Fewer families paying for daycare as Vantaa nears 60 percent free childcare

Over half of children in Finland’s largest cities now receive free early childhood education, with Vantaa leading at nearly 61 percent, Yle reports. Adjustments to income thresholds in August will further reduce fees for many families.

Starting in August, revised income limits for daycare fees will lower costs for numerous households. In Vantaa, an estimated 61.5 percent of children will qualify for free early education—up from the current 58.5 percent. Tampere and Oulu follow with around 51–52 percent of children in free care, while Helsinki stands at 48 percent and Espoo at 38 percent.

Fees are waived entirely for families earning below the lowest income threshold. The adjustment means more households will avoid payments altogether. Cities like Tampere, Oulu, and Espoo also expect a rise in free childcare eligibility, though Helsinki notes that predicting the impact of index increases remains difficult.

For families still paying, fees depend on household size, income, and hours of care. A Vantaa example shows a one-child family earning €8,000 monthly would pay €253 under the new rules—down from €295. Sibling discounts apply, and the minimum fee rises slightly from €30 to €32.

Despite fee increases for some, cities anticipate lower revenue from parent payments. Vantaa projects a €75,000 drop this year and €165,000 in 2025, as fewer families pay the highest rates (falling from 13 percent to 10 percent). Helsinki and Espoo currently have higher shares of top-tier payers (17 percent and 21 percent, respectively).

Parent payments cover only a small fraction of early education costs, which average nearly €16,000 per child annually in Vantaa. One father, Petri Salovaara, called his family’s €250 monthly fee reasonable. Another parent, Dilber Yilmaz, initially overpaid €300 monthly due to unreported income—a mistake corrected once her earnings were verified.