If you are asking how much childcare costs in Switzerland, the honest first answer is: it depends on where you live. There is no single national price list. Each canton, and often each municipality (Gemeinde), decides how childcare is funded, who gets help and what parents pay. This guide explains the system step by step, so you can plan from home before you land.
Why there is no single price
Childcare here is a patchwork. Some places run public daycare centers, some support private ones with money from the municipality, and some leave nearly everything to the market. Two families with the same income can pay very different amounts only because they live on opposite sides of a canton border.
Three things shape the bill most:
- The place. Large cities usually have more places and more rules; small villages may have few formal options.
- Your household income. Many subsidized centers set the parent contribution on a sliding scale linked to income.
- How much care you book. A few mornings a week costs far less than full days, and meals are often billed separately.
Because of this, any single figure quoted online is only a rough picture. Ask the municipality or the center for its current fee table before you compare.
The main types of care
Daycare centers (Kinderkrippe, crèche)
A daycare center takes babies and young children before they start school. Opening hours are long, usually across the working day, and children are grouped by age. Families book fixed days each week. This is the option most international parents think of first, and it is the one with the longest waiting lists.
Day families and childminders (Tagesfamilie)
A childminder looks after a small group of children at home. Many are linked to an association that checks the setting and helps with contracts and payments. The atmosphere is more intimate, and hours can be more flexible than in a center.
Nannies and au pairs
A nanny or au pair works in your home. This is private employment, so a contract, social insurance contributions and tax questions come with it. Rules on au pairs depend on the person's nationality and permit status, so ask the authorities about the exact conditions rather than relying on hearsay.
Playgroups (Spielgruppe)
A playgroup is a short, play-based session for children shortly before kindergarten. It is more about socializing and language than about covering a work schedule.
After-school care (Tagesschule, Hort, Mittagstisch)
Once children are in school, the school day has gaps: a lunch break that many children spend at home in traditional Swiss families, and free afternoons. After-school care fills these gaps with lunch supervision, homework help and activities. Some schools run a full day-school model; others offer optional modules that parents book and pay for.
What affects the cost in practice
When you receive a fee table, look at these points:
- Subsidy rules. Ask whether the center is supported by the municipality and whether residents get a reduced rate.
- Residence. Some funding is open only to families registered in that municipality. Registration with the municipality is required within 14 days of arrival in most places, and it may be the key that unlocks local support.
- Meals and extras. Lunch, snacks, diapers, outings and holiday supplements may sit outside the base fee.
- Closing weeks. Many centers close for a few weeks a year; you may still pay for those days or need a backup plan.
- Notice periods. Contracts usually run with a notice period, so read the cancellation terms.
For other big budget lines, see what health insurance costs and what international schools cost. Childcare often sits between those two when you plan a family budget.
Waiting lists: how they work
Popular centers fill early. Many families put their child on a list well before they need a place, sometimes while still pregnant. A place is not assured by registering, and priority rules differ: some centers favor siblings, some favor children of local residents, some simply go by date.
Practical ways to improve your odds from abroad:
- Contact several centers, not one.
- Ask whether you can register before you have a Swiss address, and what proof they want.
- Ask which start dates are most common, since places often open at the start of the school year.
- Keep a second option in mind, such as a childminder or a nanny, for the gap.
Arrival timing matters too. If you land in the middle of the year, spaces are scarcer, and a temporary arrangement may be needed at first.
From waiting list to first day: the steps
Preparing from abroad
You can do a lot before the move. Search for housing with childcare in mind: a flat close to a good center can save hours each week. The city comparator helps you weigh towns side by side, and the relocation calendar shows what to do and when.
Preparation checklist:
- Choose two or three possible municipalities
- Ask each for its childcare fee table and subsidy rules
- Register your child on several waiting lists
- Gather birth certificates and vaccination records
- Ask whether a Swiss address is needed to register
- Plan a backup, such as a childminder or temporary nanny
- Arrange basic health insurance for your child, which is compulsory within three months of taking up residence
Basic health insurance applies to children as well as adults, and cover is backdated to the date of arrival if the deadline is respected. More detail is in the health insurance cost guide.
Examples to picture it
Example: a family of three arriving from Toronto. Both parents work, and their toddler needs care on most weekdays. They shortlist two towns, ask for fee tables, and join several waiting lists from Canada. Once they arrive, a childminder covers the gap until a daycare place opens.
Example: a couple from Bangalore with a six-year-old. Their child enters the local school, so their need is lunch and afternoon supervision. They ask the school about its after-school modules before they choose a flat.
School-age children and after-school care
Once your child is in school, what you need depends on the school's model. Some schools finish at lunchtime on certain days, which surprises many newcomers. Ask about school hours, lunch arrangements and optional care modules when you enroll your child. You can read how the whole system fits together in How Swiss schools work, and how public school works for international children.
If you are weighing private options, see international schools in Switzerland, some of which run their own long-day programs.
Getting help
Sorting through municipal rules, waiting lists and permits is a lot to handle alone. Our permit finder is a good place to start with the residence side, and the school choice tool helps narrow down the school path. If you want a relocation company to look at your situation, send the request at the bottom of this page, and we pass it to the company that matches your needs.
Frequently asked questions
How much is childcare in Switzerland?
It varies widely. Prices depend on the canton, the municipality, your income and how much care you book. Ask the local authority or the center for its current fee table.
Is childcare expensive in Switzerland?
Many international families find it high compared with their home country, especially for full-time places in cities. Subsidies in some municipalities reduce the burden for residents.
Is there a national childcare price?
No. Childcare is organized locally, so each municipality or center sets its own rules and rates.
Are there subsidies for childcare?
Often yes, but they depend on where you live. Some municipalities support centers or families, usually through income-linked fees. Ask the municipality what applies to residents.
Do I need to be registered before I can get a place?
Practice differs. Some centers accept waiting-list entries before arrival; others want a Swiss address. Ask each one directly.
When should I join a waiting list?
As early as you can. Popular centers fill well in advance, and a place is not assured simply by registering.
Can I register from abroad?
Many centers allow it by email or online form. Ask what documents or proof of relocation they want.
What if I cannot find a daycare place?
Look at childminders, nannies or playgroups as a bridge. Ask the municipality whether it keeps a list of approved providers.
What is a Kinderkrippe?
It is a daycare center for babies and young children, with long opening hours. Staff are trained, and children are grouped by age.
What is a Tagesfamilie?
A day family, or childminder, looks after a small group of children at home. Many work through an association that supervises the arrangement.
What is a Spielgruppe?
A playgroup is a short, play-based session for young children before kindergarten, focused on socializing rather than all-day care.
What is after-school care?
It covers the hours around the school day: lunch supervision, homework help and activities. Schools or municipalities run it, often in optional modules.
Do Swiss schools finish at lunchtime?
Some do on certain days, particularly for younger children. Ask the school for its weekly timetable before you choose a home.
Can I hire a nanny?
Yes. A nanny is private employment, so a contract and social insurance questions follow. Ask the authorities for the exact rules.
Can I hire an au pair?
Possibly, but rules depend on the person's nationality and permit status. Check with the cantonal migration office.
Does my child need health insurance?
Yes. Basic health insurance is compulsory within three months of taking up residence, and it covers children too. If the deadline is respected, cover starts from the date of arrival.
Do I have to register with the municipality?
Registration is required on arrival, within 14 days in many places. Rules can vary by canton and municipality, so confirm locally.
Do EU and non-EU families get the same access to childcare?
Access to childcare is generally based on residence, not nationality. Your permit type affects whether you can live and work here, which in turn shapes your needs.
Are meals included?
Sometimes. Many centers bill lunch and snacks separately, so check what is in the base fee.
What happens during school holidays?
Centers often close for some weeks a year. Schools have long breaks, and holiday programs exist in many places. Ask early about options.
Can I get care if only one parent works?
Some centers prioritize working parents, while others do not. Ask about their admission rules.
Are international schools easier for childcare?
Some run long days and holiday programs, which helps working parents. See what international schools cost for budgeting.
Is pregnancy a good time to start looking?
For popular areas, yes. Many families register early. You can also read about pregnancy and birth in Switzerland.
Who can help me plan the whole move?
A relocation company can look at your situation. Use the request at the bottom of this page, and we will connect you with the one that fits.
Sources
Related pages
- How Swiss schools work, from kindergarten to uni
- Swiss schools compared with the US system
- Public school for international children
- International schools in Switzerland
- What international schools cost
- Enrolling your child in a Swiss school
- Universities and universities of applied science
- Settling in as the partner who follows