How much senior care costs in North Carolina
2025 benchmark prices for nursing homes, assisted living, adult day centers and in-home caregivers in North Carolina, compared with the rest of the country, and how Medicaid and Medicare help.
In North Carolina, the median cost of a nursing home is $320 a day for a semi-private room (about $9,733 a month) and $355 a day for a private room. Assisted living costs $6,496 a month; an adult day center, $85 a day; and an agency caregiver, $30 an hour (CareScout 2025).
North Carolina compared with the rest of the country
| Type of care | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| Nursing home, semi-private room | $320 a day2% more than the U.S. | $315 a day |
| Nursing home, private room | $355 a daythe same as the U.S. | $355 a day |
| Assisted living | $6,496 a month5% more than the U.S. | $6,200 a month |
| Adult day center | $85 a day11% less than the U.S. | $95 a day |
| Home care agency caregiver | $30 an hour14% less than the U.S. | $35 an hour |
2025 medians from CareScout (Genworth), Cost of Care Survey 2025. Each place sets its own prices; within the state, they change with the city, the room and the care needed.
What it costs per month, in round numbers
- Nursing home: about $9,733 a month for a semi-private room and $10,798 for a private room.
- Assisted living: $6,496 a month, which generally includes the room, meals and daily help. Ask which services cost extra.
- Adult day center: $85 a day; five days a week would be about $1,842 a month.
- Agency caregiver: about $2,600 a month for 20 hours a week and $5,200 for 40 hours.
Home care: an agency or hiring directly
Agencies charge more per hour because they are the employer: they pay taxes, insurance, supervision and replacements when the caregiver can’t come. If you hire directly, the benchmark wage in North Carolina is $15.02 an hour (the median caregiver wage from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), May 2025); on top of that come employer taxes and, if they apply, overtime.
Calculate the cost in North Carolina
How Medicaid helps in North Carolina
Medicaid is the main source of help with long-term care costs for people with limited income and assets. It pays for nursing home care in every state and, depending on the state, also for home care, adult day centers or the care portion of assisted living. In North Carolina, Medicaid is called NC Medicaid.
- Nursing Facilities: Helps pay for a nursing home stay for people who qualify. Official website
- Community Alternatives Program for Disabled Adults (CAP/DA): In-home services for adults who need a nursing home level of care; slots are limited and there may be a waiting list. Official website
- Personal Care Services (PCS): Personal care (bathing, dressing) at home or in a licensed residential facility, with an assessment and prior approval. Official website
- Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE): Comprehensive medical and social care for older adults who can live in the community, coordinated from a PACE center. Official website
More details in our guide for families in North Carolina and in our guide on whether Medicaid pays for nursing homes. To apply: North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) – NC Medicaid.
Other ways to pay
- Veterans benefits: the Veterans Pension with Aid and Attendance can help pay for care. How it works.
- PACE program: where it is available, it coordinates and covers care so the person can keep living at home. About PACE.
- Long-term care insurance: if your loved one has a policy, ask for the list of services it covers and how to start a claim.
- Combining options: many families combine an adult day center with a few hours of a caregiver, or use respite care stays to get a break.
Frequently asked questions
How much does senior living cost in North Carolina?
How much does a caregiver charge in North Carolina?
Does Medicaid pay for long-term care in North Carolina?
Does Medicare pay for assisted living or a caregiver?
Sources
- CareScout (Genworth), Cost of Care Survey 2025, published March 2, 2026.
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, SOC 31-1120 Home Health and Personal Care Aides (published May 15, 2026; official state file oesm25st).
- Minimum wage: U.S. Department of Labor, State Minimum Wage Laws (table updated as of July 1, 2026); Florida Constitution, Art. X, § 24 ($15 since September 30, 2026); official state and city websites for local minimum wages.
- Medicaid programs: official state websites, checked on October 15, 2026.
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