Daycare Cost: Chicago vs Tucson (2026)
Tucson infant center care runs $900/month — $780/month less than Chicago's $1680/month. That's $9,360/year per child.
Chicago, IL
$1680
infant/month
+$450 vs national avg
Tucson, AZ
$900
infant/month
-$330 vs national avg
Chicago vs Tucson — All Care Types
Monthly costs. Green = lower cost. National average shown for context.
| Care Type | Chicago | Tucson |
|---|---|---|
| Infant — Center | $1,680/mo | $900/mo ✓ |
| Toddler — Center | $1,440/mo | $790/mo ✓ |
| Preschool — Center | $1,260/mo | $680/mo ✓ |
| School Age | $1,040/mo | $560/mo ✓ |
| Infant — Home | $1,320/mo | $680/mo ✓ |
| Nanny (Full-Time) | $3,360/mo | $2,160/mo ✓ |
Source: ACF Child Care Market Rate Survey + metro cost-of-living adjustment. 2026 estimates.
Annual Cost Impact
For infant center-based care, Tucson costs $10,800/year vs Chicago's $20,160/year.
Monthly savings
$780
Annual savings
$9,360
2-year infant care
$18,720
% difference
87%
Savings = Chicago cost minus Tucson 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
Tucson
13.3%
of $81k 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 →Tucson, AZ — 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 Tucson?
Tucson is cheaper for infant center-based care at $900/month, vs. $1680/month in Chicago — a $780/month gap. Tucson wins on 6 of 6 care categories.
How much can I save on daycare moving from Chicago to Tucson?
Infant center-based care in Tucson runs $780/month less than in Chicago. Over a typical two-year infant care period, that's $18,720 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 Tucson is $330 below.
Related Comparisons
See full cost breakdown: Daycare in Chicago · Daycare in Tucson · All city comparisons