Childcare Costs in Illinois vs Salary (2026)
Full-time infant daycare in Illinois runs about $1,365 a month — $16,380 a year, or 20.5% of the $80,000 median household income, and 15% above the 50-state average. Here is what that means for going back to work.
Average daycare cost in Illinois
- Per month
- $1,365
- Per week
- $315
- Per year
- $16,380
Full-time infant care. Preschool-age care is about $1,000 a month.
Next steps
Illinois childcare and cost-of-living figures
| Figure | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|
| Infant daycare (0–2), full time | $1,365 | $16,380 |
| Four-year-old care, full time | $1,000 | $12,000 |
| Median 2-bedroom rent | $1,600 | $19,200 |
| Commute for the returning parent | $220 | $2,640 |
| Median household income | $6,667 | $80,000 |
Childcare prices are the published 2023 state averages (Illinois: $16,373 a year for infant care, $11,987 for a 4-year-old); income and rent are 2026 estimates. Childcare: Child Care Aware of America — Price of Care: 2023 Affordability Analysis (Table I). Income: U.S. Census Bureau — American Community Survey. Housing: HUD Fair Market Rents. Full methodology and dataset.
What salary do you need to break even in Illinois?
One child in care
$19,500
Gross salary needed to cover $19,020 of childcare and commuting after tax.
Two children in care
$31,500
Gross salary needed to cover $31,020 for an infant plus a four-year-old, and the commute.
Childcare plus rent consumes roughly 44.5% of the median Illinois household income, far above the 7% the federal government calls affordable. Below the break-even line a second income is close to unpaid work in cash terms — the second-earner trap — though pension contributions and future wage growth still argue for staying in work (see the opportunity cost of staying home).
Test your own salary against these figures with the two-income break-even calculator or see what survives your nursery bill with the childcare vs salary calculator.
Run your own Illinois numbers
Load the Illinois averages into the calculator — $1,365 of childcare, $1,600 of rent and a $80,000 household income — then replace them with your real salary and daycare quote.
Use these Illinois numbersCity-level childcare costs in Illinois
Prices inside Illinois vary widely — metro centers typically run well above the statewide figure.
- Childcare costs in Chicago, IL — $1,790/mo infant care
Illinois childcare cost FAQs
How much does daycare cost in Illinois?
Full-time infant daycare in Illinois averages about $1,365 a month ($16,380 a year) in 2026 — about 15% above the 50-state average of $1,188. Care for a four-year-old is cheaper, around $1,000 a month, because required staff-to-child ratios loosen.
What salary do you need to break even on childcare in Illinois?
A returning parent in Illinois needs roughly $19,500 gross to cover one infant in full-time care plus commuting after federal tax. With two children in care the break-even rises to about $31,500.
What percentage of income goes to childcare in Illinois?
One infant in full-time care eats about 20.5% of the $80,000 median Illinois household income. Add the $1,600 median two-bedroom rent and childcare plus housing take roughly 44.5% of gross income — far above the 7% federal affordability benchmark.
Is childcare cheaper in Illinois than the rest of the US?
At $1,365 a month for infant care, Illinois is about 15% above the 50-state average of $1,188. Prices inside the state still vary widely: metro centers typically run 20–40% above rural counties.
States with similar childcare prices
- Childcare costs in Virginia — $1,365/mo
- Childcare costs in Rhode Island — $1,410/mo
- Childcare costs in New Hampshire — $1,440/mo
- Childcare costs in Kansas — $1,255/mo
- Childcare costs in Oregon — $1,475/mo
- Childcare costs in Delaware — $1,250/mo
All 50 states · Childcare costs by city · US childcare calculator