How much does senior living cost per month?
- Senior living costs scale with care; independent living runs about $3,200 per month, while a private nursing home room runs about $10,798
- Assisted living sits in the middle at a national median of $6,200 per month
- Memory care costs about $6,690 per month, and a semi-private nursing home room about $9,581
- A continuing care retirement community uses a different model entirely, pairing a large one-time entrance fee with a monthly charge
- Original Medicare generally does not pay for senior-living room and board, though it may cover short-term skilled nursing facility care when its requirements are met
- Medicaid may cover nursing facility care for eligible residents and some assisted living services through state programs, but generally not assisted-living room and board; Veterans benefits may help some eligible veterans or surviving spouses
The table below summarizes typical monthly costs by care level. Independent living and memory care figures come from 2026 senior-living data; assisted living and nursing home figures come from the 2025 cost-of-care survey, so small gaps between tiers partly reflect different surveys.
| Care level |
Typical monthly cost |
Daily care included |
| Independent living |
$3,200 |
None, housing and amenities only |
| Assisted living |
$6,200 |
Help with daily activities |
| Memory care |
$6,690 |
Secured dementia care |
| Nursing home, semi-private room |
$9,581 |
24-hour nursing and health-related care |
| Nursing home, private room |
$10,798 |
24-hour nursing and health-related care |
Senior living costs rise with care needs, from about $3,200 per month for independent living to $10,798 for a private nursing home room.
How much does a retirement home cost per month?
- A retirement home costs about $3,200 per month when the term refers to independent living, the most common meaning
- “Retirement home” is an informal term families use loosely; it can describe independent living, a broader senior living community or a continuing care campus
- At this style of community, the fee covers housing, meals and amenities but not hands-on personal or medical care
- If a resident later needs help with daily activities, costs rise toward assisted living levels near $6,200 a month
Because the label varies, confirm exactly which services a community includes before comparing prices. For the structured continuum of care option, see our research on independent living and CCRC costs.
A retirement home usually costs about $3,200 per month when it refers to independent living, but costs can rise toward assisted living levels if personal care is needed.
How much does independent living cost per month?
- Independent living costs a national median of about $3,200 per month
- It is the most affordable community option because it bundles housing, dining and social amenities without personal care
- The rate rose about 1.75% in the latest data, a slower climb than assisted living or memory care
- Independent living costs roughly half of assisted living, the key tradeoff being that residents must be largely self-sufficient
Independent living suits active seniors who want a maintenance-free lifestyle rather than daily care. When care needs grow, many move to assisted living or a community that offers both.
Independent living costs about $3,200 per month, roughly half of assisted living, because it does not include daily personal care.
- A continuing care retirement community entrance fee averages about $400,000 nationally
- The range is enormous, from roughly $100,000 to $2 million, depending on location, unit size and contract type
- The fee may be partially or fully refundable, or non-refundable, based on the contract a family signs
- This one-time payment can provide access to a continuum of care, from independent living through higher-care settings such as assisted living, memory care or skilled nursing, depending on the community and contract
The entrance fee is the feature that sets a CCRC apart from month-to-month senior living. Weigh it against the lifetime cost of paying for each care level separately, explored in our lifetime cost of long-term care research.
A CCRC entrance fee averages about $400,000 nationally, but can range from roughly $100,000 to $2 million depending on the contract, unit and location.
- A continuing care retirement community monthly fee averages about $3,353 nationally, with most communities falling between $2,000 and $4,000 per month
- The fee covers meals, housekeeping, maintenance, transportation, activities and access to care depending on the contract
- Monthly fees typically rise 4% to 6% each year, climbing with inflation
- The amount depends on contract type; an all-inclusive life-care contract costs more upfront but can make future care costs more predictable, subject to contract terms and annual fee increases
Together, the entrance fee and monthly fee make CCRCs among the priciest options upfront, but certain contract types can make future care costs more predictable or limit future care cost increases, subject to contract terms and annual fee adjustments.
A CCRC monthly fee averages about $3,353 nationally, with most communities between $2,000 and $4,000 and typical annual increases of 4% to 6%.
How does senior living cost compare to assisted living?
- Assisted living, at about $6,200 per month, is a useful benchmark because it combines housing with help for daily activities
- Independent living costs roughly half as much, near $3,200, since it includes no daily care
- A nursing home costs about 55% to 74% more than assisted living, reflecting skilled medical staffing
- Memory care costs more than assisted living; it runs about 8% above the $6,200 benchmark, and within a single survey the premium is about 23%, as covered in our memory care cost research
| Care level |
Monthly cost |
Versus assisted living |
| Independent living |
$3,200 |
About 48% less |
| Assisted living |
$6,200 |
Benchmark |
| Memory care |
$6,690 |
About 8% more than the $6,200 benchmark; about 23% within a single survey |
| Nursing home, semi-private room |
$9,581 |
About 55% more |
| Nursing home, private room |
$10,798 |
About 74% more |
Percentages compare each tier against the $6,200 assisted living median. Because the independent living and memory care figures come from one survey and the assisted living and nursing home figures from another, treat the cross-tier gaps as directional.
Assisted living sits near the middle of senior living costs, with independent living about 48% lower and nursing home care about 55% to 74% higher.
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, care level and location. Confirm current pricing directly with providers and verify benefit eligibility with the relevant agency.
Sources and additional resources
Source note: Assisted living ($6,200) and nursing home ($9,581 semi-private, $10,798 private) figures come from the 2025 CareScout and Genworth Cost of Care Survey. Independent living ($3,200, up about 1.75%) and memory care ($6,690) come from A Place for Mom’s 2026 data.
The roughly 23% memory care premium compares A Place for Mom’s $6,690 memory care and $5,419 assisted living medians within that one survey. Because the tiers draw on different surveys, the cross-tier percentages are directional rather than exact.
The $400,000 average CCRC entrance fee comes from Care.com’s summary of a 2022 entrance-fee study, while the $3,353 average monthly fee comes from Care.com’s citation of the 2024 NIC Investment Guide. The $100,000 to $2 million entrance range, the $2,000 to $4,000 monthly range and the 4% to 6% annual increase come from Seniorly.
Raya’s Paradise provides residential senior living across Southern California, including assisted living, memory care, hospice support, short term respite care and in-home care. Families comparing these care levels can tour assisted living in Los Angeles and assisted living in Orange County to see a residential community firsthand.
