Guide
How much does a nursing home cost in the U.S.? (2026)
Updated October 15, 2026 · Reviewed against official sources
Knowing the real price is the first step to planning calmly. In this guide, you'll find how much each type of care costs, how the price changes by state, what the rate usually includes, and the ways you can pay.
Where these numbers come from
We use the Cost of Care Survey 2025 from CareScout (a Genworth company), published in March 2026. The data was collected between July and November 2025, and the figures are medians: half of the places charge more and the other half charge less. They're not the price of any particular place. To find out what a facility charges, ask for its price list in writing; most will give it to you without any problem.
National cost by type of care
| Type of care | Rate | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nursing home, semi-private room | $315 a day | $9,581 | $114,975 |
| Nursing home, private room | $355 a day | $10,798 | $129,575 |
| Assisted living | $204 a day | $6,200 | $74,400 |
| Non-medical in-home caregiver (44 hours a week) | $35 an hour | $6,673 | $80,080 |
| Adult day center (5 days a week) | $95 a day | $2,058 | $24,700 |
| Private duty nurse at home | $90 an hour | Depends on the hours | Depends on the hours |
In 2025, CareScout combined homemakers and home health aides into a single category. That's why it no longer publishes a separate price for each one.
For memory care (residences or special units for people with Alzheimer's or another type of dementia) and for residential care homes (board and care), the survey doesn't publish a national median. Memory care usually costs more than regular assisted living because it requires more staff and supervision. Read more in our memory care guide.
Cost by state
These are the 2025 medians in the states with the most Latino families. Nursing home costs are in dollars per day.
| State | Nursing home, semi-private (day) | Nursing home, private (day) | Assisted living (month) | Caregiver (hour) | Adult day center (day) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | $400 | $499 | $7,000 | $40 | $94 |
| Texas | $185 | $250 | $5,666 | $30 | $90 |
| Florida | $340 | $400 | $5,610 | $32 | $75 |
| New York | $511 | $550 | $7,110 | $35 | $144 |
| Illinois | $273 | $303 | $6,219 | $36 | $91 |
| Arizona | $275 | $376 | $6,250 | $38 | $95 |
| New Jersey | $420 | $475 | $8,710 | $38 | $100 |
| Georgia | $290 | $310 | $5,300 | $32 | $90 |
| Colorado | $334 | $401 | $6,584 | $42 | $105 |
To figure out the monthly cost of a nursing home, multiply the daily rate by about 30.4 days. According to the same survey, a semi-private room costs about $5,627 a month in Texas and about $15,528 a month in New York: almost three times as much for the same type of room.
There are also big differences within the same state. An expensive city like San Francisco or New York City costs quite a bit more than a rural area. See the places in your area in our state-by-state directory, for example Texas, California, Florida, or New York. Our 2026 report summarizes the official data for the whole country.
What the rate includes and what costs extra
In a nursing home
The daily rate usually includes the room, meals, nursing care, personal care, basic laundry, and activities. Depending on the place and the insurance, these may be charged separately:
- Medications and some supplies.
- Therapies that insurance doesn't cover.
- The difference for a private room instead of a shared one.
- Hair salon, phone, or cable TV.
- Transportation to appointments outside the facility.
In assisted living
Here there's more variation from one community to another. Many charge base rent and then add levels of care based on the help the person needs (bathing, medications, incontinence, nighttime supervision). A one-time move-in fee is also common. It's a good idea to ask in writing:
- What the base rent includes.
- How much each level of care costs and how the level is decided.
- How often prices are adjusted and how much notice you get.
- What happens if your loved one comes to need more care than the community can provide.
Bring our visit checklist so you have all your questions handy and can compare places using the same list.
How to pay for care
Your own savings and income
This is the most common way at first: the Social Security check, pensions, savings, or selling or renting out the house. Many families pay out of pocket until the money runs out and then apply for Medicaid.
Medicaid
Nursing home care is a required Medicaid benefit in every state for people who meet the medical and financial requirements. In many states, Medicaid also pays for home care, adult day care, and care services in assisted living (not rent), usually through programs called waivers. Read Does Medicaid pay for nursing homes?
Medicare
Medicare doesn't pay for long-term care. It pays for up to 100 days in a skilled nursing facility after a hospital stay of at least 3 days as an inpatient. In 2026, days 1 to 20 cost $0, and days 21 to 100 cost $217 a day. Details in what Medicare covers.
Veterans benefits
Veterans who served during wartime, and their surviving spouses, may be able to get the VA pension with Aid and Attendance to help pay for care. See our guide to veterans benefits.
Long-term care insurance
If your loved one bought a long-term care insurance policy years ago, find it and read it. These policies usually pay when the person needs help with 2 of 6 basic daily activities (bathing, dressing, eating, using the toilet, moving around, bladder control) or has a severe cognitive impairment. Look at the elimination period (the waiting period) and the maximum daily benefit.
PACE
In some areas, the PACE program coordinates all Medicare and Medicaid care so the person can keep living at home. Read about the PACE program.
Is home care cheaper?
It depends on the hours. An agency caregiver for a few hours a day usually costs less than a residential facility. But if your loved one needs someone 24 hours a day, home care can cost more than a nursing home. Run the numbers for your situation with the home care calculator, which includes taxes and overtime by state. An adult day center can also be a more affordable middle option, and it gives the caregiving family a break.
Some senior living referral services are free for families because the facility pays them a commission when you choose it. It's a common model and can be helpful; it's just a good idea to ask how they're funded. hogaresparamayores.com doesn't charge move-in commissions; we explain this on our transparency page and in this article about free senior living advisors.
Frequently asked questions
Why does a nursing home cost more than assisted living?
Because it provides 24-hour nursing care and more personal help. In assisted living, the person has more independence and the staff provides support, but not continuous medical care. See the differences in types of senior care.
Will Medicaid pay for the same nursing home the family chose?
Only if that place is certified by Medicaid and has a bed available for residents with Medicaid. Ask before move-in. On every listing in our directory, you can see whether the place is certified.
Do prices go up every year?
Usually, yes. Ask the facility when it last raised its prices, by how much, and how much notice it gives before the next increase.
Who can help me plan how to pay?
If your loved one is in the hospital, the hospital social worker can guide you on options and paperwork. For long-term care, you can also check with your state's Medicaid agency or with an elder law attorney.
Next steps
- Measure how much help your loved one needs with the scales (they're a guide, not a diagnosis).
- Review the types of care to choose the right level.
- Search and compare with the guided search, places near you, and the compare tool.
- If the money won't be enough, start the Medicaid application as soon as possible.
Prices and payment rules vary by state and change every year. This information is a general guide and is not financial or legal advice.
Sources
- CareScout, Cost of Care Survey 2025, median cost tables: https://assets.carescout.com/x/8fcb50422f/282102.pdf (accessed October 15, 2026)
- Genworth, CareScout Releases 2025 Cost of Care Survey Results: https://investor.genworth.com/news-events/press-releases/detail/1054 (accessed October 15, 2026)
- CMS, 2026 Medicare Parts A & B Premiums and Deductibles: https://www.cms.gov/newsroom/fact-sheets/2026-medicare-parts-b-premiums-deductibles (accessed October 15, 2026)
- Medicare.gov, Long-term care: https://www.medicare.gov/coverage/long-term-care (accessed October 15, 2026)
- Medicaid.gov, Nursing Facilities: https://www.medicaid.gov/medicaid/long-term-services-supports/institutional-long-term-care/nursing-facilities (accessed October 15, 2026)
- ACL, LongTermCare.gov (long-term care insurance): https://acl.gov/ltc (accessed October 15, 2026)
- VA, Veterans Pension rates: https://www.va.gov/pension/veterans-pension-rates/ (accessed October 15, 2026)
This is general information, not medical, legal or financial advice. Rules vary by state and by year: confirm with the official agency that applies to you.
Keep reading
Does Medicaid pay for care?
Yes, Medicaid pays for a nursing home if your loved one qualifies. 2026 limits, the 5-year look-back, spouse protections, waivers and how to apply.
What does Medicare cover?
Medicare pays for up to 100 days of rehab after a 3-day inpatient stay, not long-term nursing home care. 2026 costs, home health and hospice.
Types of senior care
Nursing homes, assisted living, board and care, memory care, adult day care, home care, and hospice: who each one is for, what it costs, and who pays.
How to pay for care
Savings, Medicaid, Medicare, VA, insurance, the home, PACE and community help: what each option pays for, who it's for and where to start in 2026.
