What does each care option cost us?
Baby and toddler care compare
Compare infant care or childcare after ECDA subsidy, ECDA's childminding pilot, a helper, a grandparent and a parent pausing work. See each monthly cost and the weekly hours covered. We never pick one.
New to this? Read the short guide first →
Step 2 Your result
For the option you picked, care costs about
| Option | A month | Hours covered a week |
|---|
What this result assumes
A side-by-side estimate, not advice on which care to choose. Centre care uses ECDA's full-day subsidy table in force today and typical hours of 7am to 7pm on weekdays (your centre's may differ). The childminding pilot charges S$16.50 or S$33.00 a block before 9% GST, and a month here is 52 ÷ 12 weeks. The helper figure is from the helper true cost calculator; the grandparent figure is your allowance less the tax Grandparent Caregiver Relief saves; the parent figure is the pay you type. Verify with ECDA subsidies, the ECDA childminding pilot and IRAS. Figures checked .
Step 3 What next
What will a helper really cost us?Read the guideChildminder, helper, grandparent or centre: What does each cost? →Common questions
Who can use ECDA's childminding pilot?
Singapore citizen infants aged 2 to 18 months who are not also enrolled in ECDA-licensed infant care. It runs from 1 December 2024 to 31 December 2027, in 5-hour or 10-hour blocks on weekdays between 7am and 7pm, through three operators appointed by ECDA. CDA money can be used.
Why is the grandparent figure lower than the allowance?
A working mother can claim S$3,000 Grandparent Caregiver Relief when a parent or grandparent looks after her Singapore citizen child aged 12 or below. The tool takes the tax that relief saves at IRAS resident rates and spreads it over 12 months. Other reliefs and the S$80,000 relief cap can change the real saving.
Does a helper or grandparent cover every hour?
Only the hours you enter. A helper is entitled to a weekly rest day, and grandparents have their own limits, so the hours covered are yours to set.