Free to read. No paid listings. Not medical advice. How this site works
Assisted living costs, 2026
Three published national medians, what the base fee covers, and what usually costs extra.
CareScout, A Place for Mom and Caring.com, read Oct 2, 2026. See source
| If you are asking | Start with | Link |
|---|---|---|
| What does the monthly fee cover? | Rent, meals, housekeeping, transport, activities | See what's extra |
| Is a parent living with dementia? | Memory care is priced and staffed differently | Memory care |
| Would help at home be enough? | Home care runs $35 an hour (2025 median) | Home care costs |
| Did a parent serve in the military? | VA Aid and Attendance may add to a pension | Ways to pay |
CareScout's 2025 survey puts the national median for an assisted living community at $6,200 per month, or $74,400 a year, up 5% from $5,900 in 20241. A Place for Mom gives a median of $5,419 per month from its own data2, and Caring.com gives $5,350 per month as of 20233. The three use different data and years, so the spread is the honest range of what is typical.
The base fee and the extras. A Place for Mom says the base fee typically covers rent, utilities, meals and snacks, housekeeping, transportation to medical appointments and social activities, while help with personal care, internet, beauty and barber services, laundry and pet fees may cost extra. Some communities are all-inclusive; others charge by the level of help a resident needs2.
How these links work: each button opens the provider's own site and earns us nothing today. This site is not a medical provider; nothing here is medical advice.
Good for browsing options city by city
Good for reading a plain guide, then searching options near a parent
Meals, housekeeping, transport, activities. Ask for it in writing.
All-inclusive, by level of help, or per service: communities differ2.
Ask how a change in needs is assessed, and how much notice you get.
A second look at a different time of day shows more than the tour.
Mostly families. Caring.com explains that standard Medicaid does not include assisted living among its covered services, but many states offer Medicaid waivers that can help pay for assisted living services. It also lists VA benefits for qualifying veterans and long-term care insurance, whose terms vary3. See paying for senior care.
A monthly payment added to a VA pension for qualified veterans and survivors who need help with daily activities4.
Each publisher uses its own data and year. Treat the spread as the typical range, then ask local communities for written prices.
We do not earn anything from sign-ups today: every provider link is a plain link to the provider's own site, without a referral code. This site is not a medical provider and nothing on it is medical advice; talk to a qualified clinician about your own health.
ElderCompass Guide is not a care provider, placement agency or medical provider, and nothing here is medical, legal or financial advice. Talk to a qualified clinician about health questions.
Costs are published medians or list prices on the date we read them. The provider's or community's own page, contract and written quote are the final word on price and terms.
