Kita and daycare in Zurich: costs, subsidies and waiting lists
What daycare costs in the City of Zurich, how the city subsidy and tax deductions work, how places are found, when kindergarten starts, and which Kitas work in English.
In short
Young children in Zurich who are not cared for at home mostly go to a Kita (daycare centre) or a Tagesfamilie (childminder). Private Kitas set their own prices; bilingual ones publish CHF 135 to CHF 166 a full day. For residents below an income limit, the city cuts the fee to between CHF 12 and CHF 120 a day.
What childcare options are there for young children in Zurich?
Kitas take children from three months until kindergarten. Tagesfamilien (childminders) look after children up to 12 in their own home. Hort and Tagesschule (school-based care) cover lunch and afternoons from kindergarten, which is public and compulsory from age four. Nannies are a private arrangement. The city subsidises Kitas, Tagesfamilien and school care.
The city counts over 300 Kitas and about 50 Tagesfamilien (City of Zurich, Sozialdepartement, checked ); its open-data map lists 342 Kitas, 300 of them with subsidised places (City of Zurich, Open Data Zürich, checked ). Pre-school care is usually privately run. From kindergarten, every child in the city is entitled to a place in school care at income-based tariffs (VO KB, checked ).
Regular care in a Kita or Tagesfamilie is capped at 60 hours a week and three nights (V TaK, checked ). The city sets no tariff for nannies (VO KB, checked ). Family living costs: the Zurich city guide.
Childcare options in the City of Zurich
| Option | Ages | Run by | Parent cost | City subsidy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hort or Tagesschule (school-based care) | From kindergarten | City schools | Lunch CHF 4.50–18, afternoon CHF 2–20, by income | Yes; a place for every child |
| Kindergarten (public) | Four by 31 July; two years | City schools | Free | Not needed |
| Kita (daycare centre) | 3 months to kindergarten | Mostly private | Set by the Kita; CHF 12–120 a day if subsidised | At Kitas with a city contract |
| Nanny | Any age | Private arrangement | Agreed privately | None |
| Tagesfamilie (childminder) | Up to 12 | Stiftung GFZ or Nidino | CHF 1.10–8.80 an hour if subsidised | Same rules as Kitas |
City of Zurich FAQ; VO KB Annexes 2 and 3 (2026); VSG §§ 5 and 11.
How much does a Kita cost in Zurich?
Each private Kita sets its own price. The city’s standard cost for a full day of 11.5 hours is CHF 139.35 in 2026. Bilingual Kitas in the city publish full-day rates of CHF 135 to CHF 166, usually more for babies. In a subsidised place, parents pay between CHF 12 and CHF 120 a day.
The standard cost (Normkostensatz) is what the city funds places against: CHF 139.35 from 1 January 2026, up from CHF 135.80, for 240 days a year and 11.5 hours a day. Subsidy and parent fee together may not exceed the cost rate in the Kita’s city contract (VO KB, checked ).
Most Kita price lists show no date, and they differ in what they include, such as lunch, nappies, opening hours, registration fees and deposits (see the table of English-speaking Kitas below).
In a subsidised place the monthly fee is the weekly fee times four, and absence does not reduce it (VO KB, checked ). A child who leaves before the notice period ends may be charged the full unsubsidised price (City of Zurich, Sozialdepartement, checked ).
A subsidised full day, by contribution factor
| Contribution factor | Parent pays | City pays |
|---|---|---|
| 0% | CHF 12 | CHF 108 |
| 50% | CHF 66 | CHF 54 |
| 75% | CHF 93 | CHF 27 |
| 100% or more | The Kita’s own price | Nothing at a private Kita |
City of Zurich calculation examples; VO KB Art. 8 and 12, Annex 2.
How does the City of Zurich subsidise Kita places?
The city pays part of the fee directly to the Kita, which then charges parents less. The amount depends on a contribution factor worked out from taxable income and wealth, and on how many care days a week the city funds. Parents must live in the city, and the Kita must have a subsidy contract.
Contribution factor (Beitragsfaktor). Taxable income plus 10% of each parent’s taxable wealth above CHF 50,000, minus CHF 6,000 for the household and CHF 6,000 per parent and child, divided by the CHF 100,000 limit. At or above the limit, private Kitas get nothing from the city (VO KB, checked ) (City of Zurich, Schulamt, checked ).
Our calculation: a couple with one child and no taxable wealth above the threshold reaches the limit at about CHF 124,000 of taxable income; at CHF 80,000 the factor is 56% and a full day costs them CHF 72.48 (VO KB, checked ).
Funded care days (SBU, subventionsberechtigter Betreuungsumfang). Work, training, volunteering or job search registered with the RAV (regional employment centre) count up to 100% per parent. Both rates are added, 100% is deducted except for single parents, and each 20% gives one day a week, rounded up (City of Zurich, Sozialdepartement, checked ) (City of Zurich, Sozialdepartement, checked ).
Residence and providers. Parents must have their legal residence in the city; otherwise the maximum tariff applies (City of Zurich, Schulamt, checked ). Private Kitas need not offer subsidised places; those with a subsidy contract must care for children at least 50% in German (VO KB, checked ).
The city’s calculator (opens in a new tab) (in German) gives a non-binding factor. People taxed at source and new arrivals without a Zurich tax bill send current income and wealth evidence with the PDF form (City of Zurich, Schulamt, checked ).
Key numbers for 2026
-
Income limit
CHF 100,000
Amount after deductions at which city subsidies for private Kitas stop.
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Parent fee, full day
CHF 12–120
Range in a subsidised Kita place, set by the contribution factor.
-
Apply before the start
Not retroactive
Until both confirmations are in, the maximum tariff applies.
Getting a subsidised Kita place, step by step
-
Before you sign
Find a Kita with subsidised places
Green on the city map: private Kitas with subsidised places; blue: city-run.
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Before the first day
Apply for funded care days (SBU)
Online in the city’s “Mein Konto”; a self-declaration with spot checks.
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Before the first day
Apply for the contribution factor
From the Schul- und Sportdepartement, online or by post.
-
At registration
Give both confirmations to the Kita
The Kita is not told automatically.
-
Every year
Renew
Both are valid for at most a year.
Who licenses and inspects Kitas in Zurich?
Every Kita needs an operating licence from the commune where it is located. In the City of Zurich the Sozialdepartement grants it, and its Kita supervision (Krippenaufsicht) checks quality at least every two years. Cantonal law usually caps a group at twelve places and requires a second carer once more than six are occupied.
A licence is needed for paid care of at least 25 hours a week with, as a rule, seven or more places (KJHG, checked ). Trained carers need a recognised qualification and six months’ experience, and the Kita head management training (V TaK, checked ). The city checks quality every two years (VO KB, checked ); parents can turn to the Krippenaufsicht if a dispute cannot be settled (City of Zurich, Sozialdepartement, checked ).
Rules for Kitas in the canton of Zurich
| Rule | Requirement | Law |
|---|---|---|
| Licence | Paid care of 25+ hours a week, as a rule 7+ places | KJHG § 18b |
| Group size | Usually at most 12 places; under 19 months counts 1.5 | KJHG § 18d |
| Staff | One trained carer per group; a second above 6 occupied places | KJHG § 18d |
| Care time | At most 60 hours a week, 3 nights | V TaK § 2 |
| Space | At least 5 m² per place, 3 m² in two cases | V TaK § 13 |
| City inspection | At least every two years | VO KB Art. 6 |
ZH-Lex: KJHG (LS 852.1), V TaK (LS 852.14); City of Zurich VO KB.
How do Kita registration and waiting lists work in Zurich?
There is no central list: parents contact Kitas directly, visit, and sign a care contract with one that has a place. The city publishes no waiting times, so there is no official figure for how long lists are. The ordinance promises a place for every child who needs one, though not at a particular Kita.
The ordinance says a place is available for every child in need, but there is no legal claim to a specific place (VO KB, checked ). The city map lists every Kita with contact details, and the city’s family counselling service (Familienberatung) helps with the search (City of Zurich, Sozialdepartement, checked ).
For subsidised places, registration fees must be refunded with the first invoice, settling-in is free and deposits are returned (City of Zurich, Sozialdepartement, checked ). The city’s tips: visit several Kitas, compare sample contracts, notice periods and extra fees, and plan two weeks or more for settling in (City of Zurich, Sozialdepartement, checked ).
Subsidies need residence in the city: see registering at your commune and your first 90 days.
When does kindergarten start in Zurich, and is it free?
Children who are four by 31 July start public kindergarten that August. It is part of compulsory school, lasts two years and is free. Teaching is in Swiss German; the first year is mornings only and the second adds two afternoons. Children with little German get German as a second language (DaZ) lessons in class.
In 2027/28 kindergarten starts on 23 August 2027. Parents get a letter from mid-November and register in the city’s “Meine Kinder” service; families arriving later contact their district school authority (Kreisschulbehörde) (City of Zurich, Schulamt, checked ).
Teaching is free and, in the two kindergarten years, in principle in dialect, then in standard German (VSG, checked ). DaZ (Deutsch als Zweitsprache) is part of class teaching in kindergarten, at least two lessons a week (Canton of Zurich, Volksschulamt, checked ).
Private and international options: international schools in Zurich and in Switzerland.
Bilingual schools in Zurich
7 Bears
Bilingual schools · ZürichBilingual German–English kindergarten in Zurich-Seefeld on the canton’s register of approved private schools, run alongside a day nursery.
Checked by our editors · not yet confirmed by the business.
Is this your business?Cantaleum Zürich
Bilingual schools · ZürichBilingual German–English day school with a music focus in Zurich for kindergarten to Grade 6, on Lehrplan 21, working with the Zurich boys’ and girls’ choirs.
Checked by our editors · not yet confirmed by the business.
Is this your business?d’Insle Montessori School
Bilingual schools · ZürichMontessori kindergarten and primary school in Zurich-Seefeld for ages 3–12, taught in German and English with French added, covering Lehrplan 21.
Checked by our editors · not yet confirmed by the business.
Is this your business?Dayschool (Trilingual Dayschool DEF)
Bilingual schools · ZürichTrilingual German–English–French private kindergarten within a daycare in Zurich (Kreis 6) for children from age 4, on the Zurich curriculum.
Checked by our editors · not yet confirmed by the business.
Is this your business?Firstclass
Bilingual schools · ZürichPrivate day school in Zurich-Oerlikon for kindergarten and Grades 1–6 on the Zurich curriculum, taught mainly in German with English lessons from kindergarten.
Checked by our editors · not yet confirmed by the business.
Is this your business?Freies Gymnasium Zürich
Bilingual schools · ZürichPrivate Gymnasium in Zurich with monolingual and bilingual German–English tracks, from preparatory class 5 to the Swiss Matura.
Checked by our editors · not yet confirmed by the business.
Is this your business?Can you deduct Kita costs from your taxes in Zurich?
Yes, within limits. For a child under 14 who lives with you, proven third-party childcare costs linked to work, training or inability to work are deductible: up to CHF 25,800 per child for direct federal tax and up to CHF 25,300 for Zurich cantonal and communal tax. Only proven costs count.
The federal cap is in DBG Art. 33 para. 3, at CHF 25,800 since 1 January 2025 (DBG Art. 33, checked ); the Zurich cap in StG § 31 para. 1 lit. j, at CHF 25,300 in the version in force since 1 January 2026 (StG § 31, checked ). Advisers: tax advisors in Zurich.
What will the new federal childcare allowance pay?
Parliament passed the federal childcare law (UKibeG) on 19 December 2025. It adds a childcare allowance to family allowances: CHF 100 a month for one day a week in institutional care, plus CHF 50 for each extra half day, up to CHF 500. No start date is set; the BSV expects first payments from 2029.
The Federal Council sets the start date (Federal Social Insurance Office (BSV), checked ). The allowance is for children under eight and may not exceed actual costs. Care must be paid, in Switzerland and in a national language; in principle both parents must work or train. Nannies and grandparents do not count; Tagesfamilien do if run by a legal entity (Federal Social Insurance Office (BSV), checked ).
Are there English-speaking or bilingual Kitas in Zurich?
Yes. Our directory lists eleven Kitas in the city that state German–English bilingual care or English-speaking staff working with the children; Little Green House adds French. Most are bilingual rather than English-only: Kitas with a city subsidy contract must care for children at least half the time in German, and all eleven offer subsidised places.
All eleven appear on the city map with subsidised places, globegarden at 33 of 34 sites (City of Zurich, Open Data Zürich, checked ), so the 50% German rule applies to those places (VO KB, checked ). The city’s tips suggest asking multilingual Kitas for a written language concept; for children who speak no German, they point to a German-speaking Kita (City of Zurich, Sozialdepartement, checked ). Listings: Kitas in Zurich.
English-speaking and bilingual Kitas in the City of Zurich
| Kita | Languages (as stated) | Locations in the city | Ages | Full day (year) | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Akidemy (part of globegarden) | German, English | Maneggplatz, Maneggstrasse, Rigiplatz | 4 months to kindergarten | Not published | akidemy.ch |
| Allegra Beckenhof (pop e poppa) | German, English | Beckenhofstrasse 6 | 3 months to school | Not published | kitaallegra.ch |
| Bärlis and Villa Bärlis | German, English | Granitweg 6; Im Eisernen Zeit 31 | From 3 months | CHF 166 to 24 months, CHF 151 older; no year | baerlis.ch |
| Blüemli (forest daycare) | German, English | Witikonerstrasse 289 | 3 months to 5 years | CHF 160 to age 2, CHF 150 older; no year | kitabluemli.ch |
| globegarden | English and German team-teaching in kindergarten | 34 sites on the city map | Babies to kindergarten | Not published | globegarden.ch |
| Joey Kinderkrippe Wollishofen | German, English | Albisstrasse 10 | 3 months to kindergarten | Not published | joey-kinderkrippe.ch |
| kids & co City | German; English-only assistants some hours a day | Selnaustrasse 36 | Not stated | CHF 3,240 a month for 5 days to 24 months, CHF 2,940 older; sheet of 1 January 2024 | kidsco.profawo.ch |
| kids & co Europaallee | German; an English-speaking assistant | Gustav-Gull-Platz 11 | Not stated | Same sheet (2024) | kidsco.profawo.ch |
| Little Green House | French, English, German | Baslerstrasse 60, Altstetten | 3 months to school | CHF 165 to 24 months, CHF 155 older; no year | littlegreenhouse.ch |
| Little Learners | German, English | Carl-Spitteler-Strasse 2; Witikonerstrasse 316 | 4 months to 4 years | CHF 165 under 2, CHF 135 from 2; no year | littlelearners.ch |
| Little Star Day School | German, English (one language per carer) | Albisstrasse 147; Büttenweg 16 (Sihlcity) | 6 months to school | Not published | littlestar.ch |
Provider websites, read 21 October 2026. Subsidised places: City of Zurich open-data map.
Kitas and daycare in Zurich
Akidemy
Kitas & daycare · ZürichBilingual German–English Kita for children from 4 months to kindergarten age, with sites in Zürich (Manegg, Maneggplatz, Rigiplatz), Adliswil and Zollikon.
Checked by our editors · not yet confirmed by the business.
Is this your business?globegarden
Kitas & daycare · ZürichNetwork of 80+ daycare centres across Switzerland for infants to kindergarten age, with after-school and holiday care; English and German programme options.
Checked by our editors · not yet confirmed by the business.
Is this your business?Joey Kinderkrippe Zürich Wollishofen
Kitas & daycare · ZürichKita in Zürich Wollishofen caring for children from 3 months in German and English; open Mon–Fri 07:00–19:00; subsidised places listed on the city map.
Checked by our editors · not yet confirmed by the business.
Is this your business?kids & co City
Kitas & daycare · ZürichKita near Selnau station where English-speaking assistants work several hours a day in the groups, speaking only English with the children (immersion model).
Checked by our editors · not yet confirmed by the business.
Is this your business?kids & co Europaallee
Kitas & daycare · ZürichKita at Europaallee near Zürich main station with an English assistant who brings English into everyday care; English-language information page.
Checked by our editors · not yet confirmed by the business.
Is this your business?Kita Allegra Beckenhof (pop e poppa)
Kitas & daycare · ZürichBilingual German–English Kita in Zürich Kreis 6 for children from 3 months to school entry, with 48 places. Run under the pop e poppa name.
Checked by our editors · not yet confirmed by the business.
Is this your business?Kita and daycare questions
How much does a Kita cost in Zurich?
Private Kitas set their own prices; the bilingual Kitas in our table publish CHF 135 to CHF 166 a full day, more for babies. The city’s standard cost is CHF 139.35 a day in 2026. In a subsidised place, parents pay CHF 12 to CHF 120 a day.
How do I get a subsidised Kita place in Zurich?
Live in the city, find a Kita with subsidised places and, before the first day, get two confirmations: funded care days (SBU) from the Sozialdepartement and the contribution factor from the Schul- und Sportdepartement. Give both to the Kita. Subsidies are not paid retroactively.
Are there English-speaking Kitas in Zurich?
Yes. Our directory lists eleven in the city with German–English bilingual care or English-speaking staff, among them globegarden, Little Green House and Little Star Day School. Kitas with a city subsidy contract care for children at least half the time in German.
At what age do children start kindergarten in Zurich?
Children who are four by 31 July start that August. Kindergarten is compulsory, lasts two years and is free; children with little German get German as a second language lessons in class.
How long are Kita waiting lists in Zurich?
There is no official figure. The city keeps no central list and publishes no waiting times; parents contact Kitas directly. Every child in need is promised a place, but not at a specific Kita.
Can I deduct Kita costs from my taxes?
Yes. Proven third-party childcare costs for a child under 14 in your household, linked to work, training or inability to work: up to CHF 25,800 per child for federal tax and CHF 25,300 for Zurich cantonal and communal tax.
Sources
Last checked by the expat-services.ch editorial team
- City of Zurich Verordnung über die familienergänzende Kinderbetreuung (VO KB), AS 410.130, in force from 1 January 2026: Art. 2, 5, 6, 8–8ter, 11, 12, 15, 18bis, 19 and Annexes 1–3 (in German, PDF) (opens in a new tab)
- City of Zurich, Sozialdepartement FAQ zur Kinderbetreuung: Kitas, Tagesfamilien, subsidies and confirmations (in German) (opens in a new tab)
- City of Zurich, Sozialdepartement Berechnungsbeispiele: parent fees and funded care days (in German) (opens in a new tab)
- City of Zurich, Schulamt Subventionen: contribution factor, residence, forms and calculator (in German) (opens in a new tab)
- City of Zurich, Open Data Zürich Kindertagesstätte: open-data Kita map layer, updated 21 October 2026 (in German) (opens in a new tab)
- City of Zurich, Sozialdepartement Tipps zur Kitawahl (in German) (opens in a new tab)
- City of Zurich, Schulamt Kindergarten: start age, registration and timetable (in German) (opens in a new tab)
- Canton of Zurich, ZH-Lex Kinder- und Jugendhilfegesetz (KJHG), LS 852.1, §§ 18b and 18d: licences, group size and staffing (in German) (opens in a new tab)
- Canton of Zurich, ZH-Lex Verordnung über die Tagesfamilien und Kindertagesstätten (V TaK), LS 852.14, §§ 2, 9, 10 and 13 (in German) (opens in a new tab)
- Canton of Zurich, ZH-Lex Volksschulgesetz (VSG), LS 412.100, §§ 5, 11 and 24 (in German) (opens in a new tab)
- Canton of Zurich, Volksschulamt Deutsch als Zweitsprache (DaZ): lessons in kindergarten and school (in German) (opens in a new tab)
- Canton of Zurich, ZH-Lex Steuergesetz (StG), LS 631.1, § 31 para. 1 lit. j: childcare deduction (in German) (opens in a new tab)
- Fedlex Federal Act on Direct Federal Tax (DBG), SR 642.11, Art. 33 para. 3: childcare deduction (in German) (opens in a new tab)
- Federal Social Insurance Office (BSV) UKibeG (“Kita-Gesetz”): passed 19 December 2025, start date not yet set (in German) (opens in a new tab)
- Federal Social Insurance Office (BSV) FAQ UKibeG: childcare allowance, conditions and timing, 14 August 2026 (in German, PDF) (opens in a new tab)