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

541 Providers

Winterthur

120 Providers

Uster

38 Providers

Dübendorf

33 Providers

Schaffhausen

22 Providers

Stäfa

13 Providers

Wetzikon

12 Providers

Affoltern am Albis

12 Providers

Küsnacht

12 Providers

Bülach

11 Providers

Wallisellen

10 Providers

Volketswil

10 Providers

Meilen

10 Providers

Adliswil

10 Providers

Rüti

10 Providers

Kreuzlingen

9 Providers

Rüti ZH

9 Providers

Urdorf

9 Providers

Dietikon

9 Providers

Glattpark (Opfikon)

8 Providers

Opfikon

8 Providers

Hombrechtikon

7 Providers

Horgen

7 Providers

Wetzikon ZH

6 Providers

Effretikon

6 Providers

Brüttisellen

6 Providers

Dielsdorf

6 Providers

Eglisau

6 Providers

Glattbrugg

6 Providers

Rümlang

6 Providers

Bassersdorf

5 Providers

Oetwil am See

5 Providers

Herrliberg

5 Providers

Kloten

5 Providers

Schlieren

5 Providers

Wald

5 Providers

Regensdorf

5 Providers

Hinwil

5 Providers

Turbenthal

5 Providers

Fällanden

5 Providers

Embrach

5 Providers

Pfäffikon

4 Providers

Russikon

4 Providers

Bäretswil

4 Providers

Elsau

4 Providers

Winterthur Stadt

4 Providers

Oberrieden

4 Providers

Esslingen

4 Providers

Nänikon

4 Providers

Zürich Höngg

4 Providers

Zürich Oberstrass

4 Providers

Dietlikon

4 Providers

Hittnau

4 Providers

Bonstetten

4 Providers

Zollikon

4 Providers

Männedorf

4 Providers

Glattfelden

4 Providers

Tann

4 Providers

Stallikon

4 Providers

Zürich Enge

3 Providers

Oberglatt

3 Providers

Rapperswil

3 Providers

Niederglatt

3 Providers

Samstagern

3 Providers

Egg

3 Providers

Bubikon

3 Providers

Erlenbach

3 Providers

Pfäffikon ZH

3 Providers

Buchs

3 Providers

Glattpark

3 Providers

Gattikon

3 Providers

Bauma

3 Providers

Wädenswil

3 Providers

Bachenbülach

3 Providers

Feldmeilen

3 Providers

Dällikon

3 Providers

Fehraltorf

3 Providers

Hedingen

3 Providers

Steinmaur

3 Providers

Uetikon am See

3 Providers

Birmensdorf

3 Providers

Oberengstringen

3 Providers

Obfelden

3 Providers

Maur

3 Providers

Hettlingen

3 Providers

Ebmatingen

3 Providers

Watt

3 Providers

Andelfingen

3 Providers

Riedikon

3 Providers

Geroldswil

3 Providers

Zürich Hirzenbach

3 Providers

Dürnten

3 Providers

Ottenbach

2 Providers

Zürich Langstrasse, Aussersihl

2 Providers

Grüningen

2 Providers

Zürich Gewerbeschule

2 Providers

Kyburg

2 Providers

Oerlikon

2 Providers

Seuzach

2 Providers

Kaltbrunn

2 Providers

Schlatt

2 Providers

Mönchaltorf

2 Providers

Zürich Oerlikon

2 Providers

Zürich-Affoltern

2 Providers

Zürich Wollishofen

2 Providers

Mettmenstetten

2 Providers

Egg b. Zürich

2 Providers

Zumikon

2 Providers

Rafz

2 Providers

Zürich Hirslanden

2 Providers

Hirzel

2 Providers

Zürich Friesenberg

2 Providers

Illnau

2 Providers

Wernetshausen

2 Providers

Oberweningen

2 Providers

Marthalen

2 Providers

Zürich Unterstrass

2 Providers

Gockhausen

2 Providers

Binz

2 Providers

Zürich Altstetten

2 Providers

Zürich Fluntern

2 Providers

Adlikon bei Regensdorf

2 Providers

Knonau

2 Providers

Thalwil

2 Providers

Lufingen

2 Providers

Langnau am Albis

2 Providers

Zürich Wipkingen

2 Providers

Eschlikon

2 Providers

Zürich Escher Wyss

2 Providers

Unterstammheim

2 Providers

Wolfhausen

2 Providers

Schmerikon

2 Providers

Uerikon

2 Providers

Richterswil

2 Providers

Zürich Seefeld

2 Providers

Balterswil

2 Providers

Kollbrunn

2 Providers

Niederweningen

2 Providers

Glarus

2 Providers

Unterengstringen

2 Providers

Hausen am Albis

2 Providers

Neuhausen am Rheinfall

2 Providers

Steckborn

2 Providers

Uitikon Waldegg

2 Providers

Fischenthal

2 Providers

Zollikerberg

2 Providers

Schwamendingenstrasse 77, 8050

1 Providers

Oberembrach

1 Providers

Zürich-Seebach

1 Providers

Wildberg

1 Providers

Riedern

1 Providers

Zürich Alt-Wiedikon

1 Providers

Zuerich-Oerlikon-Auzelg

1 Providers

Otelfingen

1 Providers

Gutenswil

1 Providers

Bertschikon

1 Providers

Buch am Irchel

1 Providers

Wangen bei Dübendorf

1 Providers

Zürich-Höngg

1 Providers

Thayngen

1 Providers

Forch [Maur]

1 Providers

Zurich

1 Providers

Zürich Altstadt/City

1 Providers

Tagelswangen

1 Providers

Hinwil/Bubikon/Dürnten

1 Providers

Wettswil am Albis

1 Providers

Uznach

1 Providers

Oberlunkhofen

1 Providers

Winterthur und Umgebung

1 Providers

Maschwanden

1 Providers

Dättlikon

1 Providers

Wila

1 Providers

Stein am Rhein

1 Providers

Zürich/ Witikon

1 Providers

Uster / Riedikon

1 Providers

Thalwil / Gattikon

1 Providers

Buchs (ZH)

1 Providers

Diessenhofen

1 Providers

EGG

1 Providers

Wiesendangen

1 Providers

Kilchberg

1 Providers

Zürich Leimbach

1 Providers

Bergdietikon

1 Providers

Zürich Schwamendingen

1 Providers

Zürich-Schwamendingen

1 Providers

Oberwil-Nürensdorf

1 Providers

Wetzikon (ZH)

1 Providers

Wald ZH

1 Providers

Rheinau

1 Providers

Dinhard

1 Providers

Zürich Mühlebach

1 Providers

Kappel am Albis

1 Providers

Aesch

1 Providers

Zürich-Altstetten

1 Providers

Wettswil

1 Providers

Witikon- Zürich

1 Providers

Grüt (Gossau ZH)

1 Providers

Zürich-Wollishofen

1 Providers

Aeugst am Albis

1 Providers

Zürch

1 Providers

Schänis

1 Providers

Sennhof (Winterthur)

1 Providers

Benken

1 Providers

Sennhof ZH

1 Providers

Laupen

1 Providers

Weiach

1 Providers

Hallau

1 Providers

Winterberg ZH

1 Providers

Hüttikon

1 Providers

Zürich - Oerlikon

1 Providers

Sirnach

1 Providers

grüningen

1 Providers

Esslingen ZH

1 Providers

Mammern

1 Providers

Schwerzenbach

1 Providers

Näfels

1 Providers

Freilagerstrasse 73 ( FreiRaum) Albisrieden

1 Providers

Zürich-Friesenberg

1 Providers

Teufen

1 Providers

Erlenbach ZH

1 Providers

Rapperswil SG

1 Providers

Winkel

1 Providers

Henggart

1 Providers

Kindhausen Volketswil

1 Providers

Riedikon bei Uster

1 Providers

Ermatingen

1 Providers

Laupen/ZH

1 Providers

Grüt

1 Providers

Ellikon an der Thur

1 Providers

Nassenwil (Niederhasli)

1 Providers

Spitalstrasse 71, Urdorf

1 Providers

Regensberg

1 Providers

Unterlunkhofen

1 Providers

Aathal-Seegräben

1 Providers

Au, ZH

1 Providers

Oberhasli

1 Providers

Oberglatt ZH

1 Providers

Gossau ZH

1 Providers

Gossau

1 Providers

Zürich Hottingen

1 Providers

Forch

1 Providers

Zurigo

1 Providers

Eschenbach

1 Providers

Zürich - Affoltern

1 Providers

Windlach

1 Providers

Rapperswil-Jona

1 Providers

Greifensee

1 Providers

Nänikon/Greifensee

1 Providers

Aadorf

1 Providers

Rudolfstetten

1 Providers

Ernetschwil

1 Providers

Wetzikon-Kempten

1 Providers

Zürich Albisrieden

1 Providers

Tägerwilen

1 Providers

Neftenbach

1 Providers

Weiningen

1 Providers

Beringen

1 Providers

Lindau

1 Providers

Volketswil-Hegnau; Gutenswil

1 Providers

Oetwil an der Limmat

1 Providers

Eschenz

1 Providers

Steg im Tösstal

1 Providers

Brütten

1 Providers

Stadel

1 Providers

Gossau (ZH)

1 Providers

Wermatswil

1 Providers

Wollishofen

1 Providers

Saland

1 Providers

Zwillikon

1 Providers

Arni

1 Providers

Spreitenbach

1 Providers

Jona

1 Providers

Uitikon

1 Providers

Zürich Witikon

1 Providers

Childcare in canton ZH

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Childcare in Canton Zurich

Subsidies & discounts

Legal framework

Tax deduction in Canton Zurich

Cities in canton

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