Care options
- Daycare / collective childcare: 0–4 yrs, run by commune or private
- Garderie: 2–4 yrs, part-time collective
- Day parents (Tagesmutter, Pro-Familia): family care at home, 1–5 children
- Nanny (at parents' home): individual care
- After-school care / UAPE: 4–12 yrs, before/after school
- Au pair: young foreigner housed, care + language
Average prices (full-time, 5 days/wk)
Daycare
- Unsubsidised full rate: CHF 2,200–3,500/month
- Income-tested subsidised rate: CHF 400–2,200/month
- Geneva: CHF 100–1,800 by income
- Vaud (Lausanne): CHF 300–2,100
- Zurich: CHF 700–3,200 (limited subsidies)
- Basel-City: CHF 500–2,400
- Ticino: CHF 600–1,500
Day parents
- CHF 8–15/hour unsubsidised
- CHF 5–12/hour subsidised
- Cheaper on average, more flexible
Nanny
- CHF 25–40/hour gross (declared to tax)
- For 1–2 children full-time: budget CHF 3,500–5,500/month employer cost
Au pair
- Full board + room + language classes
- Pocket money: CHF 600–800/month (by canton)
- Total employer: CHF 1,500–2,200/month (lodging included)
Waiting lists
Swiss reality: waiting lists are chronic in big cities (Zurich, Geneva, Lausanne, Basel). 12–18 months wait is common.
Tips:
- Register during pregnancy (yes, really)
- Register at several daycares at once
- Combine part-time daycare + part-time day parent for full week
- Consider private structures (more expensive but more available) alongside public
Cantonal subsidies
Childcare cost aid
- Geneva, Vaud, Fribourg, Bern, Valais, Basel: income-tested rates
- Zurich, Zug: limited subsidies
- Schwyz, Lucerne: varies by commune
Tax deduction
- Childcare deductible: CHF 25,500/child/yr federally (2026)
- Cantonal: varies (CHF 6,000 to CHF 25,000+)
- Keep invoices and receipts
Family allowances
See dedicated article (CHF 215–415/month/child by canton).
Strategies
- Plan ahead: register during pregnancy, multiple daycares
- Plan B: day parents often less saturated
- Network: local parent groups (Facebook, baby clubs)
- Stagger days: couple may alternate 4/5ths if possible
- Company daycare: some large employers have their own (Roche, Novartis, UBS, CFF, hospitals)
- Look in suburbs: less demand, more places
Cross-border workers
Cross-border workers cannot register children in Swiss daycares except special cases (parent working in Geneva may register in a Geneva daycare). Look in country of residence.
Tips
- Net cost after tax deductions and subsidies is often 30–50% below sticker price
- Swiss maternity leave is 14 weeks paid (80% of salary); paternity 2 weeks. Plan the return
- Parental leave doesn't exist in Switzerland, but some employers offer extended leave
- For student parents: dedicated structures on EPFL, ETH, university campuses (limited spaces)
