Childcare has become one of the biggest, if not the biggest, drain on the family purse, according to a survey by News Corp Australia.
The high cost of childcare is eating substantially into the average pay packet and putting many families under financial stress.
Some 40 per cent of families are paying as much as or more than their mortgage.
Almost a third are paying double their grocery spend for childcare, after the government rebate, while a fifth are paying triple their weekly grocery spend, the survey shows.
For those on lower incomes, this means they are taking home next to no money, making it extremely difficult for many women with children to return to work.
