Type of care	Costs (without subsidies)	Costs (with subsidies)
Daycare, full day	CHF 131–149 per day	From CHF 10 per day
Playgroup, half day	CHF 15–25 per half day	Partially subsidised
Day mother (via association)	CHF 6–11 per hour	Income-dependent

The City of Zurich operates with a standardised cost system. Private daycare centres with service agreements offer subsidised places based on parental income.

Childcare in Canton Zurich

Canton Zurich is the most populous canton in Switzerland and has a dense network of daycare centres, playgroups and day families. However, demand exceeds supply in many municipalities — early registration is therefore particularly important.

Subsidies & discounts

In Canton Zurich, the municipalities are responsible for subsidies. There is no uniform cantonal subsidy system — each municipality manages contributions independently.

City of Zurich:

Income-dependent contributions through service agreements with private daycare centres
No separate application required — the daycare centre invoices the city directly
Contact point: Contract management of the City of Zurich

City of Winterthur:

Childcare vouchers for families residing in Winterthur
Application at the childcare specialist office
Contact point: Childcare City of Winterthur

Legal framework

Licensing requirements in Canton Zurich:

Daycare centres require a licence from 7 places and 25 care hours per week
Day families: reporting obligation for regular care of children under 12 years
Responsible authority: Office for Youth and Career Counselling (AJB)

Tax deduction in Canton Zurich

In Canton Zurich, you can deduct childcare costs as follows:

	Federal tax	Cantonal tax ZH
Maximum amount per child/year	CHF 10'100	CHF 25'000
Age limit	Under 14 years	Under 14 years
Requirement	Employment of both parents	Employment of both parents

Source: Directive of the Finance Directorate of Canton Zurich

Office for Youth and Career Counselling (AJB) https://www.zh.ch/de/bildungsdirektion/amt-fuer-jugend-und-berufsberatung.html

kibesuisse regional office https://www.kibesuisse.ch/

Day Family Organisation Canton Zurich https://www.tagesfamilien.ch/

SSLV (Playgroup Association) https://sslv.ch/

Cities in canton

Zürich

559 Providers

Winterthur

121 Providers

Uster

36 Providers

Dübendorf

31 Providers

Schaffhausen

21 Providers

Stäfa

13 Providers

Affoltern am Albis

12 Providers

Küsnacht

12 Providers

Wetzikon

12 Providers

Bülach

11 Providers

Adliswil

10 Providers

Meilen

10 Providers

Wallisellen

10 Providers

Rüti

9 Providers

Kreuzlingen

9 Providers

Urdorf

9 Providers

Dietikon

9 Providers

Volketswil

9 Providers

Rüti ZH

8 Providers

Horgen

7 Providers

Opfikon

7 Providers

Effretikon

6 Providers

Eglisau

6 Providers

Rümlang

6 Providers

Wetzikon ZH

6 Providers

Brüttisellen

6 Providers

Hombrechtikon

6 Providers

Glattpark (Opfikon)

6 Providers

Dielsdorf

6 Providers

Bassersdorf

5 Providers

Wald

5 Providers

Schlieren

5 Providers

Glattbrugg

5 Providers

Hinwil

5 Providers

Turbenthal

5 Providers

Embrach

5 Providers

Herrliberg

5 Providers

Kloten

5 Providers

Dietlikon

4 Providers

Bonstetten

4 Providers

Männedorf

4 Providers

Stallikon

4 Providers

Hittnau

4 Providers

Esslingen

4 Providers

Bäretswil

4 Providers

Regensdorf

4 Providers

Russikon

4 Providers

Elsau

4 Providers

Fällanden

4 Providers

Pfäffikon

4 Providers

Oetwil am See

4 Providers

Glattfelden

4 Providers

Zollikon

4 Providers

Oberrieden

4 Providers

Tann

4 Providers

Bubikon

3 Providers

Wädenswil

3 Providers

Zürich Enge

3 Providers

Andelfingen

3 Providers

Erlenbach

3 Providers

Steinmaur

3 Providers

Buchs

3 Providers

Oberengstringen

3 Providers

Riedikon

3 Providers

Pfäffikon ZH

3 Providers

Geroldswil

3 Providers

Niederglatt

3 Providers

Birmensdorf

3 Providers

Bachenbülach

3 Providers

Samstagern

3 Providers

Egg

3 Providers

Oberglatt

3 Providers

Winterthur Stadt

3 Providers

Rapperswil

3 Providers

Fehraltorf

3 Providers

Uetikon am See

3 Providers

Bauma

3 Providers

Hedingen

3 Providers

Maur

3 Providers

Dürnten

3 Providers

Hettlingen

3 Providers

Ebmatingen

3 Providers

Watt

3 Providers

Feldmeilen

3 Providers

Gattikon

3 Providers

Gockhausen

2 Providers

Wernetshausen

2 Providers

Eschlikon

2 Providers

Zürich Escher Wyss

2 Providers

Wolfhausen

2 Providers

Nänikon

2 Providers

Uerikon

2 Providers

Zürich Wollishofen

2 Providers

Thalwil

2 Providers

Kollbrunn

2 Providers

Dällikon

2 Providers

Unterstammheim

2 Providers

Hausen am Albis

2 Providers

Glattpark

2 Providers

Fischenthal

2 Providers

Seuzach

2 Providers

Zürich-Affoltern

2 Providers

Zollikerberg

2 Providers

Neuhausen am Rheinfall

2 Providers

Zürich Hirslanden

2 Providers

Zürich Unterstrass

2 Providers

Richterswil

2 Providers

Rafz

2 Providers

Mönchaltorf

2 Providers

Lufingen

2 Providers

Oberweningen

2 Providers

Glarus

2 Providers

Obfelden

2 Providers

Binz

2 Providers

Adlikon bei Regensdorf

2 Providers

Grüningen

2 Providers

Uitikon Waldegg

2 Providers

Knonau

2 Providers

Balterswil

2 Providers

Steckborn

2 Providers

Kyburg

2 Providers

Langnau am Albis

2 Providers

Ottenbach

2 Providers

Illnau

2 Providers

Zürich Oerlikon

2 Providers

Zürich Fluntern

2 Providers

Zumikon

2 Providers

Egg b. Zürich

2 Providers

Zürich Seefeld

2 Providers

Hirzel

2 Providers

Marthalen

2 Providers

Schlatt

2 Providers

Unterengstringen

2 Providers

Schmerikon

2 Providers

Mettmenstetten

2 Providers

Oerlikon

2 Providers

Zürich Wipkingen

1 Providers

Schwamendingenstrasse 77, 8050

1 Providers

Arni

1 Providers

Tägerwilen

1 Providers

Zürich Höngg

1 Providers

Ellikon an der Thur

1 Providers

Sennhof (Winterthur)

1 Providers

Zürich-Wollishofen

1 Providers

Grüt (Gossau ZH)

1 Providers

Wettswil

1 Providers

Zürich-Altstetten

1 Providers

Aesch

1 Providers

Dinhard

1 Providers

Kaltbrunn

1 Providers

EGG

1 Providers

Buchs (ZH)

1 Providers

Thalwil / Gattikon

1 Providers

Wettswil am Albis

1 Providers

Forch [Maur]

1 Providers

Bertschikon

1 Providers

Nänikon/Greifensee

1 Providers

Rapperswil-Jona

1 Providers

Gossau

1 Providers

Oberglatt ZH

1 Providers

Gossau ZH

1 Providers

Nassenwil (Niederhasli)

1 Providers

Kindhausen Volketswil

1 Providers

Erlenbach ZH

1 Providers

Freilagerstrasse 73 ( FreiRaum) Albisrieden

1 Providers

Esslingen ZH

1 Providers

Zürich - Oerlikon

1 Providers

Sennhof ZH

1 Providers

Weiach

1 Providers

Benken

1 Providers

Laupen

1 Providers

Hallau

1 Providers

Sirnach

1 Providers

Mammern

1 Providers

Niederweningen

1 Providers

Schwerzenbach

1 Providers

Näfels

1 Providers

Teufen

1 Providers

Rapperswil SG

1 Providers

Henggart

1 Providers

Zürich Gewerbeschule

1 Providers

Ermatingen

1 Providers

Laupen/ZH

1 Providers

Grüt

1 Providers

Spitalstrasse 71, Urdorf

1 Providers

Regensberg

1 Providers

Unterlunkhofen

1 Providers

Aathal-Seegräben

1 Providers

Au, ZH

1 Providers

Oberhasli

1 Providers

Forch

1 Providers

Zurigo

1 Providers

Eschenbach

1 Providers

Windlach

1 Providers

Greifensee

1 Providers

Aadorf

1 Providers

Ernetschwil

1 Providers

Wetzikon-Kempten

1 Providers

Neftenbach

1 Providers

Weiningen

1 Providers

Beringen

1 Providers

Lindau

1 Providers

Volketswil-Hegnau; Gutenswil

1 Providers

Eschenz

1 Providers

Steg im Tösstal

1 Providers

Brütten

1 Providers

Stadel

1 Providers

Gossau (ZH)

1 Providers

Zürich Oberstrass

1 Providers

Wermatswil

1 Providers

Zürich Friesenberg

1 Providers

Saland

1 Providers

Zwillikon

1 Providers

Spreitenbach

1 Providers

Jona

1 Providers

Uster / Riedikon

1 Providers

Zürich Witikon

1 Providers

Oberembrach

1 Providers

Wildberg

1 Providers

Riedern

1 Providers

Zürich Alt-Wiedikon

1 Providers

Zuerich-Oerlikon-Auzelg

1 Providers

Gutenswil

1 Providers

Buch am Irchel

1 Providers

Wangen bei Dübendorf

1 Providers

Zürich-Höngg

1 Providers

Thayngen

1 Providers

Tagelswangen

1 Providers

Hinwil/Bubikon/Dürnten

1 Providers

Uznach

1 Providers

Zürich Altstetten

1 Providers

Winterthur und Umgebung

1 Providers

Oberlunkhofen

1 Providers

Maschwanden

1 Providers

Dättlikon

1 Providers

Winkel

1 Providers

Stein am Rhein

1 Providers

Zürich/ Witikon

1 Providers

Diessenhofen

1 Providers

Wiesendangen

1 Providers

Kilchberg

1 Providers

Bergdietikon

1 Providers

Oberwil-Nürensdorf

1 Providers

Zürich-Schwamendingen

1 Providers

Wetzikon (ZH)

1 Providers

Wald ZH

1 Providers

Rheinau

1 Providers

Kappel am Albis

1 Providers

Aeugst am Albis

1 Providers

Zürch

1 Providers

Schänis

1 Providers

Zürich-Friesenberg

1 Providers

grüningen

1 Providers

Wila

1 Providers

Riedikon bei Uster

1 Providers

Zürich - Affoltern

1 Providers

Rudolfstetten

1 Providers

Oetwil an der Limmat

1 Providers

Uitikon

1 Providers

Zürich-Seebach

1 Providers

Otelfingen

1 Providers

Zurich

1 Providers

Zürich Altstadt/City

1 Providers

Witikon- Zürich

1 Providers

Childcare in canton ZH

Spielgruppe Windrädli

Spielgruppe Tazzelwurm

Kinder - Spiel - Werkstatt

Spielgruppe Spielwerkstatt GmbH

waldspielgruppe Urdorf / Spielgruppe Villa Kinder Bunt

La Baracca - Spielgruppe im Grüene

Childcare in Canton Zurich

Subsidies & discounts

Legal framework

Tax deduction in Canton Zurich

Cities in canton

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