Senior Care Cost Comparison
Nursing home, assisted living, in-home aide, and adult day care costs side-by-side for your state.
What's Included in Each Care Type
Adult day programs cost $70–$100/day and include meals, activities, and supervision — but no overnight care. Assisted living at $4,500/month provides housing, meals, and custodial assistance. Memory care adds $1,000–$2,000/month on top of assisted living. The right level of care is the one that meets current needs without paying for services not yet needed.
In-Home Aide
- Personal care (bathing, dressing, grooming)
- Meal preparation and feeding assistance
- Light housekeeping and laundry
- Medication reminders
- Companionship and errands
- Flexible scheduling (part-time to 24/7)
Assisted Living
- Private or shared apartment/room
- Three meals per day plus snacks
- Personal care assistance
- Medication management
- Housekeeping and laundry service
- Social activities and transportation
- 24-hour staff availability
Nursing Home (Private Room)
- Private room with bathroom
- 24-hour skilled nursing care
- All meals and dietary accommodations
- Medication administration
- Physical, occupational, and speech therapy
- Medical monitoring and emergency response
- Social services and activities
Nursing Home (Semi-Private)
- Shared room (typically 2 residents)
- Same medical care as private room
- All meals and nursing services included
- Lower cost alternative to private room
Adult Day Care
- Daytime supervision and activities
- Meals and snacks during program hours
- Social interaction and mental stimulation
- Some health monitoring
- Respite for family caregivers
- Typically operates weekdays, 7am-6pm
Choosing the Right Level of Care
The cost gap between care types is enormous. Adult day care averages $1,690/month nationally. A private nursing home room averages $9,733. That's an $8,043/month difference for vastly different levels of service. Picking the right option isn't just about comfort—it's one of the biggest financial decisions a family will make.
Most families don't need the most expensive option right away. In-home care is usually the first step when someone can no longer manage entirely on their own. At $5,720/month nationally for full-time assistance, it costs about the same as assisted living but lets the person stay home. That matters to a lot of people. The downside: coordinating care, managing caregiver turnover, and the fact that home care doesn't provide round-the-clock oversight the way a facility does.
Assisted living fills the middle ground. The national median is $5,350/month, and it covers housing, meals, and help with daily activities in a structured setting. It's not the right choice for someone who needs skilled nursing care. It's often the right choice for someone who needs supervision and support but not medical management.
Adult day care is the underused option. At $1,690/month nationally, it provides daytime supervision and social engagement while the person sleeps at home. It's an especially good fit when family members are working and can provide evening and overnight care themselves. The limitation is obvious: it only covers daytime hours, weekdays.
The Transition Question
Most people move through care types over time. Starting with adult day care or in-home aide, then moving to assisted living, then a nursing home as needs increase. That progression typically spans several years. Financially, it makes sense to start with the least restrictive appropriate option—assets last longer, and the person usually prefers it.
The switch from assisted living to a nursing home often happens because of a fall, a diagnosis like advanced dementia, or a medical event requiring skilled nursing. Planning for that transition in advance, including understanding Medicaid eligibility, saves stress when it happens.
Updated April 2026. Based on Genworth/CareScout Cost of Care Survey data.
Compare Senior Care Costs in Your State
Care costs vary significantly by state. Select your state to see nursing home, assisted living, and in-home aide rates side by side.
Also see: nursing home costs by state or assisted living rates.