2025 Data
Childcare Cost Calculator
Estimate your monthly childcare fees based on official 2025 government survey data for England and Wales.
Wales Gov SASS 2024DfE Survey 2025England & Wales
Your details
Average costs by region
How costs compare across England & Wales
Full-time (50 hrs/week) for a child under 2. Based on 2025 government data.
Highest
London
£1,938/mo
£9/hr · under 2s · 50 hrs/wk
2yr: £1,931/mo3–4yr: £1,862/mo
South East England
£1,565/mo
£7/hr · under 2s · 50 hrs/wk
2yr: £1,576/mo3–4yr: £1,522/mo
Cardiff
£1,788/mo
£8/hr · under 2s · 50 hrs/wk
2yr: £1,598/mo3–4yr: £1,446/mo
East Midlands
£1,422/mo
£7/hr · under 2s · 50 hrs/wk
2yr: £1,394/mo3–4yr: £1,329/mo
North West England
£1,394/mo
£6/hr · under 2s · 50 hrs/wk
2yr: £1,357/mo3–4yr: £1,303/mo
Most affordable
Yorkshire and Humber
£1,340/mo
£6/hr · under 2s · 50 hrs/wk
2yr: £1,329/mo3–4yr: £1,260/mo
Sources: Wales Government SASS 2024 & DfE Childcare Survey 2025. Figures show average hourly rates for nurseries.
Government-funded childcare hours
England
- 15 hours/week for all 3–4 year olds (38 weeks/year)
- 30 hours/week for eligible working parents of 3–4 year olds
- From April 2024: 15 hours/week for eligible working parents of 2-year-olds
- From Sept 2024: 15 hours/week for eligible working parents of children aged 9 months to 2 years
- From Sept 2025: 30 hours/week for eligible working parents of children aged 9 months up to school age
- Eligibility: both parents working ≥16 hrs/week at National Living Wage, neither earning over £100,000/year
Wales
- Childcare Offer for Wales: up to 30 hours/week for eligible working parents of 3–4 year olds
- Available for 48 weeks per year
- Check eligibility via Welsh Government
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