Starting from 2026: Kindergarten meal fees will rise to 94 euros per month
Starting from January 1, 2026, meal fees in nurseries and kindergartens in Vienna will increase from 85 to 94 euros per month, which is an increase of more than ten percent. This increase is expected to receive final approval during the education committee meeting next week.
Official sources say that the decision is based on the consumer price index and the rising costs of ensuring food quality, in addition to supportive services for children and the increasing health requirements within institutions. This step comes as part of a series of adjustments recently imposed on public service fees in the city.
The announcement has sparked a wave of criticism from the opposition. Harald Tziervos, the education spokesperson for the People's Party in Vienna, deemed the increase unjustified, pointing out that it is higher than the inflation rate and represents an additional burden on families. Meanwhile, Sabine Kiri, the spokesperson for family affairs, argued that the decision contradicts Vienna's goal of becoming 'the most child-friendly city', emphasizing that working families are already facing increasing financial pressures.
The Green Party in Vienna also rejected the proposed increase, considering it an extension of what it described as socially unjust austerity measures taken in recent months. Party representatives stated that an increase exceeding ten percent cannot be justified even with rising inflation, emphasizing that the city is trying to fill financial gaps at the expense of children and their families.
In response to these criticisms, the office of city council member Bettina Emmerling from the NEOS party clarified that the costs of food, energy, and services related to meal provision have continuously risen in recent years, and that this reality is also reflected in the early childhood care sector. The office added that the fee adjustment aims to ensure the continued provision of healthy and balanced meals for children, noting that the public subscription is still much lower than the prices of private service providers, whose average fees are around 120 euros per month. It was also emphasized that fee exemptions will remain available for eligible families.