Daycare Cost: Chicago vs Honolulu (2026)
Honolulu infant center care runs $1650/month — $30/month less than Chicago's $1680/month. That's $360/year per child.
Chicago, IL
$1680
infant/month
+$450 vs national avg
Honolulu, HI
$1650
infant/month
+$420 vs national avg
Chicago vs Honolulu — All Care Types
Monthly costs. Green = lower cost. National average shown for context.
| Care Type | Chicago | Honolulu |
|---|---|---|
| Infant — Center | $1,680/mo | $1,650/mo ✓ |
| Toddler — Center | $1,440/mo | $1,430/mo ✓ |
| Preschool — Center | $1,260/mo | $1,210/mo ✓ |
| School Age | $1,040/mo | $1,010/mo ✓ |
| Infant — Home | $1,320/mo | $1,320/mo |
| Nanny (Full-Time) | $3,360/mo | $3,300/mo ✓ |
Source: ACF Child Care Market Rate Survey + metro cost-of-living adjustment. 2026 estimates.
Annual Cost Impact
For infant center-based care, Honolulu costs $19,800/year vs Chicago's $20,160/year.
Monthly savings
$30
Annual savings
$360
2-year infant care
$720
% difference
2%
Savings = Chicago cost minus Honolulu cost. Infant center-based care only.
Affordability Index
Infant center care as a % of state median household income. Under 7% is considered affordable; over 10% is a heavy burden.
Chicago
23.1%
of $87k median income
Honolulu
19.5%
of $101k median income
National Avg
18.3%
of $80.6k median income
Subsidy Availability (CCDF)
Federal Child Care and Development Fund eligibility thresholds by state. Families below the income limit may qualify for reduced-cost or free care.
Chicago, IL — CCDF
Check eligibility →Honolulu, HI — CCDF
Check eligibility →CCDF thresholds vary by state and are updated annually. Verify current limits at childcare.gov.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is daycare cheaper in Chicago or Honolulu?
Honolulu is cheaper for infant center-based care at $1650/month, vs. $1680/month in Chicago — a $30/month gap. Honolulu wins on 5 of 6 care categories.
How much can I save on daycare moving from Chicago to Honolulu?
Infant center-based care in Honolulu runs $30/month less than in Chicago. Over a typical two-year infant care period, that's $720 saved — not counting toddler or preschool years.
How do both cities compare to the national average?
The national average for infant center-based care is $1230/month. Chicago is $450 above the national average, and Honolulu is $420 above.
Related Comparisons
See full cost breakdown: Daycare in Chicago · Daycare in Honolulu · All city comparisons