Care cost calculator
See what care is likely to cost where your parent lives, whether staying home or moving makes more sense, and how long the money you have would last.
Assisted Living, national average
Estimated monthly cost of care
$4,750
Typical range $4,500 to $5,000
Per year
$57,000
Monthly gap after income
$4,750
Stay home or move?
Home care at 20 hours a week compared with assisted living, counting what the home itself costs.
Add what living at home costs in step 2 to see a fair comparison. Assisted living includes housing, utilities and meals, so its price is not directly comparable to home care alone.
Every option side by side
National average, moderate care needs, home care at 20 hours and adult day at 3 days a week. Home based options include your home costs.
| Care type | Monthly, all in | Yearly |
|---|---|---|
| $4,750 | $57,000 | |
| $6,250 | $75,000 | |
| $3,250 | $39,000 | |
| $8,750 | $105,000 | |
| $2,600 | $31,200 | |
| $1,235 | $14,820 |
Estimates start from national ranges and are a starting point, not a quote. State figures adjust those ranges by each state's overall price level (U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis Regional Price Parities, 2024), so care in some cities may run higher. Many communities charge extra for added services; ask each provider for a full fee schedule.
How long money lasts assumes care prices rise 3% a year and income stays flat, and leaves out taxes and investment growth. Medicare generally does not pay for long-term custodial care; Medicaid waivers, long-term care insurance, and VA Aid and Attendance may help.