Zurich Childcare Cost Calculator

Estimate daycare costs in Zurich and the effect of the city’s childcare subsidies for preschool children. The calculator uses the official contribution-factor method and Zurich’s published minimum and maximum tariffs.

Official Zurich tariff logic
Preschool care (0–4 years)
Monthly and yearly estimate

How the estimate works

The city sets a minimum tariff and a maximum tariff. Your personal contribution factor is based on your massgebender Betrag divided by CHF 100,000, capped at 100%.

That factor is applied between the minimum and maximum tariff to estimate your parent contribution and the subsidy effect.

Inputs

Use the amount Zurich would treat as your contribution basis, or enter your best estimate.
These are subtracted from the contribution basis.
Choose a Zurich-supported care format. The tariff card updates automatically.
For Kita, enter days per week. For Tagesfamilie, enter hours per week.
The calculator multiplies the result by the number of children.
Only use this when your provider charges a different full price. Otherwise leave it off and the calculator will use Zurich’s official maximum tariff as the reference.
This becomes the unsubsidized reference price for your estimate.
Official Zurich basis used here: the contribution factor is derived from the massgebender Betrag divided by the CHF 100,000 threshold; the parent fee is minimum tariff plus the maximum tariff difference multiplied by that factor; and preschool weekly fees are converted to a monthly flat rate using factor 4.0.

Results

Contribution factor
0.0%
Subsidy applies below the threshold
Estimated monthly parent fee
48.00 CHF
For 1 child(ren)
Estimated monthly subsidy effect
432.00 CHF
Compared with the selected full price reference
Estimated annual parent fee
576.00 CHF
Care days per year (estimated): 48.00 days

Calculation breakdown

Selected tariffKita – ganzer Tag
Minimum tariff per unit12.00 CHF
Maximum tariff per unit120.00 CHF
Massgebender Betrag0.00 CHF
Contribution factor0.00%
Parent fee per unit12.00 CHF
Units per week1.00
Monthly reference fee480.00 CHF
Monthly subsidy effect432.00 CHF
Annual subsidy effect5'184.00 CHF
Notes: This estimate follows Zurich’s published framework for family daycare and preschool childcare. The city’s contribution factor is valid for a year and is usually based on the newest definitive tax assessment. If your current income/wealth situation differs materially, Zurich can use current evidence instead.