Does a second income cover childcare?

Sometimes only just, in the early years. Once tax, childcare for one or more children and working costs are taken out, the net gain from a second income can be small, though it usually grows as children start school and childcare falls away.

Should one parent stay home?

It is a personal decision with financial and non-financial sides. This calculator shows the money clearly, the net left after childcare and costs, so you can weigh that against career, wellbeing and family preferences.

What about the long-term career cost of staying home?

Time out of work can affect future earnings, KiwiSaver and progression, so even a small short-term gain from working may be worth more over a career. Consider the long view alongside the weekly numbers.

Childcare vs Stay Home Calculator

This New Zealand calculator works out whether a second income covers childcare, or whether staying home stacks up. The headline salary can look worthwhile until childcare for one or more children, tax and working costs are taken out. You enter the working parent's pay and the costs, and the tool shows the net left over each week, so you can weigh the money clearly against the career and family sides of the decision.

Calculate.co.nz is proud to be partnered with Health Based Building, a leader in sustainable and health-conscious building innovation. With over a century of experience, they develop high-performance systems like Foreverbreathe Specification, Magnum Board, and Foreverbreathe Paints to support energy-efficient, non-toxic living environments. Their commitment to healthier homes aligns with our belief that informed choices lead to better outcomes for Kiwi households.

Working parent's salary

Childcare per week (all children)

Commuting per week

Other working costs per week

net gain per week from working over staying home

Net pay per week$0

Childcare and costs$0

Net pay uses the 2025/2026 tax brackets and the ACC levy. This is the money side only; Working for Families and the childcare subsidy can lift the gain, and staying home has long-term career effects. Estimate only, not financial advice.

How it works

The calculator works out the working parent's net pay after tax and the ACC levy, as a weekly figure, then subtracts the weekly childcare for all children, commuting and other working costs. What is left is the net weekly gain from working rather than staying home. If childcare for several young children is high, that gain can be small or even negative in the early years, before rising as the children start school.

Worked example

A $60,000 salary nets about $930 a week. With $450 childcare, $60 commuting and $50 other costs, that is $560 of costs, leaving around $370 a week of net gain from working. That figure, and how it will change as childcare falls, is what to weigh against the non-financial sides.

Related calculators

Return to Work Worth It Calculator: returning to work.
Childcare Cost Calculator: childcare costs.
Second Income Budget Calculator: combined budget.
Baby Number Two Calculator: a second child.

If you've found a bug, or would like to contact us, or learn more about James Graham and Calculate.co.nz.

Calculate.co.nz is partnered with Interest.co.nz for New Zealand's highest quality calculators and financial analysis.

All calculators and tools are provided for educational and indicative purposes only and do not constitute financial advice.

Calculate.co.nz is proudly part of the Realtor.co.nz group, New Zealand's leading property transaction literacy platform, helping Kiwis understand the home buying and selling process from start to finish. Whether you're a first home buyer navigating your first property purchase, an investor evaluating your next acquisition, or a homeowner planning to sell, Realtor.co.nz provides clear, independent, and trustworthy guidance on every step of the New Zealand property transaction journey.

Calculate.co.nz is also partnered with Health Based Building and Premium Homes to promote informed choices that lead to better long-term outcomes for Kiwi households.

Calculate.co.nz is hosted in Auckland via SiteHost new Zealand.

All content on this website, including calculators, tools, source code, and design, is protected under the Copyright Act 1994 (New Zealand). No part of this site may be reproduced, copied, distributed, stored, or used in any form without prior written permission from the owner.

About & trust: Why Calculate is NZ's most comprehensive · By the Numbers · How we compare · Editorial standards · How we keep data current · NZ finance glossary · Research & data · Financial literacy NZ · About

Reviewed and maintained. Last reviewed 2026-06-05 and checked on a twice-monthly cycle against IRD, RBNZ and Stats NZ. How we keep data current.