Child care costs in British Columbia (2026)
Rules verified against official sources on 2026-07-05. Figures below are computed by the same engine as our cost calculator.
British Columbia reduces fees two ways. The Child Care Fee Reduction Initiative (CCFRI) is automatic at participating providers: for the 2026-27 funding year it takes up to $900/month off group infant and toddler care, $545 for ages three to kindergarten, $320 for kindergarten, and $115 for school-age (family child care amounts differ), with parent out-of-pocket never reduced below $200/month full-time. Designated $10 a Day ChildCareBC sites cap fees at $200/month outright, with no income test.
The Affordable Child Care Benefit (ACCB) stacks on top for families who apply: full benefit up to $45,000 of adjusted annual income, phasing to zero at $111,000 (B.C. Reg. 189/2024, unchanged since September 2024). Maximums run to $1,250/month for group infant care. For school-age children, before-and-after-school care has its own lower maximum ($210/month) than full-day care.
What full-time care typically costs in British Columbia
Monthly figures at a typical (median) provider fee, full-time centre care, before any income-tested subsidy. Universal programs (fee caps, automatic reductions) are applied; income-tested help can lower these further.
| Age group | Typical provider fee | What parents pay | Applied program |
|---|---|---|---|
| Infant | $1,848/mo | $948/mo | CCFRI fee reduction (automatic) |
| Toddler | $1,785/mo | $885/mo | CCFRI fee reduction (automatic) |
| Preschool | $1,260/mo | $715/mo | CCFRI fee reduction (automatic) |
Typical fees are market medians; your provider's fee may differ. Use the calculator for your own income and situation.
Common questions
Is BC child care $10 a day?
Only at designated $10 a Day ChildCareBC sites, where full-time care costs at most $200/month with no income test. Everywhere else, CCFRI reductions apply automatically and the income-tested ACCB can reduce costs further — to $0 for lower-income families.
What income qualifies for BC's Affordable Child Care Benefit in 2026?
Full benefit up to $45,000 of ACCB adjusted annual income, partial benefit phasing to zero at $111,000. The thresholds have been unchanged since September 2024.
Official sources
- https://www2.gov.bc.ca/assets/gov/family-and-social-supports/child-care/childcarebc-programs/ccfri/ccfri_funding_guidelines_26_27.pdf
- https://www.bclaws.gov.bc.ca/civix/document/id/complete/statreg/189_2024
- https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/family-social-supports/caring-for-young-children/childcarebc-programs/child-care-benefit/information-for-families/rates-payments
The measurement behind these figures
- $10-a-day: what provinces claim vs. what the registries show — British Columbia's licensing registry publishes which programmes are in the reduced-fee scheme, so participation here is measured, not estimated.
- How many licensed daycares are in British Columbia? — the province's licensed programme count, supply per 1,000 young children, and what its registry does and does not publish. Free CSV, CC BY 4.0.
- The State of Licensed Child Care in Canada 2026 — all eight provinces side by side, including how British Columbia’s fees and supply compare.
Estimate your own cost in British Columbia
The MapleCub calculator applies these rules to your income, hours, and child's age — including income-tested subsidies not shown in the table above.
Open the cost calculator →