In Illinois, most daycare projects cost between $8,000 and $25,000 per year, with a typical price near $15,000. Local labour, permits and materials move the final price, so treat the range below as a planning guide.
Typical daycare cost
$8,000 – $25,000
per year · typical $15,000
A general planning range, not a quotation.
Daycare cost breakdown
- Home-based daycare$8,000 – $15,000typical $11,000
- Center-based daycare$12,000 – $25,000typical $18,000
- High-end preschool$20,000 – $40,000typical $28,000
At a glance
- Typical range$8,000 – $25,000
- Unitper year
- Cities covered50
What Daycare costs
Covers full-time care for infants through preschoolers. Costs vary by age (infants pricier), location, and type (center vs. home-based). Many families budget $12,000–$20,000 per child.
By city in Illinois
- Addison
- Alton
- Arlington Heights
- Belleville
- Berwyn
- Bolingbrook
- Buffalo Grove
- Calumet City
- Carbondale
- Carol Stream
- Carpentersville
- Champaign
- Chicago
- Cicero
- Crystal Lake
- DeKalb
- Decatur
- Des Plaines
- Downers Grove
- Elgin
- Elmhurst
- Evanston
- Glenview
- Hanover Park
- Hoffman Estates
- Joliet
- Kankakee
- Lombard
- Moline
- Mount Prospect
- Naperville
- Normal
- Oak Lawn
- Oak Park
- Orland Park
- Palatine
- Park Ridge
- Peoria
- Rock Island
- Rockford
- Romeoville
- Round Lake Beach
- Schaumburg
- Skokie
- Springfield
- Streamwood
- Tinley Park
- Urbana
- Waukegan
- Wheaton
Frequently asked questions
How much does daycare cost per month?
Expect $600 to $2,000 per month per child, depending on age, location, and type of care. Infant care is typically pricier.
Why is daycare so expensive?
Low child-to-staff ratios, licensing requirements, rent, and insurance drive costs. Staff wages and benefits are the biggest expense.
Are there ways to reduce daycare costs?
Yes: use a dependent care FSA, ask about sibling discounts, consider a nanny share, or choose a home-based provider. Also check state subsidies.