Cost of daycare in Wellington CBD
6 licensed centres in Wellington CBD, Wellington — modelled weekly fees by age band, with 20 Hours ECE (0% of centres participate) and FamilyBoost net pricing.
Modelled weekly cost in Wellington CBD, by service type + age band
Per the OECE 2026 NZ funding rates. Net column shows out-of-pocket after FamilyBoost rebate (25% capped at $75/week).
| Service type | Under 2 | 2-3 yrs | 3-5 yrs (w/ 20 Hrs) | 3-5 yrs (net w/ FB) | In Wellington CBD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Education & Care | $360 | $280 | $65 | $48.75 | 6 |
Modelled weekly cost assumes 25 hours/week of care. Real fees vary by centre, family circumstance, and term — confirm with each centre directly. Per-centre fee scraping is a Phase B item; this page shows national medians until live per-centre fees are ingested.
How to reduce your weekly cost in Wellington CBD
NZ families can stack three forms of government support — all available at every centre in Wellington CBD.
For 3-5 year olds at participating centres. Up to 20 hours/week funded directly to the centre. 0 of 6 centres in Wellington CBD participate.
Means-tested. From MSD. Hourly subsidy based on household income, hours of work or study, and number of children. Apply via Work and Income.
25% rebate on weekly fees, capped at $75/week per family. From IRD. Phases out from household income $140k to $180k. Claim quarterly via myIR.
All 6 centres in Wellington CBD
Listed by service type. 20-Hrs pill indicates participation in 20 Hours ECE.
Education & Care (6)
BestStart Leeds Street
ERO assessed BestStart Leeds Street as Not well placed in June 2020. Our analysis of the ERO report identifies strengths in children's wellbeing, health and safety, and leadership, with grades of B in these areas. However, curriculum and learning, whānau partnership, and bicultural practice all received grades of C, indicating these areas require further development.
Polyhigh Community Childcare Centre
Polyhigh Community Childcare Centre is an education and care service in Wellington CBD with a current roll of 50 children. Our analysis of the ERO report identifies caring relationships and responsive teaching practices supporting children's social-emotional development, with positive parent relationships and learning-focused partnerships emerging. Leadership and governance show collaborative practice, though the internal evaluation framework is not yet effectively used for improvement.
Moriah (Private) Kindergarten Inc
Victoria University of Wellington Fairlie Terrace Early Childhood Service
ERO did not assign an overall placement in its March 2023 review. Our analysis of the ERO report found the service graded B across all dimensions: strong attunement to children's wellbeing with effective transitions, improved whānau partnership with scope to better reflect cultural diversity, embedded te reo and tikanga with opportunities to strengthen visibility of diverse cultures, and all health and safety legal requirements met.
Playhouse Childcare
Capital City Preschool
Frequently asked about daycare costs in Wellington CBD
- How much does daycare cost in Wellington CBD?
- Daycare costs in Wellington CBD vary by service type and the age of your child. Modelled national medians: education & care centres charge around $320-$360/week for under-2s and $0-$65/week for 2-5 year olds depending on 20 Hours ECE participation. Free Kindergartens charge little or nothing for 3-5 year olds due to 20 Hours funding. Of 6 centres in Wellington CBD, 0 (0%) participate in 20 Hours ECE.
- Which centres in Wellington CBD offer 20 Hours ECE?
- 0 of 6 centres in Wellington CBD participate in 20 Hours ECE, which subsidises up to 20 hours/week for 3-5 year olds. See the per-centre listing below for participation status.
- Can I get FamilyBoost for daycare in Wellington CBD?
- Yes. FamilyBoost is a 25% IRD rebate on weekly fees, capped at $75/week per family. Available at every licensed ECE service in NZ (including all 6 centres in Wellington CBD). Phases out from household income $140k to $180k. Claim quarterly via IRD myIR.
- What's the cheapest daycare option in Wellington CBD?
- In NZ, the lowest-cost ECE options are typically Free Kindergartens (3-5 year olds, ~$0/week with 20 Hours ECE) and Playcentres (parent-led, ~$20/week). For under-2s, all centre-based options charge fees — Childcare Subsidy from MSD plus FamilyBoost from IRD can substantially reduce out-of-pocket cost depending on household income.
Full directory with safety + demographics
Your exact net weekly cost
Per-region cost comparison
Data sources & freshness (4 sources · last refresh 12 July 2026)
Service type, address, roll, ethnicity, Equity Index, 20 Hours, Takiwā, lat/lng
Annual financial returns (community-based + umbrella orgs)
Per-centre review reports + 6-dimension letter grades (curriculum / wellbeing / whānau / bicultural / health & safety / leadership)
Safety score, crime/1k, 2023 Census demographics
Last build refresh: . See full methodology + data sources pages for licences, refresh cadences, and known gaps.