Daycare center fees: This is how much parents pay in Saxony's major cities

There are comparatively small differences in nursery fees in Saxony's major cities. This is the result of an analysis by the Cologne Institute for Economic Research (IW), which is available to the German Press Agency. For the Free State, the three major cities of Leipzig, Dresden and Chemnitz were taken into account.

In the study, Saxony is assigned to the group of states without full exemption from fees, which also includes Bavaria, Baden-Württemberg, Saxony-Anhalt and Schleswig-Holstein. According to the study, the reduction in fees for single parents in Saxony is unique in Germany. In Leipzig, reduced fees are also charged for the second child attending a facility, while the third and all further children are free of charge.

In general, according to the Saxon law on child daycare, the fees are limited in relation to material and personnel costs. Parental contributions should cover at least 15 percent of these costs and a maximum of 23 percent for crèches (up to 3 years) and 30 percent for kindergartens (from 3 years). The minimum limit does not apply in the last year of kindergarten. The fee rates in Saxony are set by the cities and municipalities in consultation with the independent providers and apply equally to all local facilities.

The highest fees in a comparison of the major Saxon cities are in Dresden. In the state capital, 207 euros are charged for all-day care in a crèche and 150.48 euros in a kindergarten. It is cheaper in Leipzig, where parents pay 187.68 euros (crèche) and 115.66 euros (kindergarten). The lowest fees are charged in Chemnitz: 175.74 euros for the crèche and 120.96 euros for the kindergarten.

Throughout Germany, the study looks at the respective state regulations and fee scales of 82 large cities with more than 100,000 inhabitants. Where possible, the basic fees in the first half of 2024 were taken into account - plus any costs for meals and other services. Overall, there is a wide range of daycare fees in Germany. Depending on where you live, attending daycare can be free of charge or cost several hundred euros a month. In individual cases, parents with exceptionally high incomes may have to pay more than 1000 euros.

In Germany, a place at a daycare center must be provided for children between their third birthday and the start of school. For children between their first and third birthday, there is also an entitlement to childcare - in a facility or in daycare. "However, the existing services for the under-threes are far from sufficient to actually meet the childcare needs expressed by parents," the study found.