2026 Childcare Cost Calculator — Licensed Daycare vs Nanny vs Home Daycare in Saskatchewan

With CWELCC making licensed daycare approximately $10/day in Saskatchewan, the childcare cost comparison landscape has shifted dramatically. At Daisy Days Daycare in Regina SK, here’s the real 2026 cost breakdown comparing your main childcare options.

The 2026 Saskatchewan Childcare Cost Comparison

Childcare Option	Typical Monthly Cost	CWELCC Applicable?	Licensed/Regulated?
Daisy Days Daycare (CWELCC)	~$220/month	Yes	Yes — Ministry licensed
CWELCC-enrolled licensed home daycare	~$220/month	Yes	Yes — Ministry licensed
Unlicensed home daycare	$800-1,400/month	No	No — unregulated
Live-in/live-out nanny	$2,400-4,000+/month	No	No (employment law applies)
Au pair	$1,500-2,500/month (variable)	No	No — informal arrangement

The Nanny Option — The Real Numbers

Many families assume a nanny is preferable to daycare. The cost reality in Saskatchewan in 2026:

• A full-time nanny (40 hours/week) at $20/hour = $3,200/month base wage
• Employer CPP contributions: approximately 5.95% = ~$190/month
• Employer EI contributions: approximately 2.28% = ~$73/month
• 4% vacation pay: ~$128/month
• Total employer cost: approximately $3,591/month for a $20/hour nanny
• If you use an agency, add $2,000-5,000 in placement fees upfront

Compared to Daisy Days Daycare CWELCC: approximately $220/month. The difference: approximately $3,371/month — or approximately $40,452/year.

What You Get for That Cost Difference

Nanny advantages over licensed daycare:

• 1:1 caregiver-to-child attention
• Complete schedule flexibility
• In-home convenience (no drop-off/pickup logistics)
• Care continues when your child is sick (if the nanny is well)

Daisy Days Daycare advantages over a nanny (for ~$40,000/year less):

• ECE-certified educators with formal child development training
• Peer socialization — crucial for social-emotional development
• Professional supervision and Ministry licensing oversight
• If an educator is sick, another qualified staff member covers — no closure
• Rich, intentional play-based curriculum with multiple developmental domains
• Criminal record and vulnerable sector check for all staff — mandatory, verified by Ministry
• Structured outdoor play and community outings

The Saskatchewan Childcare Subsidy — Further Reducing Your CWELCC Cost

For income-qualifying families, the Saskatchewan Childcare Subsidy can reduce or eliminate the ~$10/day cost at Daisy Days Daycare. The nanny option has no equivalent subsidy support — the full $3,500+/month is yours to pay. This makes the cost differential even more pronounced for lower- to middle-income families.

→ CWELCC savings calculator
→ Childcare subsidy application guide
→ Home daycare vs licensed centre comparison

Contact Daisy Days Daycare — quality licensed CWELCC care at approximately $220/month in south Regina SK.
306-807-3233 | info@daisydaysdaycare.com | 2007 Potts Crescent East, Regina SK S4V 2E5