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.
Daycare cost in Chicago: 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.
Who qualifies for CCAP
| Family size | Maximum gross monthly income, from July 1, 2026 |
|---|---|
| 2 | $4,058 |
| 3 | $5,123 |
| 4 | $6,188 |
| 5 | $7,253 |
| 6 | $8,318 |
Source: Child Care Resource and Referral, Eastern Illinois University. Families on CCAP pay a monthly copay to the provider based on income and family size, and the state pays the rest up to its maximum rate. Check the Illinois Department of Early Childhood’s current chart before applying.
Free pre-K in Chicago
Chicago Public Schools offers free full-day pre-K for children who turn 4 by September 1, 2026, plus limited half-day seats for 3-year-olds, and community sites including Head Start offer free full-day programs for children 5 and under. Applications are rolling; the Chicago Early Learning hotline is 312-229-1690 (Chicago Early Learning).
Related: what it costs to raise a kid in Chicago, Chicago health insurance costs for 2027 and our full guide to how much it costs to live in Chicago.