Key takeaway: Full-time infant care at a quality Chicago center costs about $1,800 to $2,900 a month in 2026, and in-home infant care starts around $23.28 an hour.
Full-time infant care at a quality Chicago center runs about $1,800 to $2,900 a month, according to Wonderschool’s 2026 Illinois guide. That works out to $21,600 to $34,800 a year for one baby.
Illinois averages by age
| Age | Illinois average per month |
|---|---|
| Infant, 0 to 15 months | $1,150 to $1,560 |
| Toddler, 15 to 36 months | $1,000 to $1,300 |
| Preschool | $864 to $1,100 |
Source: Wonderschool, 2026 Illinois childcare guide.
Chicago runs above these statewide figures, and Illinois as a whole runs about 20% above the national average, according to Wonderschool.
Center, in-home care or a nanny
- Center: besides Wonderschool’s range, DaycareCalc estimates Chicago infant center care at $1,650 a month for 2026, built from federal market rate survey data. That’s about $420 above the national average.
- Hourly in-home care: Care.com puts the starting rate for infant care in Chicago at $23.28 an hour as of July 2026, or about $931 for a 40-hour week. That’s 8% above the Illinois average of $21.63.
- Full-time nanny: DaycareCalc estimates about $3,600 a month for one child.
For full-time care, one-on-one options cost more than centers. At Care.com’s rate, 40 hours a week comes to about $4,000 a month. A nanny starts to make more financial sense with two or more young kids at home.
Help paying for it
Illinois’ Child Care Assistance Program, known as CCAP, covers part of the cost for eligible working families. Income limits change, so check the state’s current chart before ruling yourself out. If your employer offers a dependent care account, that can also cut the cost by letting you pay with pre-tax money.