Daycare, Nanny, or Au Pair? Compare the True Cost of Each.
Factor in subsidies, DCFSA savings, the Dependent Care Credit, opportunity cost, and 5-year projections -- so you can make the decision with math, not guesswork.
Free to start. No signup required. Data from Care.com, Child Care Aware of America, IRS.
What You Get
Every angle of the childcare decision, quantified
No spreadsheet required. We handle the tax code, subsidy rules, and career economics so you can focus on what matters.
Side-by-Side Comparison
All care types for your children’s ages: center-based daycare, home daycare, nanny, au pair, and family care—ranked by true annual cost.
Tax Benefit Calculator
DCFSA ($5,000 pre-tax limit), Dependent Care Credit (20–35% of expenses), and state-level credits calculated to the dollar.
Subsidy Eligibility
CCDF eligibility based on your state, household income, and family size. See exactly how much the government will cover.
Opportunity Cost Analysis
What does a parent forgoing work actually cost? We model career growth, salary trajectory, and the re-entry penalty.
Break-Even Income
At what income level does working + paying for care beat staying home? We find the exact crossover point for your scenario.
Monte Carlo Projection
10,000 scenarios varying cost inflation, income growth, and subsidy changes over 5 years. See your P10/P50/P90 outcomes.
How It Works
Three steps to clarity
Enter Your Scenario
Children’s ages, ZIP code, household income, and care preferences. Two minutes, tops.
We Run the Math
Cost comparison across care types, tax benefits, subsidy eligibility, opportunity cost, and a full Monte Carlo simulation.
See Your Options
Ranked by net cost after all benefits, 5-year NPV, and a downloadable PDF you can share with your partner.
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Ready to Find the Best Childcare Option for Your Family?
Enter your scenario and get a side-by-side comparison in under two minutes -- with tax benefits, subsidies, and opportunity cost already factored in.
Start Your Comparison