Legal · Finance · Cost · Tax
How much does an au pair cost? The full 2026 breakdown
The headline pocket-money figure is not the cost. This guide builds the real total cost of ownership — pocket money, board and lodging, social charges, insurance and agency fees — country by country, compares agencies with direct matching, and explains the social-security and tax rules with dated official sources.
Direct answer
An au pair costs pocket money plus board and lodging rather than a salary. In France that is roughly €600–€650 a month in cash (€326.25–€391.50 pocket money plus ≈ €259.50 Urssaf on a forfaitary base at 01/06/2026); in Germany around €280 a month of reference pocket money; in Spain about €320 a month; in the US a weekly stipend with no federal minimum, fixed by the J-1 sponsor. Always add board, insurance and any agency fee, and divide by the hours of cover: that is the number that lets you compare fairly.
Verified by the AuPair Connect Compliance Team · Last updated: 15/09/2026.
Not sure what an au pair exactly is? What an au pair is: definition, role & rules.
1. How much does an au pair cost: the short answer
The cost of an au pair is not a wage, it is a package: a monthly pocket money, a private room and meals, and — depending on the country — social contributions, insurance and possibly an agency fee. The single figure quoted in most articles is only the first line of that package, which is why families are often surprised by the real monthly total.
Two rules make the comparison honest. First, add everything, including what you provide in kind: a private room has a value, and meals have a cost. Second, divide the total by the hours of cover you actually receive — typically 20 to 30 hours a week. Only then can you compare an au pair with a nanny or daycare on the same basis.
If you are still deciding between the two routes, start with our au pair vs nanny comparison and the definition of an au pair.
2. Au pair cost breakdown by country
The table below is the factual core of this page: the pocket-money line and the social-charge line for the four reference countries, with the framework that governs each. Amounts are dated and sourced below the table.
| Country | Pocket money | Social charges / fees | Framework |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | No federal minimum; weekly stipend set by contract | Sponsor programme fee (structural); stipend FLSA-linked | 22 CFR §62.31; Fair Labor Standards Act |
| France | €326.25–€391.50 / month (EU/EEA); €320 min outside EU/EEA | ≈ €259.50 / month Urssaf, on a forfaitary base (01/06/2026) | Service-Public F13348; Urssaf |
| Germany | ≈ €280 / month (BA reference, set by contract) | Family contributions on the agreed amount; health insurance | Bundesagentur für Arbeit; Au-Pair-Vertrag |
| Spain | ≈ €320 / month (accepted practice) | Board, meals and health cover included in the arrangement | RD 1155/2024 (au pair study-stay) |
Sources (verified September 2026): US 22 CFR §62.31 and the US Department of State J-1 Au Pair Program; France Service-Public.fr F13348 and Urssaf; Germany Bundesagentur für Arbeit; Spain RD 1155/2024. Board and lodging is mandatory everywhere and is not included in these cash figures. Indicative only.
For the full per-country pocket-money dataset, see our au pair pocket money study by country (2026).
⚠️ Notice — comparative advertising
How to read this comparison — This page is comparative advertising within the meaning of article L122-1 of the French Consumer Code: it compares goods or services (here, au pair matching platforms) meeting the same needs. As required by law, the comparison is objective — it covers essential, relevant, verifiable and representative features (pricing, pricing model, paid messaging, verification, native app) —, it is not misleading, it does not disparage any competitor, and every figure is dated and sourced. The data below was verified on 15 September 2026 against the official sources cited; we invite you to check them yourself before deciding.
3. TCO calculator: the real cost of an au pair
Total cost of ownership (TCO) means everything you pay, in cash or in kind, divided by the hours of childcare you actually receive. Use the grid below as your calculation sheet — copy each line into a spreadsheet and fill in your own country's figures.
| Cost line | What to include |
|---|---|
| Cash paid to the au pair | Pocket money / stipend only |
| Board and lodging | Provided in kind (mandatory): private room + meals |
| Employer social contributions | Reduced / forfaitary where the country requires it |
| Programme or agency fee | If using a sponsor (structural in the US J-1) |
| Insurance | Health cover or equivalent, per country |
| Language course | Contribution where required by the framework |
| Hidden extras | Transport pass, phone, rematch contingency |
| Hours of cover you actually get | ~20–30 h/week |
| Cost per hour of cover | Divide the monthly total by the hours above |
Worked example — France, 2026
France is useful because both figures are documented. Pocket money is €326.25–€391.50 per month for EU/EEA au pairs (Service-Public F13348), plus employer Urssaf contributions computed on a forfaitary base of about €259.50 per month at the 01/06/2026 rate — around €600–€650 a month in cash before options. Add a private room and meals (in kind), plus any language-course contribution. Divided by roughly 25 hours a week of cover, the cost per hour is competitive — but it covers only about half a full working week.
For the detailed French mechanics and a step-by-step cost simulator, our sister pages in French cover the coût et rémunération d'une au pair en France and the host-family cost simulator. Whatever the country, the method is the same: build the total, then divide by the hours of cover.
France — monthly cash total
- Pocket money: €326–€392 (EU/EEA)
- Urssaf contributions: ≈ €259.50 (forfaitary base)
- Total cash: ≈ €600–€650
- In kind: private room + meals
- Hours of cover: ≈ 25 h/week
Other reference countries
- Germany: ≈ €280 pocket money / month + board + insurance
- Spain: ≈ €320 pocket money / month + board
- US: weekly stipend, no federal minimum + sponsor fee
- In kind everywhere: private room + meals
- Hours of cover: ≈ 20–30 h/week
The Urssaf line is not just an amount: it comes with filing deadlines (declaration of employment within 8 days, quarterly simplified declaration). The deadlines and the administrative management and URSSAF declarations are covered in their dedicated guide.
Figures dated: pocket money and Urssaf base at 01/06/2026 (Service-Public F13348, Urssaf); Germany and Spain reference amounts from the authorities cited above. Indicative only.
4. Agency vs AuPair Connect: where the money goes
The second big cost driver is how you match. An agency or designated sponsor charges a fee but carries the legal formalities, screening and support. A direct match through a platform lowers the cash cost and puts the compliance work back on you. Neither is better in the abstract — the question is what you are buying.
| Criterion | Agency / sponsor | Direct via AuPair Connect |
|---|---|---|
| Upfront fee | Yes — programme or placement fee, non-refundable in part | Lower or none; platform subscription where applicable |
| Legal formalities | Handled by the agency / designated sponsor | Your responsibility: contract, declarations, visas |
| Screening and references | Provided by the agency, depth varies | Platform verification tools + your own checks |
| Support during the stay | Dedicated support and rematch process | Platform mediation and community guidance |
| Legally required? | Yes in the US J-1 (designated sponsor required) | Possible in FR / DE / ES if you file correctly |
| Best for | Families wanting a turnkey, supported route | Families comfortable owning the compliance steps |
Comparison verified 15/09/2026. Agency fees and platform pricing vary; check current terms. In the US the J-1 designated sponsor is legally required, so the sponsor fee is not optional there.
Our au pair agency guide details what agencies actually do, what they charge and how to check a licence. For the marketplace side of the same question, see exactly how much AuPairWorld costs — dated and sourced.
5. Social charges and tax: the rules that change the bill
The status of the placement determines the social charges. An au pair is a cultural-exchange participant, not an employee paid a salary, so several countries apply reduced or forfaitary contributions instead of full employer charges. Get the classification wrong — paying pocket money for a full-time job — and you risk a requalification with back contributions and penalties.
France
Family declares the au pair to Urssaf and pays contributions on a forfaitary base (≈ €259.50 / month at 01/06/2026). Pocket money is €326.25–€391.50 for EU/EEA (Service-Public F13348).
United States
J-1 exchange visitor via a designated sponsor; weekly stipend based on a 45-hour week and compliant with the FLSA. No federal minimum amount; EduCare is 75% of the standard rate.
Germany
Au-Pair-Vertrag with the family; reference pocket money ≈ €280 / month (Bundesagentur für Arbeit) plus a private room, full board and health insurance.
Spain
Au pair study-stay under RD 1155/2024: tasks ≤ 5 h/day, one full free day per week; reference pocket money ≈ €320 / month and health cover included.
There is no general tax deduction or credit for hosting an au pair. Where a country offers a family-employment scheme, it applies to declared employees, not automatically to the au pair exchange. Check the national rule and, for your own situation, take qualified advice.
Read how we verify content and handle personal data in our safety approach.
6. Six ways to control the cost
- 1 Price the whole package. Build the TCO before you commit, including board, insurance and fees — not just pocket money.
- 2 Cap the hours in writing. Keep the arrangement at 20–30 hours a week so you are not buying a full-time nanny at au pair prices.
- 3 Choose your matching route deliberately. Pay an agency for turnkey compliance, or accept the formalities and match directly to save cash.
- 4 Declare correctly. Filing the right contract and contributions avoids a costly requalification later.
- 5 Screen before you commit. Verification and reference checks prevent a bad match, and a rematch is the most expensive line you never budgeted.
- 6 Compare cost per hour. Divide the monthly total by hours of cover, and compare like for like with nanny or daycare.
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7. Frequently asked questions: au pair cost
How much does an au pair cost per month?
It depends on the country, because the au pair receives pocket money plus board and lodging rather than a salary. In France the pocket money is €326.25–€391.50 a month for EU/EEA au pairs (Service-Public F13348), plus employer Urssaf contributions of about €259.50 a month on the forfaitary base at the 01/06/2026 rate — roughly €600–€650 a month in cash. In Germany the reference pocket money published by the Bundesagentur für Arbeit is around €280 a month. In Spain the accepted practice is about €320 a month. In the United States the J-1 programme sets no federal minimum: the weekly stipend is based on a 45-hour week and compliant with the Fair Labor Standards Act, and is fixed by contract with the sponsor.
What is included in the au pair cost?
Four blocks. First, pocket money. Second, board and lodging, which is mandatory and provided in kind (a private room and meals). Third, social contributions where the country requires them — for example the Urssaf forfaitary base in France. Fourth, programme, sponsor or agency fees where you use one, which are structural in the US J-1 system. Extras such as a language-course contribution or a transport pass may apply depending on the country and the agreement.
Is it cheaper to use an agency or to hire directly?
An agency or sponsor adds a fee but provides legal formalities, screening and support; a direct match through a platform lowers the cash cost but puts more of the verification and compliance work on you. In the US the J-1 route legally requires a designated sponsor, so the sponsor fee is not optional. In France, Germany and Spain you can host directly, provided you file the correct contract and declarations. Compare the total cost of ownership, not just the fee.
Do I have to pay social charges for an au pair?
Where the country classifies the placement as an exchange rather than employment, the family still often owes reduced or forfaitary contributions. In France the family declares the au pair to Urssaf and pays contributions computed on a forfaitary base, not on a full salary. In the US the sponsor handles the programme and the stipend is FLSA-linked. Always file the correct declaration: not declaring is a misclassification risk, not a saving.
Is au pair pocket money taxable?
Rules differ by country and by status. Pocket money and benefits in kind for a genuine cultural-exchange placement are generally not treated the same way as a salary, but a misclassified arrangement — full-time work paid as pocket money — can be requalified, with back contributions and penalties. There is no general tax deduction for hosting an au pair. Check the national rule and, where relevant, take advice for your situation.
How do I reduce the hidden costs of hosting an au pair?
Budget the full total cost of ownership: pocket money, board and lodging, contributions, insurance, any language-course contribution and agency fees. Cap the hours in the written agreement so you are not effectively buying a full-time nanny at au pair prices. Compare the cost per hour of cover, not the headline monthly figure, and use a platform with verification tools so a bad match does not turn into a costly rematch.
What is the cost per hour of an au pair?
Divide the monthly total cost by the hours of cover. An au pair usually provides around 20–30 hours a week, so the cost per hour is often competitive with other childcare — but it covers fewer hours. If you need 40 hours a week, an au pair alone will not deliver it, and the honest comparison is an au pair plus a complementary solution against a full-time employee.
Prepared by AuPair Connect — Compliance Team
Every legal, tax or safety detail in this content is verified by the AuPair Connect Compliance Team against official sources and dated.
Notice anything inaccurate or out of date? Help us keep this content up to date by writing to hello@aupairconnect.app.