Quick Answer
The national median nursing home cost is $315/day for a semi-private room (about $9,581/month, or $114,975/year) and $355/day for a private room (about $10,798/month), per the CareScout 2025 Cost of Care Survey — the most recent national data, released March 2026. Your state may run well above or below the median — see why states differ below, then compare real facilities near you with our free search tool.
Table of Contents
2026 National Median Costs
These figures come from the CareScout 2025 Cost of Care Survey (formerly the Genworth survey), the industry-standard national dataset, released in March 2026. They are medians — half of facilities charge more, half less:
Nursing home, semi-private room
The most common arrangement; Medicaid typically covers semi-private.
Nursing home, private room
More privacy and quiet; usually a private-pay upgrade.
Assisted living community
For seniors who need daily help but not 24/7 nursing care.
In-home caregiver (non-medical)
Help at home with bathing, meals, and supervision.
Adult day health center
Daytime care and activities while family caregivers work.
Source: CareScout 2025 Cost of Care Survey (released March 2026). National medians; local prices vary.
One useful comparison: around-the-clock in-home care (three shifts of caregivers) costs far more than a nursing home in most markets — at $35/hour, 24/7 home care exceeds $300,000 a year. For seniors who need full-time supervision and medical care, a nursing home is usually the less expensive option, which surprises many families.
What the Daily Rate Includes (and Doesn't)
Two facilities quoting the same daily rate can cost very different amounts once extras are added. Before signing anything, get a written breakdown:
✓ Typically included in the base rate
- • Room (semi-private) and utilities
- • Three meals a day plus snacks
- • 24-hour nursing and personal care
- • Help with bathing, dressing, eating, toileting
- • Medication administration
- • Housekeeping and linen service
- • Standard activities program
- • Care planning and coordination
⚠ Often billed separately
- • Private room upgrade
- • Personal laundry service
- • Salon and barber services
- • Phone, cable, and premium Wi-Fi
- • Transportation to outside appointments
- • Some therapies, equipment, and supplies
- • Special diets or feeding assistance tiers
- • Higher "levels of care" surcharges
Ask this exact question on every tour: "Can you give me a written list of everything that costs extra beyond the daily rate, and how level-of-care charges are determined?" Facilities that hesitate are a yellow flag. Our tour checklist includes a full set of cost and contract questions.
Why Costs Differ So Much by State
State medians range from well under the national figure in parts of the South and Midwest to roughly double in Alaska and parts of the Northeast. The main drivers:
- 1.Labor costs. Nursing and aide wages are the largest expense in a facility's budget, and they track local labor markets.
- 2.Real estate and operating costs. Land, construction, insurance, and utilities vary enormously between, say, rural Missouri and coastal California.
- 3.State Medicaid reimbursement rates. Because Medicaid pays for a large share of residents, states that reimburse less push facilities to charge private payers more.
- 4.State regulations. Staffing requirements, licensing standards, and certificate-of-need laws differ by state and affect operating costs.
- 5.Supply and demand. Urban areas usually cost more than rural ones in the same state, and bed shortages drive prices up.
Rather than relying on a single statewide average, look at real facilities in your area. Our state pages cover local Medicaid rules, costs, and top-rated facilities — for example California, Texas, Florida, and New York — with pages for all 50 states and Washington, D.C.
One caution: never choose a facility on price alone. A cheaper facility with poor inspection results can cost far more in hospitalizations and harm. Weigh cost alongside quality — our inspection report guide shows you how.
Compare Real Facilities and Real Quality Data
Search facilities near you, filter by Medicare and Medicaid acceptance, and compare quality scores built from official CMS data — free.
Start Free Facility Search →Ways to Pay for Nursing Home Care
Most families combine several of these sources over the course of a stay:
Medicare (short-term skilled care only)
After a qualifying 3-day inpatient hospital stay, Medicare covers up to 100 days of skilled nursing care per benefit period: $0 for days 1–20, then $217/day coinsurance for days 21–100 (per 2026 CMS figures). It never covers long-term custodial care. Details in our Medicare vs Medicaid guide.
Medicaid (the largest payer of long-term care)
Covers long-term nursing home care indefinitely for those who qualify. In most states the 2026 limits are $2,982/month in income and $2,000 in countable assets for an individual (California's asset limit is $130,000 as of January 1, 2026). Spousal protections let the at-home spouse keep substantially more. Apply through your state Medicaid agency — and apply before savings run out.
VA Aid & Attendance (for wartime veterans and surviving spouses)
An underused pension supplement for veterans (and surviving spouses) who need help with daily activities. Under the December 2025–November 2026 rates: up to $2,424/month for a single veteran ($29,093/year), $2,874/month for a veteran with one dependent ($34,488/year), and $1,558/month for a surviving spouse ($18,697/year), with a net worth limit of $163,699. Apply through the VA or a free accredited Veterans Service Officer — never pay anyone to file a claim.
Long-term care insurance
If your loved one bought a policy years ago, locate it now: most pay a daily or monthly benefit after an "elimination period" (often 30–90 days you pay yourself). Watch for benefit caps, inflation riders, and strict claim documentation requirements. Some life insurance policies can also be converted or accelerated to fund care.
Personal funds and home equity
Savings, pensions, Social Security, and sometimes proceeds from selling or borrowing against a home bridge the gap until Medicaid eligibility. Before selling a home, talk to an elder law attorney — the home is often an exempt asset for Medicaid, and selling it can convert an exempt asset into countable cash at exactly the wrong time.
Building a Realistic Care Budget
- Get actual quotes, not averages. Call 3–5 local facilities and ask for the all-in monthly cost at your loved one's likely level of care.
- Map the Medicare window. If care starts with a hospital stay, budget $0 for the first 20 covered days, then $217/day through day 100 (2026) unless a Medigap plan covers it.
- Calculate the Medicaid runway. Divide countable assets by the monthly private-pay cost to estimate when Medicaid eligibility begins — then start the application 2–3 months before that date.
- Check VA eligibility early. Aid & Attendance claims take time; eligible families leave this money unclaimed every year.
- Confirm the facility takes Medicaid. If your loved one will outlive their savings, choosing a Medicaid-certified facility now avoids a traumatic move later.
Free help exists: your local Area Agency on Aging, State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP), and the long-term care ombudsman can all walk you through options at no cost.
Related Guides
Note: Cost figures are national medians from the CareScout 2025 Cost of Care Survey (released March 2026); Medicare and Medicaid figures reflect 2026 rates. Local prices and state rules vary — verify costs directly with facilities and benefits with Medicare.gov, your state Medicaid agency, or the VA. This guide is general information, not financial or legal advice.