Household payments for kindergarten, 2015, January

In January 2015, the average monthly fee at national level in public kindergartens was NOK 2 199 for a household with an income of NOK 250 000. Corresponding numbers for households with an annual income of NOK 375 000 and NOK 500 000 were NOK 2 337 and NOK 2 416 respectively. On average, the minimum monthly fee was NOK 1 656, while the maximum monthly fee was NOK 2 471. Food and additional costs are, where possible, excluded from these figures.

Regional differences persist

The majority of the municipalities with low minimum monthly fees are in the south and east of Norway, while most of the municipalities with high minimum monthly fees are in the central and northern parts of Norway. The large variations in the minimum fees are the result of an income-differentiated payment system that is more commonly used in the south and east rather than in central and northern Norway, where flat rates are used to a greater extent. Sixty-one per cent of public kindergartens state that the maximum monthly fee is maintained at the maximum rate of NOK 2 480.

As of January 2015, the monthly kindergarten fee excluding food and additional costs for families with one child in a private kindergarten averaged NOK 2 426. A total of 64 per cent of private kindergartens state that the maximum monthly fee is maintained at the statutory maximum fee of NOK 2 480.

Increased food costs

In accordance with the regulations on household payments in kindergartens, payments for food costs can be charged in addition to the regular fees. The annual fee for one child attending kindergarten is determined by the monthly fee, food and additional costs, in addition to the number of months of payment.

About 97 per cent of public kindergartens charge food fees separately. In public kindergartens, the food costs for a household with one child attending public kindergarten averaged NOK 260 per month in January 2015; an increase of NOK 10 from January 2014.

Eighty-six per cent of the private kindergartens charge food fees in addition to the regular fees.

Price reduction systems more common in densely populated municipalities

Regulations on household payments in kindergartens state that all municipalities must offer reduced payments or payment exemption to families with low incomes. However, the municipalities are free to decide whether to offer income-differentiated payments or not in public kindergartens.

A total of 24 per cent of the municipalities offer income-differentiated payments within their ordinary payment system. However, it is the most densely populated municipalities that make the most use of income-differentiated payments. The proportion of private kindergartens who report that they offer income-differentiated payment is about the same; a quarter.

Results also show that all municipalities offer price reductions for households with two or more children in kindergarten. In addition, 89 per cent of the municipalities that have reported private kindergartens in their municipality report that these operate with the same price reduction system as the public kindergartens.