How much childcare costs in Illinois
Center-based infant care in Illinois costs about $18,002 a year in 2026 dollars (estimate), or $1,500 a month. In 2022 federal data it was $14,727, 15.2% of the median family income and 2.2× the HHS 7% affordability benchmark.
Cost by age and care type
Annual prices for full-time care, averaged across the 58 of Illinois's 102 counties with a price and weighted by population. 2026 figures are estimates scaled by the BLS day care and preschool CPI to August 2026.
| Age | Center, 2022 | Center, 2026 est. | Home, 2022 | Home, 2026 est. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Infant (0 to 23 months) | $14,727 | $18,002 | $10,333 | $12,631 |
| Toddler (24 to 35 months) | $11,921 | $14,572 | $9,785 | $11,961 |
| Preschool (36 to 54 months) | $10,949 | $13,384 | $9,071 | $11,088 |
Family child care, in a provider's home, costs about $10,333 a year for an infant in Illinois (2022 data): $4,394, or 30% less than a center.
Childcare cost by county in Illinois
DuPage County has the highest center-based infant price in Illinois, $19,465 a year in 2022 data, and Hamilton County the lowest, $6,801: a gap of $12,664 a year (186% higher). These county prices are Department of Labor estimates: estimated from the state's surveys in other years.
The federal file has a center-based infant price for 58 of Illinois's 102 counties in 2022. The state figures above average only those counties.
| County | Center infant | Toddler | Preschool | Home infant | Family income | Infant share |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DuPage County | $19,465 | $14,560 | $16,423 | $12,194 | $131,904 | 14.8% |
| Kane County | $17,070 | $13,173 | $14,413 | $12,194 | $112,260 | 15.2% |
| McHenry County | $16,408 | $13,312 | $14,621 | $10,807 | $116,736 | 14.1% |
| McLean County | $16,311 | $14,647 | $14,508 | $9,397 | $105,528 | 15.5% |
| Knox County | $16,161 | $13,087 | $13,433 | $8,233 | $75,542 | 21.4% |
| Champaign County | $16,092 | $14,300 | $12,428 | $7,692 | $94,792 | 17.0% |
| Lake County | $15,881 | $12,827 | $12,263 | $10,804 | $126,685 | 12.5% |
| Will County | $15,825 | $14,647 | $13,260 | $9,744 | $119,675 | 13.2% |
| DeKalb County | $15,222 | $12,480 | $12,263 | $10,045 | $91,538 | 16.6% |
| Boone County | $14,993 | $11,527 | $9,447 | $9,657 | $101,686 | 14.7% |
| Madison County | $14,993 | $12,220 | $10,833 | $9,397 | $91,366 | 16.4% |
| Kendall County | $14,868 | $12,203 | $11,847 | $10,807 | $114,678 | 13.0% |
| Rock Island County | $14,647 | $11,180 | $9,100 | $9,661 | $83,401 | 17.6% |
| Winnebago County | $14,647 | $11,180 | $9,596 | $8,357 | $78,158 | 18.7% |
| Tazewell County | $14,577 | $11,180 | $9,447 | $9,397 | $94,169 | 15.5% |
| Peoria County | $14,487 | $11,180 | $10,071 | $9,744 | $85,683 | 16.9% |
| Cook County | $14,473 | $11,440 | $9,837 | $10,804 | $97,520 | 14.8% |
| Woodford County | $13,891 | $11,873 | $11,457 | $7,664 | $99,662 | 13.9% |
| Grundy County | $13,734 | $10,660 | $9,852 | n/a | $107,740 | 12.7% |
| Jackson County | $13,734 | $11,353 | $9,620 | $9,780 | $73,516 | 18.7% |
| LaSalle County | $13,734 | $9,620 | $8,927 | $9,967 | $83,830 | 16.4% |
| Wayne County | $13,734 | $10,660 | $8,927 | $6,500 | $70,431 | 19.5% |
| White County | $13,734 | $10,660 | $8,927 | n/a | $72,500 | 18.9% |
| Williamson County | $13,734 | $10,660 | $8,927 | $9,620 | $79,912 | 17.2% |
| Ogle County | $13,260 | $10,487 | $9,100 | $8,877 | $91,406 | 14.5% |
| Jefferson County | $12,694 | $10,660 | $9,273 | $9,377 | $72,406 | 17.5% |
| Lee County | $12,694 | $13,087 | $8,233 | $8,233 | $84,695 | 15.0% |
| St. Clair County | $12,376 | $10,140 | $8,407 | $9,661 | $88,951 | 13.9% |
| Whiteside County | $12,289 | $10,903 | $9,100 | $8,357 | $80,546 | 15.3% |
| Macon County | $12,008 | $10,660 | $9,967 | $7,651 | $81,771 | 14.7% |
| Randolph County | $12,001 | $12,047 | $10,660 | $6,500 | $81,142 | 14.8% |
| Henry County | $11,796 | $10,660 | $9,481 | $8,233 | $86,547 | 13.6% |
| Morgan County | $11,727 | $8,927 | $8,209 | $9,447 | $81,405 | 14.4% |
| Saline County | $11,654 | $9,967 | $8,233 | $10,199 | $69,712 | 16.7% |
| Adams County | $11,134 | $7,887 | $7,887 | $6,847 | $83,595 | 13.3% |
| Bureau County | $10,773 | $9,447 | $6,240 | $7,540 | $81,289 | 13.3% |
| Kankakee County | $10,487 | $10,348 | $6,902 | $7,664 | $83,359 | 12.6% |
| Monroe County | $10,435 | $9,793 | $8,753 | n/a | $123,603 | 8.4% |
| Macoupin County | $10,267 | $9,204 | $9,818 | $6,847 | $80,507 | 12.8% |
| Sangamon County | $10,185 | $9,793 | $9,100 | $9,397 | $96,427 | 10.6% |
| Bond County | $9,921 | $10,313 | $10,660 | n/a | $82,244 | 12.1% |
| Franklin County | $9,921 | $8,580 | $7,193 | $9,967 | $63,869 | 15.5% |
| Montgomery County | $9,921 | $9,620 | $8,233 | $8,233 | $81,784 | 12.1% |
| Moultrie County | $9,921 | $8,441 | $7,332 | $9,620 | $89,934 | 11.0% |
| Menard County | $9,865 | $8,857 | $8,441 | $8,233 | $97,125 | 10.2% |
| Fulton County | $9,591 | $8,992 | $8,618 | $8,233 | $73,125 | 13.1% |
| Mercer County | $9,574 | n/a | $8,927 | $8,233 | $84,315 | 11.4% |
| Clinton County | $9,560 | $8,857 | $8,441 | $8,233 | $96,875 | 9.9% |
| Livingston County | $9,227 | n/a | $7,887 | $8,233 | $85,639 | 10.8% |
| Perry County | $9,227 | $10,660 | $8,927 | $9,780 | $66,007 | 14.0% |
| Vermilion County | $9,227 | $7,887 | $6,500 | $9,377 | $70,370 | 13.1% |
| Coles County | $8,995 | $8,233 | $7,713 | $8,233 | $68,710 | 13.1% |
| Marion County | $8,562 | $7,887 | $6,847 | $6,500 | $75,241 | 11.4% |
| McDonough County | $8,496 | $9,412 | $8,233 | $4,767 | $76,161 | 11.2% |
| Christian County | $8,083 | $8,233 | $7,367 | $9,152 | $78,447 | 10.3% |
| Fayette County | $7,990 | $7,772 | $6,500 | $8,119 | $69,780 | 11.5% |
| Effingham County | $7,872 | $7,332 | $6,500 | $6,847 | $89,840 | 8.8% |
| Hamilton County | $6,801 | $5,460 | $5,807 | n/a | $76,893 | 8.8% |
| Brown County | n/a | n/a | n/a | $6,500 | $82,813 | n/a |
| Calhoun County | n/a | n/a | $6,004 | n/a | $110,298 | n/a |
| Carroll County | n/a | n/a | n/a | $8,233 | $77,736 | n/a |
| Cass County | n/a | n/a | n/a | $9,967 | $75,790 | n/a |
| Clark County | n/a | n/a | n/a | $6,500 | $81,424 | n/a |
| Clay County | n/a | n/a | n/a | $5,460 | $70,687 | n/a |
| Crawford County | n/a | n/a | n/a | $9,377 | $79,123 | n/a |
| Cumberland County | n/a | n/a | n/a | $6,500 | $88,494 | n/a |
| De Witt County | n/a | n/a | n/a | $7,193 | $86,064 | n/a |
| Douglas County | n/a | n/a | n/a | $7,280 | $84,011 | n/a |
| Edgar County | n/a | n/a | n/a | $8,233 | $70,765 | n/a |
| 2 countiesFord County, Logan County | n/a | n/a | n/a | $8,233 | $80,993 to $81,424 | n/a |
| Greene County | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | $71,354 | n/a |
| Hancock County | n/a | n/a | $4,767 | $4,767 | $82,456 | n/a |
| Henderson County | n/a | n/a | n/a | $6,847 | $80,662 | n/a |
| Iroquois County | n/a | n/a | n/a | $6,847 | $81,000 | n/a |
| Jasper County | n/a | n/a | n/a | $4,767 | $79,933 | n/a |
| Jo Daviess County | n/a | n/a | n/a | $6,500 | $86,871 | n/a |
| Johnson County | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | $77,027 | n/a |
| Mason County | n/a | n/a | $11,007 | $9,967 | $75,884 | n/a |
| Piatt County | n/a | n/a | n/a | $8,233 | $100,231 | n/a |
| Pike County | n/a | n/a | n/a | $5,460 | $76,522 | n/a |
| Pulaski County | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | $59,957 | n/a |
| Richland County | n/a | n/a | n/a | $9,377 | $75,169 | n/a |
| Schuyler County | n/a | n/a | n/a | $4,767 | $81,591 | n/a |
| Stephenson County | n/a | n/a | $5,529 | $9,377 | $73,244 | n/a |
| Warren County | n/a | n/a | $10,591 | $6,847 | $78,009 | n/a |
Annual median prices in 2022 data, not quotes. Counties with identical prices are grouped. All 58 center-based infant prices here are Department of Labor estimates: estimated from the state's surveys in other years. How prices are estimated.
Neighboring states
- Iowa$880/mo infant, 2026 est.
- Kentucky$844/mo infant, 2026 est.
- Missouri$1,270/mo infant, 2026 est.
- Wisconsin$1,362/mo infant, 2026 est.
See how Illinois compares in the full ranking of childcare costs by state.
Frequently asked questions
How much is daycare in Illinois per month?
Center-based infant care in Illinois costs about $1,500 a month in estimated 2026 dollars ($1,227 a month in 2022 federal data). In a center, toddler care runs about $1,214 and preschool about $1,115 a month in 2026 dollars, and home-based infant care about $1,053. These are population-weighted averages across the 58 of Illinois's 102 counties with a price; actual prices vary by provider.
What is the cheapest county for childcare in Illinois?
DuPage County has the highest center-based infant price in Illinois, $19,465 a year in 2022 data, and Hamilton County the lowest, $6,801: a gap of $12,664 a year (186% higher). These county prices are Department of Labor estimates: estimated from the state's surveys in other years.
How much of a family's income does childcare take in Illinois?
Center-based infant care takes about 15.2% of the median family income in Illinois ($14,727 against $96,948, 2022 data), 2.2× the HHS 7% affordability benchmark. That ranks 16 of 49 for burden, where 1 is the heaviest. Across counties it ranges from 8.4% in Monroe County to 21.4% in Knox County.
Source: National Database of Childcare Prices, U.S. Department of Labor, Women's Bureau, county file NDCP2022.xlsx (2022 data for Illinois). 2026 estimates use the BLS CPI-U day care and preschool index (series CUUR0000SEEB03) to August 2026. Methodology · Download every county (CSV)