Au Pair Cost: What You're Actually Paying
The au pair program has a fixed cost floor set by the U.S. State Department: $195.75/week in stipend ($10,179/year). That's $848/month. There is no employer payroll tax on this — it's a stipend, not a wage, paid under a J-1 cultural exchange visa.
The variable cost is the agency fee. Major programs (Cultural Care, AuPairCare, Au Pair in America, InterExchange) charge $7,000–$10,200 per au pair year. Amortized over 12 months: $583–$850/month. Add the stipend and your direct cash outlay is $1,431–$1,698/month.
Add room and board — a private bedroom, meals, household costs — and families typically estimate $400–$700/month in additional household expense. The honest all-in number: $1,831–$2,398/month.
Au Pair vs. Nanny: The Real Comparison
For one child, a nanny is almost always more expensive than an au pair: $2,700–$4,200/month with employer taxes versus $1,830–$2,400/month all-in for an au pair. The gap is $300–$1,800/month in favor of the au pair.
For two children, the comparison becomes even more favorable for the au pair. A nanny watching two kids earns 15–25% more than for one child — adding $400–$800/month to the nanny cost. The au pair cost stays fixed regardless of how many children they care for (within their 45-hour weekly limit).
What the 45-Hour Limit Means Practically
An au pair can work 45 hours/week maximum. For a family with standard 9-to-5 work plus commute — say 50 hours per week of coverage needed — an au pair cannot cover the full schedule without supplemental care. Families who need more than 45 hours/week often hire a backup babysitter for the overage, adding $200–$400/month.
Night shifts and overnight care count toward the 45-hour weekly limit. Live-in doesn't mean available 24/7.
Extension Year: Lower Cost
If the match works well, au pairs can extend for a second year with the same family. Extension fees drop substantially — $3,000–$5,000 instead of $7,000–$10,200 — because the matching process is skipped. An extension year reduces monthly agency cost to $250–$417/month, lowering your total to $1,098–$1,265/month in cash costs (plus room and board).