The Short Answer
Most Calgary parents want a straight number before anything else. At a licensed centre like Bright Kids, that number is $15 a day, or $326.25 a month for full-time care, thanks to Alberta’s Affordability Grant. It applies automatically at enrollment. No application, no income test, no paperwork to chase.
What the Flat Rate Covers
The $326.25 a month full-time rate (or $230 a month part-time) applies to every licensed program up to kindergarten age, infant, toddler, and preschool alike. It isn’t tiered by age or by household income. At Bright Kids, meals are included in that fee too: breakfast, lunch, and an afternoon snack, prepared fresh on-site every day.
What Isn’t Covered by the Grant
The flat rate is specifically for children up to kindergarten age. Alberta still runs a separate, income-tested Child Care Subsidy Program for out-of-school care, kindergarten through grade 6, and that one works differently: it requires an application through Alberta’s online subsidy portal, and the amount depends on household income. If your child is younger than kindergarten, that program doesn’t apply to you yet, the flat rate already covers your family. Here’s a full breakdown of how the grant and subsidy differ.
What This Looks Like for a Calgary Family
For a family enrolling an infant or toddler full-time at Bright Kids, the monthly cost is $326.25, the same rate across our Calgary locations. Part-time enrollment, 50 to 99 hours a month, runs $230. Meals, supplies, and educator time are all included in that fee, so there’s no separate add-on list to budget around. See the full breakdown of our programs and fees.
The Bottom Line
Licensed daycare in Calgary is genuinely more affordable today than it’s been in years, and the price you see is the price you pay. If you want to know exactly how the numbers work out for your family, booking a tour is the fastest way to get a real answer.