Sunshine Coast suburbs ranked on childcare costs

The cost of childcare across 66 suburbs have been crunched to reveal the cheapest and most expensive, with some surprising results. See how your area compares.

Some Sunshine Coast families spend more than $130 a day on child care. Photo: Supplied

Parents on the Sunshine Coast have a plethora of options when it comes to childcare services but choosing the right suburb could save families thousands in the long term.

Depending on the suburb, the cost of child care on the Sunshine Coast can vary by more than $60 per day, before applying child care subsidies.

According to Care For Kids data, parents living in Caloundra suburbs, such as Caloundra West and Moffat Beach, can expect the average cost of a single day of child care to be $120.29.

This is compared to families living in Noosaville, where the average cost per day is $98.48, and parents in Palmview, with an average daily cost of $73.83.

The Care For Kids data ranks Yandina and North Arm as the most expensive suburbs, averaging the daily cost to be $135.

The national average cost per day for child care is $124.54, according to the Care For Kids, and $114.02 in Queensland.

These average costs do not factor in child care subsidies, which vary depending on individual family circumstances.

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Depending on the services required by Sunshine Coast parents, the more expensive centres may include food and nappies compared to the cheaper options.

Care For Kids also provides parents with the key factors to take into account when choosing between centres.

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They said apart from cost comparisons parents should also look at the expenses involved in travelling to and from the centre, whether or not food is provided and the convenience.

“Think about whether you would prefer to have everything provided for your child or whether you would prefer to send your child off each day with nappies and food,” they said.

“This decision alone will help you determine the best type of child care for your family and will directly affect the cost.”

Originally published as Sunshine Coast suburbs ranked on childcare costs