If you’ve started researching childcare in Paris, you’ve probably noticed something frustrating: the numbers never seem to add up. One source quotes €3 per hour for a childminder. Another says a nanny costs €2,000 per month. And then someone mentions a 50% tax credit that supposedly halves the bill — but only after you’ve already paid the full amount upfront.
The truth is, French childcare pricing isn’t complicated — it’s just layered. Between gross costs, CAF subsidies, and tax credits, what you pay on paper and what you actually spend each month are very different numbers. And as an expat unfamiliar with the system, it’s easy to either overpay for convenience or underestimate the real cost of the “cheap” options.
This guide breaks down what childcare actually costs in Paris in 2026, option by option. We’ll cover crèches (public and private), assistantes maternelles, nounous, and bilingual programs — with real numbers, real subsidies, and real-world examples so you can plan your budget with confidence.
How French Childcare Pricing Works
Before diving into specific options, it helps to understand the three layers that determine what you’ll actually pay each month:
-
Gross cost — the sticker price before any help. This varies wildly depending on the type of care (from €50/month for a public crèche to €2,000+ for a private nanny).
-
CAF subsidy (CMG) — the Complément de libre choix du Mode de Garde is a monthly allowance from the CAF (Caisse d’Allocations Familiales) that directly reduces your bill. It applies to assistantes maternelles, nounous, and some micro-crèches. The amount depends on your household income and the age of your child.
-
Tax credit (crédit d’impôt) — France offers a 50% tax credit on childcare expenses, capped at €3,500 per child per year (so a maximum credit of €1,750). This applies to all regulated childcare for children under 6 and is refunded even if you don’t owe French taxes.
The takeaway: always look at the net cost after subsidies and tax credits, not the gross price. The cheapest-looking option on paper isn’t always the cheapest in practice.
All prices in this guide are for children under 3, which is where most expat families need care. Costs generally decrease slightly for children aged 3–6, since école maternelle (free public preschool) covers weekday mornings and afternoons.
Public Crèche Costs
Public crèches (crèches municipales or crèches collectives) are the most affordable childcare option in Paris — if you can get a spot.
Pricing is income-based, calculated using your quotient familial — a figure that takes into account your household income, number of children, and family status. The formula is set nationally by the CNAF, so it’s the same across all public crèches in France.
In practice, most families pay between €50 and €800 per month for a full-time place (roughly 8am–6pm, Monday to Friday). Meals, nappies, and basic supplies are typically included.
How the pricing works
The daily rate is calculated as:
Daily rate = hourly rate × number of hours per day
The hourly rate itself is determined by your income bracket. For reference:
- A household earning €2,500/month might pay around €0.80–1.00/hour, working out to roughly €150–200/month
- A household earning €5,000/month might pay €1.50–2.00/hour, or roughly €300–400/month
- At the upper end (€8,000+/month), rates approach €3.50/hour, or €700–800/month
The catch: availability
Public crèches are heavily oversubscribed. In Paris, there are roughly 3 applications for every available spot. Most parents apply during pregnancy, and allocation is handled by the mairie (town hall) of your arrondissement. Priority often goes to families where both parents work, single parents, and residents of the arrondissement.
As an expat arriving mid-year, your chances of securing a public crèche spot are slim unless you plan well ahead. This is one of the main reasons families turn to alternatives.
Need help navigating the crèche application process? Flatigo’s childcare service handles mairie registrations, applications, and waitlist follow-ups for you.
Private Crèche Costs
Private crèches (crèches privées or micro-crèches) offer more flexible enrollment — no waitlist lottery — but come at a significantly higher price.
Expect to pay €1,500 to €1,900 per month for a full-time spot, depending on the arrondissement, the facility, and whether meals are included. Some private crèches operate as micro-crèches (up to 12 children), which tend to sit at the higher end of this range but offer a more intimate setting.
Subsidies for private crèches
Not all private crèches qualify for CAF subsidies, but micro-crèches that use the “PAJE” billing model do. In this case, you pay the full gross cost upfront, and CAF reimburses a portion through the CMG allowance — typically €600–900/month depending on your income.
Some private crèches use a different model (PSU — Prestation de Service Unique) where the subsidy is built into the price, making them more affordable upfront but less common for expats to find.
Bottom line: a private micro-crèche with CMG can bring the effective cost down to €700–1,200/month — still more than a public crèche, but with guaranteed availability and a simpler enrollment process.
Assistante Maternelle Costs
An assistante maternelle (often shortened to “assmat”) is a certified childminder who cares for up to four children in their own home. It’s one of the most popular childcare options in France and often the sweet spot between affordability and personal attention.
Gross cost
The hourly rate is negotiated directly with the assmat but must fall within legal limits. In Paris, expect to pay €3.50 to €5.00 per hour gross. On top of this, you’ll pay:
- Indemnités d’entretien (maintenance allowance): €3.65–5.00/day — covers supplies, electricity, water
- Indemnités de repas (meal allowance): €3–7/day if the assmat provides meals, or you provide your own
For a full-time schedule (45–50 hours/week), the gross monthly cost before subsidies typically lands between €900 and €1,200.
After CMG subsidy
CAF’s CMG allowance significantly reduces this cost. For a child under 3, monthly CMG amounts in 2026 are approximately:
- Low income (under ~€22,000/year): up to €531/month
- Middle income (~€22,000–€49,000/year): up to €448/month
- Higher income (above ~€49,000/year): up to €269/month
Real net cost example
A family earning €4,500/month net (roughly €54,000/year) using an assmat at €4/hour gross, 45 hours/week:
- Gross monthly salary: ~€780
- Maintenance + meals: ~€150
- Total gross: ~€930/month
- CMG subsidy: –€269
- Net monthly cost: ~€661
- After 50% tax credit: ~€385/month effective cost
Nounou (Home Nanny) Costs
A nounou (garde à domicile) comes to your home to care for your children. It’s the most flexible and convenient option — especially for very young babies, multiple children, or non-standard schedules — but also the most expensive.
Direct hire vs agency
- Direct hire: you recruit and employ the nanny yourself. Net hourly rates in Paris range from €11 to €14/hour depending on experience, qualifications, and language skills. With employer charges (cotisations patronales), the total cost to you is roughly €15–19/hour.
- Agency placement: agencies charge €18 to €26/hour all-in. The premium covers recruitment, backup care, and administrative management.
Monthly cost
For a full-time nounou (45–50 hours/week, direct hire):
- Gross monthly cost: €2,700–€3,800 (including employer contributions)
- CMG subsidy: –€269 to –€531 (depending on income)
- Net before tax credit: ~€2,200–€3,300/month
- After 50% tax credit: ~€1,250–€1,800/month effective cost
Garde partagée: splitting the cost
One of the most popular arrangements in Paris is garde partagée — sharing a nanny with one other family. The nanny alternates between the two homes (or stays at one), and each family employs her for their hours. This effectively halves the cost while your child also gets a playmate.
With garde partagée, the effective monthly cost after subsidies and tax credit drops to roughly €600–€900 per family — making it comparable to an assistante maternelle.
Pajemploi
All nanny employment in France must be declared through Pajemploi, the official payroll platform for household childcare employees. Pajemploi calculates social contributions, generates pay slips, and processes CMG payments. It’s mandatory — undeclared employment (travail au noir) carries heavy penalties and voids your eligibility for subsidies.
Related reading: Best Neighborhoods in Paris: Rent Prices, Schools & Lifestyle
Bilingual & International Options
Paris has a growing network of private bilingual crèches and international daycares. These offer dual-language curricula (typically 50/50 French and English) and cater specifically to expat families who want language continuity while their child acquires French.
Expect to pay €1,500 to €3,000 per month depending on the program, location, and hours. Most bilingual crèches are private and do not qualify for CAF subsidies, though some micro-crèches with the PAJE billing model may offer partial CMG eligibility.
You can also find English-speaking nounous — either through agencies specializing in bilingual carers or through expat community networks. Rates are typically at the higher end of the nounou scale (€13–15 net/hour) given the language premium.
Best for: families who want English-language continuity alongside French immersion, and have the budget for premium care.
CAF Subsidies Explained (CMG)
The Complément de libre choix du Mode de Garde (CMG) is the main childcare subsidy in France. It’s paid monthly by the CAF directly to your childcare provider (or to you, depending on the setup) and significantly reduces your out-of-pocket costs.
Who qualifies
- You must be living in France with a valid residence permit
- Your child must be under 6 (higher amounts for under 3)
- The childcare provider must be officially registered (agrément for assmats, declared via Pajemploi for nounous, or PAJE-eligible for micro-crèches)
- You must work at least a minimum number of hours (or be job-seeking, studying, etc.)
How much you get (2026 rates, child under 3)
| Household income (annual) | Assmat CMG | Nounou CMG |
|---|---|---|
| Under ~€22,000 | ~€531/month | ~€904/month |
| €22,000–€49,000 | ~€448/month | ~€764/month |
| Above €49,000 | ~€269/month | ~€458/month |
Amounts are approximate and updated annually. Nounou CMG is higher because the gross cost is higher.
How to apply
- Create your account on caf.fr
- Declare your childcare arrangement (assmat via Pajemploi, or micro-crèche via the crèche’s billing)
- CAF processes your income declaration and calculates your CMG tier
- Payments begin the month after your childcare starts
Need help with CAF registration? Flatigo’s settling-in service handles your CAF account setup and benefit applications.
The 50% Tax Credit
On top of CAF subsidies, France offers a crédit d’impôt (tax credit) of 50% of eligible childcare expenses for children under 6. This is one of the most generous childcare tax breaks in Europe.
How it works
- You declare your childcare expenses on your annual tax return (déclaration de revenus)
- The government credits 50% of those expenses back to you
- Annual ceiling: €3,500 per child = maximum credit of €1,750 per child per year
- This is a tax credit, not a deduction — meaning you get the money back even if you owe no French income tax
What counts as eligible expenses
- Fees paid to a crèche (public or private)
- Salary and charges paid to an assistante maternelle (after CMG deduction)
- Salary and charges paid to a nounou (after CMG deduction)
- Not eligible: meals, overtime beyond contracted hours, agency placement fees
When you get the money
The tax credit is paid in two installments:
- January: an advance of 60% based on the previous year’s credit
- Summer: the remaining 40% after your tax return is processed
For your first year in France, you won’t receive the January advance — the full credit arrives in the summer following your first tax filing.
Real-World Cost Examples
To make this concrete, here are three scenarios for a family earning €4,500/month net (roughly €54,000/year household income) with one child aged 18 months, needing full-time care (45 hours/week):
Scenario A: Public crèche
- Monthly cost: ~€280/month (income-based)
- CAF subsidy: included in pricing (PSU model)
- Tax credit: ~€115/month effective
- Effective cost: ~€165/month
Lowest cost by far — but getting a spot is the hard part.
Scenario B: Assistante maternelle
- Gross monthly cost: ~€930 (salary + maintenance + meals)
- CMG subsidy: –€448
- Net monthly cost: ~€482
- Tax credit: ~€115/month effective
- Effective cost: ~€367/month
Good balance of cost and personal care. Availability is much better than public crèches.
Scenario C: Nounou (direct hire)
- Gross monthly cost: ~€2,900 (salary + employer charges)
- CMG subsidy: –€764
- Net monthly cost: ~€2,136
- Tax credit: ~€146/month effective (capped)
- Effective cost: ~€1,990/month
Most expensive, but maximum flexibility. Garde partagée can halve this to ~€995/month.
The bottom line
The gap between options is significant. A public crèche costs roughly €165/month effective, while a private nanny runs €1,990/month — a 12x difference. For most expat families, the assistante maternelle sits in the sweet spot: affordable after subsidies, widely available, and offering personal care in a home setting.
Need help finding the right childcare in Paris? Flatigo’s childcare service handles the research, applications, and enrollment paperwork — so you can focus on settling in.
