Key takeaway: Full-time infant care at a licensed Chicago center averages $374 a week ($19,448 a year), but north and northwest suburban Cook County centers average $437 a week ($22,724 a year), so moving to the suburbs doesn’t automatically cut childcare costs (Illinois Action for Children, 2026 report, rates as of June 2025; annual figures our calculation at 52 weeks).
Is childcare more expensive in Chicago or the surrounding suburbs? The answer may surprise you. Living in Chicago often comes with higher housing and parking costs, but childcare can cost more in some suburban communities.
Using the weekly rates in Illinois Action for Children’s 2026 Report on Child Care in Cook County, a year of full-time care at a licensed center runs from about $13,900 (the Chicago average for ages 3 to 4) to about $22,700 (infants in north and northwest suburban Cook), depending on the child’s age and where you live (our calculation: weekly rate x 52).
How much does childcare cost in Chicago vs. the suburbs?
These are average weekly rates for full-time care at licensed childcare centers.
| Location | Infant, weekly | Infant, yearly | Ages 3 to 4, weekly | Ages 3 to 4, yearly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago (citywide) | $374 | $19,448 | $268 | $13,936 |
| North and Northwest Chicago | $428 | $22,256 | $306 | $15,912 |
| Central and West Chicago | $407 | $21,164 | $287 | $14,924 |
| South and Southwest Chicago | $330 | $17,160 | $236 | $12,272 |
| North and Northwest Suburban Cook | $437 | $22,724 | $334 | $17,368 |
| West Suburban Cook | $378 | $19,656 | $277 | $14,404 |
| South and Southwest Suburban Cook | $335 | $17,420 | $248 | $12,896 |
| Suburban Cook (all) | $382 | $19,864 | $288 | $14,976 |
Source: Illinois Action for Children, 2026 Report on Child Care in Cook County, Table 3, average weekly rates for full-time care in a licensed center, as of June 2025. Infant means 6 weeks to 14 months. Yearly figures are our calculation (weekly rate x 52).
Is childcare cheaper in the suburbs?
Not always. Families thinking about a move often assume childcare will cost less outside Chicago, but the north and northwest Cook County suburbs have some of the highest average rates in the region.
Full-time infant care averages about $22,724 a year in north and northwest suburban Cook, compared with $19,448 across Chicago, a difference of $3,276 a year (our calculation). Meanwhile, families in Chicago’s south and southwest areas pay the lowest center rates in the county for infants, $330 a week, even a little below the south and southwest suburbs at $335.
How much can licensed home childcare save?
Licensed home-based childcare can offer real savings. In Chicago, infant care at a licensed home averages $265 a week, compared with $374 at a licensed center (Illinois Action for Children, Tables 3 and 4, June 2025). That difference adds up to about $5,668 a year for families using care all year (our calculation: $109 x 52).
What does childcare cost for two young kids in Chicago?
Childcare is one of the largest expenses families weigh when deciding where to live. For a household with an infant and a preschooler, full-time center care in Chicago averages about $642 a week, or $33,384 a year (our calculation: $374 + $268, x 52).
Housing, commuting, property taxes and whether there’s an open spot nearby all belong in the comparison too. Our Chicago vs. the suburbs cost of living guide compares rent, pay, transfer taxes and car costs, and our Chicago daycare cost guide covers other price surveys, in-home and nanny rates, CCAP help, free pre-K and federal tax breaks. The figures there come from different sources and dates, so they won’t match this report exactly.
Childcare cost in Chicago vs. the suburbs: the bottom line
Moving to the suburbs doesn’t automatically mean lower childcare costs. Prices vary a lot by neighborhood, community, provider and the child’s age. Comparing actual childcare options before you choose where to live can make a real difference in a family’s budget.
Related: what daycare costs in Chicago, what a nanny costs in Chicago, Chicago vs. the suburbs, how much it costs to live in Chicago.
Yearly estimates assume 52 weeks of paid care. Actual costs depend on provider pricing, schedules, assistance programs and openings. Rates last checked November 5, 2026.