Illinois childcare costs.
Median weekly prices for full-time care across 102 Illinois counties, from the federal National Database of Childcare Prices. Infant care at Illinois centers runs about $207 per week at the median, above the national median of $173.
Statewide medians, per child
| Age group | Center, weekly | Center, monthly | Home-based, weekly |
|---|---|---|---|
| Infant | $207 | $897 | $158 |
| Toddler | $192 | $832 | $158 |
| Preschool | $167 | $724 | $145 |
| School-age | $55 | $238 | $41 |
Medians across Illinois counties with published prices, most recent study year per county (mostly 2022).
Prices by county
| County | Infant, center | Preschool, center | Infant, home-based |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adams County | $214/wk | $152/wk | $132/wk |
| Alexander County | $168/wk | $125/wk | $125/wk |
| Bond County | $191/wk | $205/wk | – |
| Boone County | $288/wk | $182/wk | $186/wk |
| Brown County | – | – | $125/wk |
| Bureau County | $207/wk | $120/wk | $145/wk |
| Calhoun County | – | $115/wk | – |
| Carroll County | – | – | $158/wk |
| Cass County | – | – | $192/wk |
| Champaign County | $309/wk | $239/wk | $148/wk |
| Christian County | $155/wk | $142/wk | $176/wk |
| Clark County | – | – | $125/wk |
| Clay County | – | – | $105/wk |
| Clinton County | $184/wk | $162/wk | $158/wk |
| Coles County | $173/wk | $148/wk | $158/wk |
| Cook County | $278/wk | $189/wk | $208/wk |
| Crawford County | – | – | $180/wk |
| Cumberland County | – | – | $125/wk |
| De Witt County | – | – | $138/wk |
| DeKalb County | $293/wk | $236/wk | $193/wk |
| Douglas County | – | – | $140/wk |
| DuPage County | $374/wk | $316/wk | $235/wk |
| Edgar County | – | – | $158/wk |
| Edwards County | $168/wk | $125/wk | $125/wk |
| Effingham County | $151/wk | $125/wk | $132/wk |
| Fayette County | $154/wk | $125/wk | $156/wk |
| Ford County | – | – | $158/wk |
| Franklin County | $191/wk | $138/wk | $192/wk |
| Fulton County | $184/wk | $166/wk | $158/wk |
| Gallatin County | $168/wk | $125/wk | $125/wk |
| Greene County | – | – | – |
| Grundy County | $264/wk | $189/wk | – |
| Hamilton County | $131/wk | $112/wk | – |
| Hancock County | – | $92/wk | $92/wk |
| Hardin County | $168/wk | $125/wk | $125/wk |
| Henderson County | – | – | $132/wk |
| Henry County | $227/wk | $182/wk | $158/wk |
| Iroquois County | – | – | $132/wk |
| Jackson County | $264/wk | $185/wk | $188/wk |
| Jasper County | – | – | $92/wk |
| Jefferson County | $244/wk | $178/wk | $180/wk |
| Jersey County | $168/wk | $125/wk | $125/wk |
| Jo Daviess County | – | – | $125/wk |
| Johnson County | – | – | – |
| Kane County | $328/wk | $277/wk | $235/wk |
| Kankakee County | $202/wk | $133/wk | $147/wk |
| Kendall County | $286/wk | $228/wk | $208/wk |
| Knox County | $311/wk | $258/wk | $158/wk |
| Lake County | $305/wk | $236/wk | $208/wk |
| LaSalle County | $264/wk | $172/wk | $192/wk |
| Lawrence County | – | – | – |
| Lee County | $244/wk | $158/wk | $158/wk |
| Livingston County | $177/wk | $152/wk | $158/wk |
| Logan County | – | – | $158/wk |
| Macon County | $231/wk | $192/wk | $147/wk |
| Macoupin County | $197/wk | $189/wk | $132/wk |
| Madison County | $288/wk | $208/wk | $181/wk |
| Marion County | $165/wk | $132/wk | $125/wk |
| Marshall County | $168/wk | $125/wk | $125/wk |
| Mason County | – | $212/wk | $192/wk |
| Massac County | $168/wk | $125/wk | $125/wk |
| McDonough County | $163/wk | $158/wk | $92/wk |
| McHenry County | $316/wk | $281/wk | $208/wk |
| McLean County | $314/wk | $279/wk | $181/wk |
| Menard County | $190/wk | $162/wk | $158/wk |
| Mercer County | $184/wk | $172/wk | $158/wk |
| Monroe County | $201/wk | $168/wk | – |
| Montgomery County | $191/wk | $158/wk | $158/wk |
| Morgan County | $226/wk | $158/wk | $182/wk |
| Moultrie County | $191/wk | $141/wk | $185/wk |
| Ogle County | $255/wk | $175/wk | $171/wk |
| Peoria County | $279/wk | $194/wk | $187/wk |
| Perry County | $177/wk | $172/wk | $188/wk |
| Piatt County | – | – | $158/wk |
| Pike County | – | – | $105/wk |
| Pope County | $168/wk | $125/wk | $125/wk |
| Pulaski County | – | – | – |
| Putnam County | $168/wk | $125/wk | $125/wk |
| Randolph County | $231/wk | $205/wk | $125/wk |
| Richland County | – | – | $180/wk |
| Rock Island County | $282/wk | $175/wk | $186/wk |
| Saline County | $224/wk | $158/wk | $196/wk |
| Sangamon County | $196/wk | $175/wk | $181/wk |
| Schuyler County | – | – | $92/wk |
| Scott County | – | – | – |
| Shelby County | – | – | – |
| St. Clair County | $238/wk | $162/wk | $186/wk |
| Stark County | $168/wk | $125/wk | $125/wk |
| Stephenson County | – | $106/wk | $180/wk |
| Tazewell County | $280/wk | $182/wk | $181/wk |
| Union County | $168/wk | $125/wk | $125/wk |
| Vermilion County | $177/wk | $125/wk | $180/wk |
| Wabash County | $168/wk | $125/wk | $125/wk |
| Warren County | – | $204/wk | $132/wk |
| Washington County | $168/wk | $125/wk | $125/wk |
| Wayne County | $264/wk | $172/wk | $125/wk |
| White County | $264/wk | $172/wk | – |
| Whiteside County | $236/wk | $175/wk | $161/wk |
| Will County | $304/wk | $255/wk | $187/wk |
| Williamson County | $264/wk | $172/wk | $185/wk |
| Winnebago County | $282/wk | $185/wk | $161/wk |
| Woodford County | $267/wk | $220/wk | $147/wk |
Prices are county-level weekly medians for full-time care from the federal National Database of Childcare Prices, shown for each county’s most recent study year in that year’s dollars. Some county figures are federal estimates rather than direct survey results, and actual tuition varies widely by program, schedule, and age policies. This information is a general benchmark only, not a quote or financial advice, and Seedling makes no guarantee of its accuracy or completeness. Always confirm current rates with local providers. Source: the National Database of Childcare Prices (DOL Women's Bureau). Read the full methodology.
Staffing rules drive these prices
Staff-to-child ratios are the biggest cost driver in childcare: Illinois requires one adult for every 4 infants at licensed centers. See the full requirements by age group.
Illinois childcare ratiosCommon questions
How much does childcare cost in Illinois?
The median price for full-time infant care at Illinois centers is about $207 per week, roughly $897 per month, and preschool-age care runs about $167 per week. Prices vary a lot by county, so check your county's page for local figures.
Which Illinois county has the most expensive childcare?
Among counties with published prices, DuPage County has the highest median for center-based infant care at about $374 per week, while Hamilton County has the lowest at about $131 per week.
Is center-based or home-based care cheaper?
Home-based (family childcare) programs usually charge less than centers for the same age group: in Illinois, the median for infant care is about $158 per week home-based versus $207 at centers. Centers typically offer larger programs and more structured staffing, which is part of the price difference.
Where do these numbers come from?
They are county-level medians for full-time care from the federal National Database of Childcare Prices (DOL Women's Bureau), shown for each county's most recent study year. They are a benchmark, not a quote: actual tuition depends on the program, schedule, and age policies, so always confirm rates with local providers.