Childcare costs in Ireland vary hugely depending on where you live. Here's a realistic 2026 guide, county by county, before and after subsidies.
Average monthly costs (2026, full-time)
- Dublin: €1,100 – €1,400
- Cork: €900 – €1,100
- Galway: €850 – €1,050
- Limerick: €800 – €950
- Waterford: €750 – €900
- Rest of Ireland: €700 – €900
Full-time vs part-time
Part-time (2–3 days) is typically 55–65% of the full-time monthly rate — it's rarely half, because rooms are booked in blocks.
Baby room vs toddler vs preschool
Baby rooms (under 1) are the most expensive because of the 1:3 ratio. Toddler rooms are 5–10% less. Pre-school rooms are usually the cheapest, and cheaper again once ECCE kicks in.
After ECCE
Once your child qualifies for ECCE (from 2 years 8 months), you get 15 free hours a week in term. That knocks around €350–€450 off a monthly bill Sept–June.
After NCS
The universal NCS (€2.14/hour, 40 hours a week) saves about €370/month for a full-time spot. Income-assessed can double or triple that.
Childminder costs vs creche costs
A childminder at €6/hour for 40 hours is around €960/month before NCS — usually similar to a creche once subsidies are applied. See our side-by-side comparison.
Tips for reducing costs
- Apply for NCS the moment your child has a PPS number.
- Book ECCE hours as soon as your child is age-eligible.
- Look at 4-day weeks — some employers now offer them and it cuts childcare 20%.
- Ask about sibling discounts (many creches offer 5–10%).
Use the Crechely cost calculator to see what you'll actually pay based on your family.