costs a flat parent fee of $326.25 a month for full-time care, or $230 for part-time, if the licensed daycare or family day home receives provincial affordability funding. That flat fee replaced income-based fees on 1 April 2025. Optional services such as meals or transportation can cost extra. For children in full-time kindergarten through grade 6, before- and after-school care is outside that funding, but families with income under $90,000 can apply for the Child Care Subsidy Program.
Key takeaways
- Flat parent fee: $326.25 a month for 100 or more hours, $230 for 50 to 99 hours, at providers with affordability funding.
- The child must be kindergarten age or younger, and in care during school hours if kindergarten age. Ask the provider whether it receives affordability funding.
- Optional services can cost extra if participation is voluntary: meals, transportation, field trips, extended hours, supplies.
- Out-of-school care for full-time kindergarten to grade 6 is not in affordability funding. The Child Care Subsidy covers families under $90,000.
- Example with made-up inputs: a full-time toddler at $326.25 plus $60 of optional meals is $386.25 a month.
The flat parent fee
Alberta's childcare fees page says the province moved to a flat fee of $15 a day on 1 April 2025. In monthly terms, a child kindergarten age or younger at a licensed daycare or family day home that receives affordability funding pays $326.25 a month for full-time care of 100 or more hours, and $230 a month for part-time care of 50 to 99 hours. You pay the provider directly, not the government.
The flat fee does not apply if the program does not receive affordability funding, if the child is registered for fewer than 50 hours a month, or if the child attends full-time kindergarten or is older than kindergarten age. Providers choose each year whether to sign an affordability grant agreement, so ask before you register.
| Situation | What you pay |
|---|---|
| Kindergarten age or younger, 100+ hours a month, funded provider | $326.25 a month |
| Kindergarten age or younger, 50 to 99 hours a month, funded provider | $230 a month |
| Licensed preschool | Provider's fee, reduced by up to $100 a month of funding |
| Provider without affordability funding | Provider's own fee |
| Out-of-school care, full-time kindergarten to grade 6 | Provider's fee; Child Care Subsidy may apply under $90,000 |
Optional services and fees
Providers may charge for optional services if participation is voluntary. Alberta lists examples: meals or snacks, transportation, field trips or on-site learning, cultural activities or special classes, extended hours or overnight care, and supplies such as diapers or sunscreen. Ask for the list in writing and decide which you need. If you have concerns, Childcare Connect is at 1-844-644-5165.
The Child Care Subsidy for kindergarten to grade 6
Families earning under $90,000 in gross income, with children in full-time kindergarten to grade 6 at a licensed program outside school hours, can apply for the Child Care Subsidy. Income is taken from line 15000 of your most recent CRA notice of assessment. The rate depends on income, grade, program type and monthly hours.
| Family income | Kindergarten, facility (100 hours) | Grades 1 to 6 (50 hours) |
|---|---|---|
| $0 to $49,999 | $644 | $366 |
| $60,000 to $64,999 | $483 | $275 |
| $70,000 to $74,999 | $354 | $201 |
| $80,000 to $84,999 | $225 | $128 |
| $85,000 to $89,999 | $161 | $92 |
In July and August, the school-age rate rises to the full-day rate to match longer hours, then returns in September. An extended-hours top-up of $100 a month per child is available for approved care outside 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. or on weekends.
Other help and the tax deduction
Alberta also lists the Alberta Child and Family Benefit, the Alberta Child Health Benefit and Family Support for Children with Disabilities. Alberta Supports is at 1-877-644-9992. What you pay after the flat fee or subsidy can be claimed under the federal child care expense deduction.
Example with made-up inputs: one toddler and one grade 2 child
These numbers are an example with made-up inputs, not provider fees. A family earns $72,000. The toddler attends full-time at a funded daycare: $326.25, plus $60 of optional meals. The grade 2 child attends after-school care with a made-up $600 fee; the subsidy for the $70,000 to $74,999 band is $201 if the hours are met, leaving $399. The monthly total is $785.25.
| Child | Fee | Help | Family pays |
|---|---|---|---|
| Toddler, funded daycare | $326.25 + $60 meals | Flat fee already applied | $386.25 |
| Grade 2, after-school | $600 | $201 subsidy | $399 |
| Total | $785.25 |
Sources
- Alberta.ca, Childcare fees, as of 1 Oct 2026. Flat $15 a day from 1 April 2025; $326.25 full-time and $230 part-time; eligibility; optional services; preschool funding up to $100; out-of-school care outside affordability funding; Childcare Connect 1-844-644-5165; Alberta Supports 1-877-644-9992.
- Alberta.ca, Child Care Subsidy Program, as of 1 Oct 2026. Under $90,000; line 15000; Table 1 rates; summer rates; $100 extended-hours top-up.
- Income Tax Act, section 63. Federal child care expense deduction.
- The $60 meals, $600 after-school fee and $72,000 income in the example are made-up inputs.
Frequently asked questions
How much is daycare in Alberta in 2026?
At a licensed daycare or family day home that receives affordability funding, a child kindergarten age or younger pays a flat $326.25 a month for 100 or more hours, or $230 for 50 to 99 hours. Optional services can cost extra.
Why isn't my Alberta daycare charging the flat fee?
The flat fee applies only if the provider receives affordability funding, the child is registered for at least 50 hours a month, and the child is kindergarten age or younger and not in full-time kindergarten. Ask the provider whether it signed an affordability grant agreement.
Is before- and after-school care covered by Alberta's flat fee?
No. Out-of-school care is not eligible for affordability funding. Families with children in full-time kindergarten to grade 6 and income under $90,000 can apply for the Child Care Subsidy Program.
How much is the Alberta child care subsidy?
It depends on income, grade, program and hours. At income under $50,000, the maximum is $644 a month for kindergarten in a facility with 100 hours and $366 for grades 1 to 6 with 50 hours, falling to $161 and $92 in the $85,000 to $89,999 band.
Can Alberta daycares charge extra fees?
Providers may charge for optional services if participation is voluntary, such as meals, transportation, field trips, extended hours or supplies. Childcare Connect at 1-844-644-5165 takes questions.
Researched and drafted with AI assistance and fact-checked against official Canadian sources. How we create content.
Disclosure: No provider is recommended or ranked. Saving Optimizer may earn a commission if a partner link is added later; no partnership is claimed. Education only. Confirm amounts with Alberta's childcare pages.