How Much Does Daycare Cost in Illinois? 2026 Guide

Updated November 2026.

Full-time infant care at an Illinois child care center averages about $19,800 a year, or roughly $1,650 a month, according to the 2025 Child Care Aware of America state figures. In the north and northwest Cook County suburbs, the average is higher: about $437 a week for an infant in a licensed center, which works out to around $22,700 a year.

Prices drop as children get older, because Illinois lets one teacher care for more children at each age. Below are the most recent local averages, what changes the price from one center to the next, and the 2026 tax rules and programs that can lower what you pay.

Average daycare cost in Illinois by age

The best local data comes from Illinois Action for Children, which surveys licensed providers every year. Its 2026 Report on Child Care in Cook County lists average weekly rates for full-time care in a licensed center as of June 2025.

North and northwest suburban Cook County (Park Ridge, Glenview, Wheeling, Mount Prospect, Palatine and nearby towns):

• Infant (6 weeks to 14 months): $437 a week, about $22,700 a year
• Toddler (15 to 23 months): $412 a week, about $21,400 a year
• Two-year-old: $372 a week, about $19,300 a year
• Three and four-year-old: $334 a week, about $17,400 a year
• Five-year-old to kindergarten: $335 a week, about $17,400 a year

North and northwest Chicago:

• Infant: $428 a week
• Toddler: $399 a week
• Two-year-old: $344 a week
• Three and four-year-old: $306 a week

For all of Cook County, the averages are $378 a week for infants and $277 a week for three and four-year-olds. Lake County (Grayslake, Lincolnshire, Vernon Hills) is not part of that report, but the state groups Cook and the collar counties in the same high-cost rate area, so expect prices in a similar range.

Statewide numbers are lower because they include smaller cities and rural areas. The 2025 Illinois fact sheet, which uses Child Care Aware data, puts center-based infant care at $19,807 a year and home-based infant care at $12,283 a year.

Why infant care costs the most

The biggest driver is staffing. Illinois licensing rules for day care centers, now enforced by the Illinois Department of Early Childhood, set how many children one adult can care for:

• Infants: 1 adult for every 4 babies, groups of no more than 12
• Toddlers (15 to 23 months): 1 to 5, groups of up to 15
• Two-year-olds: 1 to 8, groups of up to 16
• Three and four-year-olds: 1 to 10, groups of up to 20

A teacher's salary is split across four babies in the infant room and across ten children in a preschool room. That alone explains most of the price gap. Infant rooms also need more space per child, cribs, feeding supplies and frequent diaper changes, which adds time for every teacher. See our guide to Illinois daycare ratios by age.

What else changes the price

Two centers a few miles apart can quote very different numbers. These are the usual reasons:

• Hours. Full-time usually means five full days. A center open 7:00 AM to 6:00 PM costs more to staff than one open eight hours.
• Meals. Licensed Illinois centers must provide meals and snacks for children on table food. Some cook in their own kitchen and others use a caterer, and the quality and cost of the food varies.
• Supplies. Formula, baby food, diapers and wipes may or may not be included.
• Extras. Music, art, sports or language classes may be part of tuition or billed separately.
• Building and rent. Centers in high-rent areas or newer buildings often charge more.
• Teacher pay and turnover. Programs that pay more to keep experienced staff usually price that in.

When you compare quotes, ask for the full weekly or monthly total, including fees. A lower base rate can end up costing more once you add supply fees and buy your own formula, baby food and diapers. Our post on daycare fees and deposits lists what to ask.

Center vs. licensed home: the price difference

Licensed family child care homes usually cost less. In north and northwest suburban Cook, a licensed home averaged $304 a week for an infant in June 2025, compared with $437 at a center. Homes have mixed-age groups, one or two caregivers and fewer staff costs.

The trade-offs are real. A home may close when the provider is sick or on vacation, while a center has more staff to cover. Centers usually have separate rooms for each age group, set curriculum, and more adults on site. Which one fits depends on your schedule, how much backup care you have, and what you want your child's day to look like. See in-home daycare vs a daycare center.

How Illinois families lower the cost in 2026

Several programs can cut your real cost. Check each one before you decide you cannot afford licensed care.

Dependent Care FSA (now up to $7,500)

Starting in 2026, the federal limit for a dependent care flexible spending account rose from $5,000 to $7,500 per household. If your employer offers one, you pay for daycare with money that is not taxed. For many families that saves $1,500 or more a year. Ask HR whether your plan adopted the new limit, because employers have to update their plans. See our dependent care FSA guide.

Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit

For tax years starting in 2026, the credit rate rose to as much as 50% of qualifying expenses for lower-income families, and it phases down as income rises. The expense cap stays at $3,000 for one child and $6,000 for two or more. You cannot use the same dollars for both the FSA and the credit, so run the numbers or ask a tax preparer which combination works best.

Illinois Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP)

CCAP helps working families with lower incomes pay for licensed care. Families pay a copay on a sliding scale based on income and family size. Since July 1, 2026, CCAP is run by the Illinois Department of Early Childhood. Our guide to CCAP income limits and how to apply has the 2026 numbers. Ask any center you tour whether it accepts CCAP.

Free preschool for three and four-year-olds

Illinois funds Preschool for All and Smart Start programs through school districts and community providers. Spots and eligibility vary by district, so call your local district office if your child will be three or four next fall.

Employer and sibling discounts

Some employers subsidize care or have partnerships with local centers. Many centers also offer a sibling discount. It never hurts to ask.

How to budget for daycare

Most centers bill weekly or monthly. To compare them fairly, convert everything to one number:

1. Multiply a weekly rate by 52 for the yearly cost, or by 4.33 for a monthly estimate.
2. Add registration or supply fees.
3. Ask whether you pay during closures, holidays and your own vacation weeks. Most centers charge for the spot whether your child attends or not.
4. Ask when tuition usually goes up and by how much.
5. Subtract what you expect to save through an FSA, the tax credit or CCAP.

Plan for the price to fall as your child moves up. In the local averages above, moving from the infant room to a three-year-old room lowers the weekly rate by about $100.

Frequently asked questions

How much is daycare per month in Illinois?

Statewide, center-based infant care averages about $1,650 a month. In the north and northwest Chicago suburbs, full-time infant care in a licensed center averages about $1,900 a month, and preschool care for three and four-year-olds averages about $1,450 a month.

Why is daycare so expensive in the Chicago suburbs?

Staffing rules, teacher wages and rent. Infant rooms need one adult for every four babies, and suburban Cook County has some of the highest costs in the state.

Is home daycare cheaper than a center?

Usually. A licensed home in north and northwest suburban Cook averaged $304 a week for an infant, about $130 less than a center. Check licensing, backup plans for closures and group size before you choose.

Do I pay for daycare when my child is sick or on vacation?

At most centers, yes. You are paying to hold a spot and keep the room staffed. Ask for the policy in writing before you enroll.

Get current tuition for your area

Children's Land has 12 locations across Glenview, Park Ridge, Wheeling, Mount Prospect, Palatine, Lincolnshire, Grayslake, Vernon Hills and Chicago, with care for babies from 6 weeks old in our infant program. All locations are open Monday to Friday, 7:00 AM to 6:00 PM, and serve hot breakfast and lunch. Tuition differs by location and age, so find your nearest location or contact us to get current rates and schedule a visit.

Related reading: How to Choose the Best Daycare for Your Infant.