Au Pair vs. Nanny vs. Daycare: What’s the Difference?

Deciding on which childcare option is best for your family is a big decision. When it comes to in-home childcare options, choices are often limited, so it’s common for parents to wonder if there is a difference between an au pair and a nanny.

Below, we’ll break down the difference and compare these options to a traditional daycare.

Childcare Options Comparison

	Au Pair	Nanny	Daycare
Cost (Monthly)	$1,782 per family¹	$3,544 per child²	$1,039 per child³
Training	- 200+ hours of recent childcare experience - Program-led training and training from trusted partners like AAA^® and American Red Cross^®	No formal training required	Daycare license and relevant certifications
Availability	High availability across the country	Limited availability	Low availability, long waitlists
Screening	Comprehensive multi-tiered screening process	Little to no screening	Varies
Scheduling	Highly flexible	Typically for 9-5	Typically for 9-5
Selection & Search	Choose from hundreds of au pair profiles	Usually limited	Daycare availability varies depending on location
Responsibilities	Wide range of childcare duties	General childcare duties	Limited duties
Cultural Exchange	Designed for cultural exchange	Not designed for cultural exchange	Not designed for cultural exchange

References

1 Minimum monthly cost to host an au pair, includes the match processing fee, annual program fee, and au pair weekly stipend. Does not include additional costs such as car insurance, meals, and other amenities. Read more about our program fees.

2 Based on the average nationwide hourly rate of $22.15, according to ZipRecruiter.

3 Average cost across all states (and D.C). This average was determined by using data from the National Database of Childcare Prices. Daycare costs vary by state and region.

Hear from Our Host Families

See what real families say about our programs:

“We have had live out nannies, daycare and after school care. We prefer Au Pair in America. The cost savings has been an important factor. But more importantly, I think the girls we get really want to be here… My children have gone to Hungary and England to visit our previous au pairs. Soon we will go to Sweden and Germany. There is nothing like making the world a smaller place and having good friends from all over.”

“My husband and I feel that an au pair provides the perfect mix between affordability and high-quality care. The au pair [program] removes multiple layers of complications that we’ve had with nannies, day care or relative-based care. It simplifies our lives… This is one of those rare circumstances where it IS as good as it sounds.”

“We like having the option of live-in childcare and the cultural experience of learning about new countries. Our professional schedules make traditional day care an unworkable schedule. Compared to a regular nanny, our au pair is part of our family… It is fun for us to learn about her family, country and cultural traditions.”

“Having an au pair has taken all the stress out of finding and keeping good childcare. We no longer have to work around babysitter schedules. It allows us to be more flexible with our schedule. Also, the kids have a close personal relationship with the au pair and that makes everyone happier.”

“We tried a lot of different childcare options. The most important thing for us was reliability and flexibility with our schedules, which fluctuate throughout the year. Having an au pair that could meet our schedule and be part of our household definitely changed the game for us.”

“We know a lot of families… whose nannies just quit with no notice, and they are just in a pickle time and again. The reliability of having somebody who’s here who we have a very close relationship with and trust, someone who’s going to be there when [things] come up has been invaluable.”

Become a Host Family

FAQs

Have questions?  
Explore our FAQs for helpful answers.

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An au pair is a young person from overseas who comes to the U.S. to live with a host family, engage in meaningful cultural exchange, and provide flexible childcare solutions.

A person who provides childcare in a family’s home, typically under contract.

Au pairs provide live-in childcare and cultural exchange, while nannies only provide in-home childcare. In addition, au pairs are young people from overseas, whereas nannies are typically U.S. residents and may be any age.

The cost to host an au pair with Au Pair in America^® is more affordable than the cost to host a nanny, based on data from the average nationwide hourly rate for nannies.

The cost to host an au pair depends on which au pair program you choose and incidental costs such as meals and car insurance. Read more about our program fees.

^{1 Minimum monthly cost to host an au pair, includes the match processing fee, annual program fee, and au pair weekly stipend. Does not include additional costs such as car insurance, meals, and other amenities. Read more about our program fees.}

^{2 Based on the average nationwide monthly rate in July 2025, according to ZipRecruiter.}

³^{Average cost}^{across all}^state^{s (and D.C}⁾^.^{This average was}^d^etermined^by^{using data}^from^the^{National Database of Childcare Prices}^{. Daycare costs vary by state and region.}