How much does assisted living cost per month?
- The national median cost of assisted living is $6,200 per month, the most recent national median from cost-of-care tracking that spans more than twenty years
- That monthly median works out to roughly $204 per day and $74,400 per year for a private one-bedroom unit
- Monthly rates climbed 5% in a single year, rising from $5,900 in 2024 to $6,200 in 2025
- The figure reflects surveyed monthly private-pay rates for a one-bedroom assisted living unit, with rates ranging from basic care to more substantial care; California reports this care type as a residential care facility
- Occupancy reached 87.7% across 31 major U.S. assisted living markets in the fourth quarter of 2025, which may indicate tighter supply and could contribute to pricing pressure
- Medicare generally does not pay for long-term custodial care, including most assisted living costs, though it may cover separately billable medical services; most families pay through private funds or long-term care insurance, while Medicaid may cover some services for eligible residents in some states but generally not room and board
| Pay period |
National median cost |
| Daily |
$204 |
| Monthly |
$6,200 |
| Annual |
$74,400 |
For help covering these costs, see our guide on how to pay for assisted living.
The 2025 national median assisted living cost is $6,200 per month, or about $204 per day and $74,400 per year.
What is the average cost of assisted living nationally?
When families search for the average cost of assisted living, the most useful national benchmark is the median, reported here at $6,200 per month.
- The national median is $6,200 per month, but the state-level spread is enormous, stretching from the $4,000s in the Deep South and Plains to well past $9,000 in the Northeast and Hawaii
- Hawaii is the most expensive state for assisted living at $12,096 per month, nearly double the national median
- Mississippi is the most affordable at $4,369 per month, followed by Alabama at $4,425 and Arkansas at $4,637
- After Hawaii, the priciest markets are Alaska ($9,882), Massachusetts ($9,600), Connecticut ($9,118) and New Jersey ($8,710)
- In California, where these communities are licensed as residential care facilities, the median runs $7,000 per month, about 13% above the national figure (see our California senior care cost research)
The table below lists median assisted living costs for every state. All fifty states are included; the District of Columbia is not separately reported.
| State |
Median monthly cost |
Median annual cost |
| United States (national) |
$6,200 |
$74,400 |
| Alabama |
$4,425 |
$53,100 |
| Alaska |
$9,882 |
$118,578 |
| Arizona |
$6,250 |
$75,000 |
| Arkansas |
$4,637 |
$55,644 |
| California |
$7,000 |
$84,000 |
| Colorado |
$6,584 |
$79,005 |
| Connecticut |
$9,118 |
$109,410 |
| Delaware |
$7,600 |
$91,200 |
| Florida |
$5,610 |
$67,320 |
| Georgia |
$5,300 |
$63,600 |
| Hawaii |
$12,096 |
$145,155 |
| Idaho |
$5,175 |
$62,100 |
| Illinois |
$6,219 |
$74,628 |
| Indiana |
$5,639 |
$67,665 |
| Iowa |
$5,381 |
$64,566 |
| Kansas |
$5,975 |
$71,700 |
| Kentucky |
$5,528 |
$66,330 |
| Louisiana |
$5,163 |
$61,950 |
| Maine |
$8,205 |
$98,460 |
| Maryland |
$7,173 |
$86,070 |
| Massachusetts |
$9,600 |
$115,200 |
| Michigan |
$5,818 |
$69,816 |
| Minnesota |
$6,573 |
$78,870 |
| Mississippi |
$4,369 |
$52,425 |
| Missouri |
$5,400 |
$64,800 |
| Montana |
$6,075 |
$72,900 |
| Nebraska |
$6,350 |
$76,200 |
| Nevada |
$6,241 |
$74,895 |
| New Hampshire |
$8,025 |
$96,300 |
| New Jersey |
$8,710 |
$104,520 |
| New Mexico |
$5,950 |
$71,400 |
| New York |
$7,110 |
$85,320 |
| North Carolina |
$6,496 |
$77,955 |
| North Dakota |
$4,729 |
$56,745 |
| Ohio |
$6,103 |
$73,230 |
| Oklahoma |
$6,150 |
$73,800 |
| Oregon |
$6,875 |
$82,494 |
| Pennsylvania |
$6,480 |
$77,760 |
| Rhode Island |
$7,781 |
$93,366 |
| South Carolina |
$5,350 |
$64,200 |
| South Dakota |
$4,900 |
$58,800 |
| Tennessee |
$5,845 |
$70,140 |
| Texas |
$5,666 |
$67,992 |
| Utah |
$5,475 |
$65,700 |
| Vermont |
$8,597 |
$103,167 |
| Virginia |
$6,945 |
$83,340 |
| Washington |
$7,600 |
$91,200 |
| West Virginia |
$6,340 |
$76,080 |
| Wisconsin |
$6,540 |
$78,480 |
| Wyoming |
$5,325 |
$63,900 |
Assisted living costs vary widely by state in 2026, with Hawaii the most expensive, Mississippi the most affordable and California above the national median.
How much does assisted living cost per year?
- Assisted living costs a national median of $74,400 per year in 2025, calculated as the monthly median fee multiplied across twelve months
- That annual figure rose by roughly $3,600 in one year, up from $70,800 in 2024
- Annual costs range from about $52,425 in Mississippi to roughly $145,155 in Hawaii, a gap of $92,730 a year for the same care type
- The annual figure is a surveyed median private-pay rate for a one-bedroom unit; actual bills can rise when communities add care tiers, second-person fees, medication management, memory care or other service charges
Annual pricing assumes a full twelve months in a private one-bedroom unit. Because real bills depend on care level and add-ons, families planning ahead often pair this figure with our look at the lifetime cost of long-term care.
How much does assisted living cost for a couple?
- Many communities do not double the bill for couples; they charge one base rent plus a second person fee. A Place for Mom reports a national median second person fee of about $1,200 per month
- Using CareScout’s $6,200 national median assisted living rate and A Place for Mom’s $1,200 national median second person fee, a couple sharing one unit would pay roughly $7,400 per month, before either partner’s individual care needs are factored in
- That shared arrangement runs far below the cost of two separate units, which would total about $12,400 per month at the national median
- The second person fee may cover added meals, services or occupancy costs for the second resident, though inclusions vary; each partner’s care tier is still priced individually
- Some communities may require a larger floor plan, such as a one-bedroom, for double occupancy
| Living arrangement |
Estimated monthly cost |
| One resident, private one-bedroom |
$6,200 |
| Couple sharing one unit (base plus second person fee) |
$7,400 |
| Two residents in two separate units |
$12,400 |
These couple figures are estimates that combine the national base rate with a national median second person fee. Actual pricing varies by community and by each partner’s care level.
A couple sharing one assisted living unit may pay about $7,400 per month, compared with roughly $12,400 for two separate units.
How much is room and board only in assisted living?
- There is no single published national figure for room and board alone, because most communities bundle it with services
- The $6,200 monthly median is a surveyed private-pay rate for a private one-bedroom unit, not a separate room-and-board-only price
- If a community offers shared, companion or couple accommodations, ask for the exact floor-plan price and whether any second-person or care-level fees apply
- The base layer may cover the unit, utilities, housekeeping, meals and activities, but laundry, medication management, clinical services, transportation and other supports may be included or billed separately depending on the community
Because room and board is bundled with services, a clean room-and-board-only price is not separately surveyed. Families should ask each community for an itemized quote.
How much does a nursing home cost vs assisted living?
- A nursing home costs substantially more than assisted living; a private room runs a national median of $10,798 per month versus $6,200 for assisted living, a difference of about $4,598 a month (roughly 74% higher)
- A nursing home semi-private room costs $9,581 per month, still about $3,381 more each month than assisted living
- Over a year, a private nursing home room totals $129,575 against $74,400 for assisted living, a gap north of $55,000
- Assisted living also costs more than community options such as adult day health care at $2,058 per month, but it runs slightly below the $6,673 monthly figure for non-medical in-home care at 44 hours per week
- The price gap reflects intensity of care; nursing homes generally provide a higher level of round-the-clock supervision and on-site nursing care, while assisted living centers on help with daily activities
| Care type |
Median monthly cost |
Median annual cost |
| Adult day health care |
$2,058 |
$24,700 |
| Assisted living community |
$6,200 |
$74,400 |
| In-home care (non-medical caregiver, 44 hrs/week) |
$6,673 |
$80,080 |
| Nursing home, semi-private room |
$9,581 |
$114,975 |
| Nursing home, private room |
$10,798 |
$129,575 |
For deeper breakdowns, see our research on nursing home costs, in-home senior care costs and adult day care costs.
A private nursing home room costs about $4,598 more per month than assisted living, showing the higher cost of round-the-clock nursing care.
How fast is the cost of assisted living rising each year?
- Assisted living rose 5% in the latest survey year, from $5,900 a month in 2024 to $6,200 in 2025
- The year before that brought an even steeper 10% jump, when the annual median climbed from $64,200 in 2023 to $70,800 in 2024
- Across 2024, assisted living and homemaker services posted the largest increases of any care type tracked, both growing about 10%
- These increases have outpaced general inflation; inflation has been the top reported driver of assisted living cost increases, alongside workforce pressure and rising demand, even as overall growth moderated in 2025
- The recent climb continues a long pattern; assisted living costs rose roughly 18.9% between 2021 and 2023 alone
| Year |
Median monthly cost |
Median annual cost |
Year-over-year change |
| 2025 |
$6,200 |
$74,400 |
↑ 5% |
| 2024 |
$5,900 |
$70,800 |
↑ 10% |
| 2023 |
$5,350 |
$64,200 |
N/A |
Because rates reset annually, planners should treat any single year as a snapshot and budget for continued increases.
Assisted living costs rose from $5,350 per month in 2023 to $6,200 in 2025, with a 10% jump in 2024 followed by a 5% increase in 2025.
What is included in the assisted living base rate?
- Base fees often cover the unit, utilities, housekeeping, communal meals and activities, plus some basic services, though laundry, care charges and other services vary by pricing model
- Most bills assemble in layers: base room and board, then a care tier, then add-on services, plus a one-time move-in charge
- Communities use three pricing models: all-inclusive (one flat fee), tiered (three to five care levels at set prices) and a la carte (base rent plus individually billed services)
- Care service fees follow the number of daily activities a resident needs help with and can vary widely by assessment, service model and community
- A one-time move-in or community fee is common, with a national median of about $3,000
- Common extra charges can include higher care levels, medication management, transportation, laundry, therapies and other services depending on the community, which is why the advertised base rate often understates the real monthly total
| Cost layer |
What it covers |
How it is billed |
| Base room and board |
Unit, utilities, housekeeping, meals and activities; laundry may be included or billed separately |
Monthly base rate |
| Care or service tier |
Help with activities of daily living, by level |
Added to base rate (3 to 5 tiers) |
| Add-on services |
Medication management, therapies, extras |
A la carte |
| Second person fee |
Added meals and services for a partner |
About $1,200 per month |
| Community fee |
One-time move-in cost |
National median about $3,000 |
Because what counts as a base service differs by community, families should ask each provider for an itemized quote. Once care needs grow, many households compare assisted living against memory care pricing and weigh how to pay for assisted living. Eligible veterans or survivors who receive a VA pension may also qualify for Aid and Attendance, an added monthly payment for those who need help with daily activities or meet other VA criteria.
This research is for informational purposes only and is not financial, legal or medical advice. Cost figures are medians that reset each year and vary by community and care level. Medicaid may help cover some services for eligible assisted living residents in some states, but generally not room and board. Confirm current pricing directly with providers and verify benefit eligibility with the relevant agency.
Sources and additional resources
Source note: National and state median cost figures use CareScout’s 2025 Cost of Care Survey. A Place for Mom is cited for the second person fee, the move-in or community fee and pricing-model context.
Raya’s Paradise provides assisted living, memory care, hospice support and short term respite care in residential homes across Southern California. Families weighing these median costs against real pricing can tour assisted living in Los Angeles and assisted living in Orange County to see exactly what a residential community fee includes.
