🧮 All savings, one calculation

Georgia True Cost
of Childcare Calculator

Enter your family details once. We chain together every Georgia savings program — CAPS subsidy, Dependent Care FSA, federal tax credit, and Georgia state credit — to show your real monthly cost.

✅ CAPS Subsidy ✅ Dependent Care FSA ✅ Federal Care Credit ✅ Georgia State Credit

Your Family Details

All calculations run in your browser — nothing is stored or shared. Results update live.

Include yourself, children, and anyone living with you full-time.
$
Add all income sources: wages, child support, self-employment. Use before-tax amounts.
CAPS requires at least one parent to be working, in school, or in approved training.
Children must be under 13, or under 18 with a documented disability.
$
The total amount your provider charges per month. Average Georgia daycare: ~$900–$1,400/mo per child.
A DC-FSA lets you pay for care with pre-tax dollars — a significant savings for most families.
$
Max $5,000/year (joint or single) or $2,500 (filing separately). Most families max this out.
$
Some employers add money to your FSA. Enter $0 if yours doesn't.

Your True Monthly Cost

Updates live as you fill in your details

Gross monthly childcare cost What your provider charges
$1,200
✅ CAPS Eligible
CAPS covers Georgia childcare subsidy
-$1,075
Your share after CAPS Based on your co-pay tier
$125
Tax Savings (applied to your out-of-pocket)
Dependent Care FSA Pre-tax savings each month
-$17
Federal Care Credit IRS Form 2441
-$5
Georgia State Credit 30% of federal credit (Form 500)
-$1
✨ True Monthly Cost
$102
You're saving $1,098/mo vs. full price
$13,176 saved per year
Estimates only. Results are based on 2026 Georgia DECAL income guidelines, IRS rules, and Georgia Form 500 rates. Your actual co-pay is set by DECAL during application review. Tax savings depend on your complete tax situation. Consult a tax professional before making financial decisions. Independent resource — not affiliated with DECAL or the State of Georgia.