Perth Childcare Costs 2025 — What You'll Actually Pay

Perth childcare fees are among the highest in Australia — a significant financial consideration for families planning to return to work. Understanding both the full fee and your likely out-of-pocket cost after the Child Care Subsidy is essential for accurate family budget planning.

Average Perth Childcare Fees in 2025

Long day care daily fees in Perth typically range from $130 to $170 per day, depending on the centre, suburb, and the child's age group. Inner suburban and coastal Perth centres tend to be at the higher end of this range. Outer suburban centres are generally more affordable. Fees for under-2s are typically higher than for older children due to lower educator-to-child ratios required for infants.

The Child Care Subsidy — How It Works

The Child Care Subsidy (CCS) is the Federal Government's primary support mechanism for reducing childcare costs. It's means-tested and activity-tested — what you receive depends on your family's combined income and how many hours of recognised activities (work, study, volunteering, etc.) you undertake.

The subsidy is paid directly to your childcare provider, who charges you the "gap fee" — the difference between the full fee and your subsidy. Your actual out-of-pocket cost is this gap, not the full daily rate.

Worked Example

For a Perth family earning $160,000 combined, using a centre charging $155/day, 4 days per week: the CCS rate at this income is approximately 65%, meaning the government pays $100.75/day and your gap fee is $54.25/day. For 4 days, your weekly out-of-pocket cost is approximately $217 — significantly more affordable than the headline $620/week full fee.

At lower incomes, the subsidy increases substantially — families earning under $80,000 may receive up to 90% subsidy, dramatically reducing their childcare cost.

Second Child Discount

From 2023, the Australian Government increased the CCS subsidy to 95% for second and subsequent children aged under 5 in care simultaneously. This significantly reduces out-of-pocket costs for Perth families with two or more children in childcare at the same time.

OSHC vs Long Day Care

Outside School Hours Care (OSHC) — before and after school care and vacation care — is also CCS-eligible and typically cheaper per session than long day care. Perth primary school OSHC fees range from $25–$45 per session before subsidy. Vacation care is priced per day and varies by program activities.