The cost of senior care in 2026 ranges from about $6,200 a month for assisted living to roughly $9,600 a month for a semi-private nursing home room. But those are national medians, and the number that matters is the one in your state, which can run half that in the lowest-cost places and several times higher in Alaska. This guide gives you the national picture across all four care settings, explains why your state may look nothing like the average, and drops you straight into your own state's full cost breakdown.

In This Guide

What Senior Care Costs Across the Country

The most recent national numbers come from the CareScout 2025 Cost of Care Survey, released in March 2026. Here is what each of the four main care settings costs as a national median in 2026.

Care setting National median cost (2026)
Assisted living about $6,200 / month
Memory care Assisted living plus a memory-care premium (set locally, see your state guide)
Nursing home, semi-private room about $9,581 / month ($315 / day)
Nursing home, private room about $10,798 / month ($355 / day)
In-home care (non-medical caregiver) about $35 / hour
Adult day health care about $95 / day

A few things are worth pulling out of that table. A nursing home is by far the most expensive setting, because it is round-the-clock skilled care; a semi-private room runs about $9,581 a month and a private room about $10,798. Assisted living, at roughly $6,200 a month, costs a little more than half that, because it is housing plus support rather than constant medical care.

Memory care does not have its own national median in the CareScout survey. In practice, memory care is assisted living with a secured setting and specialized dementia staffing, and it is priced as the assisted-living rate plus a memory-care premium that varies widely by community and state. For the memory-care number where you live, open your state's guide below rather than trusting a national figure.

In-home care is billed by the hour, which makes it look cheaper until you add up the hours. At about $35 an hour, roughly 44 hours a week of a non-medical caregiver comes to about $80,080 a year, in the same range as a nursing home once the need is close to full-time. A few hours a week to help an otherwise-independent parent is a very different bill from live-in support.

Why the Same Care Costs Twice as Much in One State

The national median is a starting point, not your answer. The same level of care can cost dramatically more or less depending on where the person lives: costs run from roughly $6,000 a month in the lowest-cost states to well over $30,000 a month in Alaska, the most expensive state in the country.

Three things drive most of that spread:

  • Local labor costs. Care is mostly wages. States and metros with a high cost of living and tight caregiver labor markets pay staff more, and that flows straight into the monthly rate.
  • Real estate. Assisted living and nursing homes are housing, so the price of the building and land shows up in what residents pay.
  • Medicaid reimbursement. In states where Medicaid pays providers less, private-pay residents often make up part of the difference, which nudges private rates up.

The practical takeaway: a national average tells you the shape of the decision, but only your state's number tells you the size of it. Pull your state below before you build a budget.

What These Numbers Actually Mean

To compare figures honestly, it helps to know how they are measured.

  • These are medians, not averages, meaning the middle of the range, so half of communities cost more and half cost less.
  • The nursing home figures are for a room in a certified facility, split between semi-private (shared) and private.
  • The in-home care annual figure assumes about 44 hours of care per week; fewer hours cost proportionally less.
  • The adult day figure assumes about five days a week of attendance.
  • All of the headline numbers come from the CareScout 2025 Cost of Care Survey, released March 2, 2026, the most recent national data available.

Brevy uses this same survey vintage across every one of its state cost guides, so the national number here and the number in your state's guide are measured the same way.

How Families Pay for It

Seeing the price is the first step; the harder question is who pays it. Most families use some combination of private savings, long-term care insurance, veterans benefits, and Medicaid, and which doors are open depends on the person's finances and the setting. We cover the whole picture in our companion guides: start with how to pay for senior care for the full menu of options, and the cost of long-term care for how long that spending typically lasts. If the person may qualify for Medicaid, that is often the difference between affording a nursing home and not.

Find Your State's Cost of Senior Care Guide

Costs vary widely by state and metro. Open your state's guide for its local median for each setting and how families there pay for care:

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All 50 states

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does senior care cost in 2026?

Nationally in 2026, assisted living runs about $6,200 a month, a semi-private nursing home room about $9,581 a month, a private nursing home room about $10,798 a month, in-home care about $35 an hour, and adult day health care about $95 a day. Your state's numbers can be much higher or lower, so check your state's guide for the local figure.

Which states are most and least expensive for senior care?

Alaska is the most expensive state, where care can run well over $30,000 a month, while the lowest-cost states run around $6,000 a month for assisted living. The gap comes mostly from local wages, real estate, and Medicaid rates. Open your state's guide for its specific numbers.

Is memory care more expensive than assisted living?

Yes. Memory care is assisted living with a secured setting and specialized dementia staffing, so it is priced as the assisted-living rate plus a memory-care premium that varies by community and state. There is no single national memory-care figure, so use your state's guide for the local number.

Does the national number apply to my state?

Not directly. The national medians tell you the shape of the decision, but actual costs vary widely by state and metro area. Use the national figure to understand the ranking of the settings, and your state's guide to build an actual budget.

How do families pay for senior care?

Most families combine private savings, long-term care insurance, veterans benefits, and Medicaid. Which options are open depends on the person's finances and the care setting. See how to pay for senior care for the full menu.

Learn More

FinancialHow to Pay for Senior Care: Every Option, ExplainedHow to pay for senior care: what it costs nationally and how Medicaid, Medicare, VA benefits, and private pay each fit. Who qualifies, what's covered, in 2026. FinancialThe Cost of Long-Term Care: How Much, and for How LongHow much long-term care costs and how long you'll likely need it: the 70% lifetime odds, national price tables, and who actually pays the bill in 2026. FinancialHow to Pay for In-Home CareHow to pay for in-home care in 2026: what it costs and how Medicare, Medicaid HCBS waivers, VA benefits, and long-term care insurance each help cover it.
Your next step Want help pricing care for your family and finding the ways to pay for it? Brevy's care navigator can walk you through the numbers for your state and situation.

Find personalized help pricing and paying for senior care at brevy.com.

The information on Brevy.com is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional legal, financial, or medical advice. Rules vary by state and program and change frequently. Always verify with the relevant agency or a qualified professional. Brevy is not a law firm, financial advisor, or healthcare provider.

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Brevy Care Team

Expert eldercare guidance from Brevy's team of healthcare professionals and researchers.