How much does childcare cost in Ticino? Nursery fees, support and tax deductions in 2026

The cost of a nursery is one of the first things families budget for when planning a return to work. In Ticino there is no single rate: the price depends on the type of setting, the hours, your income and public support. This guide brings together the official reference figures, the support and tax deductions that apply in 2026, and the questions to ask before you enrol. If you are relocating from abroad or from another canton, it will also help you make sense of the fees you are quoted.

How much does a nursery cost in Ticino?

The answer depends above all on one thing: whether the nursery (nido dell'infanzia) is subsidised by the Canton or not. In subsidised nurseries the fee covers only part of the cost of a place, because the rest is funded by the Canton, the municipalities and the Confederation. A private unsubsidised nursery, by contrast, has to cover the cost of each place through its fees.

To give an order of magnitude, these are the figures published by the authorities:

These figures are not a price list, but they help you read the offers you receive. When a fee is well below the cost of a place, the difference is covered by public funds; when it comes close to the real cost, the setting is funding the place through its fees. Always ask the setting for the exact price, ideally in writing.

How much does a nursery cost in Lugano?

The same rules apply in the Lugano area as in the rest of the Canton. Subsidised and private nurseries operate side by side, with fixed or income-based fees. Cantonal support alone can reduce a full-time fee by between CHF 200 and CHF 530 a month, and by more for families receiving the early childhood allowance. The list of nurseries and micro-nurseries in Ticino is available on the Canton's website.

Fixed or income-based fees: how pricing works

According to the Canton, some nurseries and micro-nurseries charge a fixed fee, while others adjust it to the parents' income, which can make a significant difference to the total. In practice you will come across three situations:

• Subsidised nursery with income-based fees. The fee is calculated on the family's financial situation. The Canton grants an additional subsidy to settings that use this system, which involves extra administrative work.
• Subsidised nursery with a fixed fee. For the same hours the fee is the same for everyone; cantonal support then reduces it according to each family's situation.
• Private unsubsidised nursery. The setting sets its own fees, which cover the full cost of the service.

All nurseries, subsidised or not, need authorisation and are supervised by the cantonal office for family and youth services (Ufficio del sostegno a enti e attività per le famiglie e i giovani, UFaG), with visits at least every two years. In addition, one of the requirements for the 55% subsidy rate is a commitment to raise fees only in line with consumer prices.

Cantonal support to reduce the fee

Families resident in Ticino who place a child in a nursery or micro-nursery recognised by the Canton, for work or training, can receive three types of support, which can be combined. You do not apply to a government office: you apply through the nursery, which deducts the support directly from the fee.

The example published by the Canton shows how this works. With a fixed fee of CHF 1,200 a month and CHF 115 for meals, a family with only the universal aid pays CHF 1,115. With the RIPAM aid as well, it pays CHF 785. If it also receives the API, only the cost of meals, CHF 115, remains to be paid.

Three details matter:

• Support applies only in nurseries that meet the subsidy requirements. Before enrolling, ask whether the nursery is recognised by the Canton.
• The employer's certificate, or the RIPAM or API decision, must be handed to the nursery within 30 days of the start of attendance, or of the date of the decision if it arrives later. If it is late, the support counts only from the month in which it is handed in.
• Meals and transport are not part of the fee on which support is calculated: subsidised nurseries invoice them separately.

Some municipalities also support nurseries with their own contributions: in 2021 these came to almost CHF 3 million across the Canton. It is worth asking your municipality whether local support is available.

Family allowances and the new childcare allowance

Family allowances do not depend on the nursery, but they help with the cost: in 2026 the child allowance in Ticino is CHF 215 per child per month. Amounts, conditions and cantonal benefits such as the AFI and API are explained in our guide to family allowances in Ticino.

Specific federal support is on the way. The LSCus, the federal act on support for institutional childcare passed by Parliament in December 2025, introduces a childcare allowance (assegno di custodia) of CHF 100 a month for one day of nursery a week, plus CHF 50 for each additional half day, up to CHF 500 a month for five days. It will be available for children up to age 8 if both parents work or are in education, and it may not exceed the actual costs. The date of entry into force has not yet been set: according to the Federal Social Insurance Office (FSIO), the first payments are provisionally expected from 2029.

How much can you deduct from your taxes?

Costs for childcare by third parties, including nursery fees, can be deducted from taxable income up to a maximum amount per child.

The deduction applies to children under 14 who live with you, and only to care during the parents' working or training hours, or in case of inability to work. Meals, accommodation and care during leisure time are not deductible. You deduct what you have actually paid, net of any reimbursements. Keep your invoices and ask the nursery for an annual statement of costs. For tax year 2027 the Confederation has already announced an increase in the federal maximum to CHF 25,900.

If you are taxed at source (imposta alla fonte), deductions such as childcare costs are handled differently: check with the cantonal tax administration (Divisione delle contribuzioni). Our guide to moving to Lugano with children explains the main steps.

What does the nursery fee include?

Two fees of the same amount can cover very different services. Before comparing them, check these points:

• Meals and snacks: invoiced separately in subsidised nurseries; in private nurseries they may be included or charged separately.
• One-off or annual fees: registration, admission or a deposit to reserve the place.
• Hours: a short day, a full day or an extended full day changes the fee considerably.
• Closures: according to the Canton, the number of closure weeks varies from one setting to another, from none to four a year.
• Settling-in (ambientamento): usually takes at least two weeks; ask how it is invoiced.
• Educational services: observations, meetings with parents, specialists, languages.

Questions to ask the nursery about costs

1. Is the nursery recognised by the Canton, and does it give access to fee support?
2. Is the fee fixed or based on income? Which documents are needed?
3. How much do the hours we need cost, and can they be changed during the year?
4. Which fees are paid on enrolment and each year, and in which cases are they refundable?
5. Is the fee annual, monthly or daily? When is payment due?
6. What happens in case of illness, holidays or closures, and what is the notice period for withdrawing a child?
7. Does the nursery issue an annual statement of costs for the tax return?

For the questions that go beyond cost, from settling-in to the language model, see our guide on how to choose a nursery in Lugano.

A transparent example: Honeycomb School's fees

Honeycomb School is a private bilingual Italian-English centre for children aged 0 to 6 in Muzzano, near Lugano. We publish our fees because we believe a calm decision starts with clear numbers. The fee includes periodic observations, meetings with families, the periodic presence of the specialists in our multidisciplinary team, including a neuropsychomotor therapist and a speech therapist, and everyday bilingualism with native-speaking educators.

These are the annual nursery fees (0–3 years). The monthly equivalent is the annual fee divided by 12.

On top of these amounts come meals, at CHF 2,400 a year for five days (about CHF 200 a month) or CHF 1,920 for four days (about CHF 160 a month), the one-off registration fee of CHF 3,000 and the annual admission fee of CHF 1,500, which reserves the place. For the kindergarten (scuola dell'infanzia, 3–6 years, September to June) the annual fee is CHF 23,000 or CHF 25,500 depending on the hours, excluding meals.

The fees are indicative and we prepare a personalised quote on request. You will find the details on our fees page; to see the nursery and meet the team, you can book a visit.