👶 Life Decision Hub

Can You Afford to Have a Baby in Australia?

Having a baby changes your finances in ways most people don't fully anticipate. Childcare alone can cost $25,000–$45,000 a year before government support. This hub connects every calculator, guide, and comparison you need to plan with real numbers — not guesses.

🏫 Compare childcare options💰 Calculate return to work income

The decisions that matter most

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Childcare costs

Compare long day care, family day care, and occasional care — costs, flexibility, and what suits different families.

Compare options →
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Return to work

Model what you actually take home after childcare fees, the CCS, income tax, and lost government payments.

Run the numbers →
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Government support

Understand the Child Care Subsidy — who gets what, how the subsidy is calculated, and how to claim it.

Read the guide →
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Total family cost

Place childcare into the broader cost of having and raising a child instead of treating it as a stand-alone expense.

See the long-term picture →

How it all fits together

From salary to net outcome — the financial flow

Step 1
Your gross salary
Sets your tax rate and CCS eligibility
Step 2
Childcare fees
Long day care is $120–$200/day before subsidy
Step 3
CCS applied
Subsidy reduces your daily fee by 0–90%
Step 4
Net outcome
What you actually take home each week

The Return to Work Calculator handles this full chain automatically. Enter your salary, childcare fees, and days per week — it calculates your net weekly gain, effective hourly rate, and how your income compares to the cost of going back. Use the Salary After Tax Calculator first to establish your base take-home pay.

Supporting guides & comparisons

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Childcare Costs in Australia (2026)
National averages, cost by type, and what families pay after the Child Care Subsidy.
7 min read →
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Is Childcare Worth It?
The honest financial and lifestyle tradeoff — modelled for real Australian family scenarios.
6 min read →
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Cost of Having a Baby in Australia
From hospital and baby gear to the first year of childcare — a full cost breakdown.
8 min read →
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Childcare Cost by City
How daily childcare costs compare across Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, and Adelaide.
5 min read →
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CCS Calculator Explained
How the Child Care Subsidy is calculated, with worked examples for different incomes.
6 min read →

See childcare pressure at common income levels

Childcare cost on $60,000
$60,000 is the kind of income where childcare costs can quickly feel heavy unless CCS, provider choice, and the number of care days are working in your favour.
Childcare cost on $70,000
$70,000 is the kind of income where childcare costs can quickly feel heavy unless CCS, provider choice, and the number of care days are working in your favour.
Childcare cost on $80,000
$80,000 is often the point where childcare starts to feel potentially manageable, but only once CCS, location, and take-home pay are considered together.
Childcare cost on $100,000
$100,000 usually gives more flexibility around childcare decisions, but CCS and provider pricing still make a meaningful difference to the final out-of-pocket result.
Childcare cost on $120,000
$120,000 usually gives more flexibility around childcare decisions, but CCS and provider pricing still make a meaningful difference to the final out-of-pocket result.

Estimate childcare cost by days per week

Childcare cost for 1 day a week
Useful for easing into paid work, creating one regular workday, or giving families a light-touch childcare benchmark before committing to more days.
Childcare cost for 2 days a week
A common early part-time pattern for parents returning to work and trying to keep childcare spend below a full three-day schedule.
Childcare cost for 3 days a week
Three days is one of the most practical return-to-work benchmarks because it often balances income, routine, and childcare costs better than either two or five days.
Childcare cost for 4 days a week
Four days a week usually starts to feel like near-full-time childcare, and the main trade-off becomes how much additional income is left after fees and subsidy.
Childcare cost for 5 days a week
This is the full-time childcare benchmark most families compare against when deciding whether both parents will work full time or one parent will reduce hours.

Estimate childcare cost by city

Childcare cost in Sydney
Sydney tends to sit at the higher end of childcare fees, especially where provider fees run well above the CCS hourly cap.
Childcare cost in Melbourne
Melbourne childcare costs are often close to Sydney overall, but suburb choice makes a bigger difference than many families expect.
Childcare cost in Brisbane
Brisbane usually sits below Sydney and Melbourne on childcare fees, which can make part-time return-to-work scenarios easier to justify.
Childcare cost in Perth
Perth generally benchmarks as a more manageable childcare market than Sydney or Melbourne, though fees still vary by provider and suburb.
Childcare cost in Adelaide
Adelaide usually sits at the more affordable end of major-city childcare benchmarks, which can materially improve net return-to-work outcomes.

Model common return-to-work scenarios

Return to work on $60,000 · 3 days
A common tighter-budget scenario where childcare, CCS, and tax all matter.
Return to work on $80,000 · 3 days
A common mid-income scenario balancing childcare cost and net gain.
Return to work on $100,000 · 5 days
A higher-income benchmark showing the full-time work and childcare trade-off.

Understand your income first

How much do you actually take home?

Your after-tax salary is the starting point for all childcare affordability calculations. Know your real take-home pay before modelling childcare costs and CCS — then use the Return to Work Calculator to see the full picture.

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Salary After Tax Calculator
Your take-home pay after income tax and Medicare levy
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Return to Work Calculator
Net income after childcare fees, CCS, tax, and lost benefits
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Living Expenses Calculator
Monthly costs — so you know what you have left for childcare
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Budget Planner
Build a baby budget across all income and expense categories

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Getting Married
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Costs, logistics, and what to sort before you go
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Going Freelance
Rates, finances, tax, and setup — done right

Common questions

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