The national median cost of nursing homes is $9,277 a month for a semi-private room and $10,646 for a private room. Nursing homes are generally more expensive than other types of senior living because of the high-level medical care they provide. This includes on-site medical professionals, round-the-clock care, on-site therapies, and amenities designed for people who have significant physical or cognitive care needs. Monthly nursing home costs are also affected by room type, location, amenities, and care needs.
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In 2024, the national median daily costs for a nursing home were:[01]
| Semi-private room | Private room |
|---|---|
| $305 per day | $350 per day |
| $9,277 per month | $10,646 per month |
| $111,325 per year | $127,750 per year |
While it’s common to seek out the average cost of living in a nursing home, it’s more practical to consider the median cost. When you look at a state’s or city’s median cost, half the prices in that location are higher than the median, and half are lower. Averages can be misleading in places with many luxury nursing homes or several budget-friendly options. A high number of either can skew data.
Location plays a major role in nursing home costs, because the cost of living can vary significantly from state to state.
Take a look at the median monthly cost of nursing homes in each state below.[01]
| State | Median Monthly Cost of a Nursing Home (semi-private room) |
|---|---|
| Alabama | $8,152 |
| Alaska | $30,371 |
| Arizona | $7,604 |
| Arkansas | $7,148 |
| California | $11,695 |
| Colorado | $10,038 |
| Connecticut | $15,056 |
| Delaware | $14,174 |
| District of Columbia | $8,167 |
| Florida | $10,342 |
| Georgia | $8,821 |
| Hawaii | $15,087 |
| Idaho | $10,068 |
| Illinois | $7,908 |
| Indiana | $8,486 |
| Iowa | $8,927 |
| Kansas | $7,756 |
| Kentucky | $8,730 |
| Louisiana | $7,482 |
| Maine | $12,927 |
| Maryland | $12,501 |
| Massachusetts | $14,448 |
| Michigan | $10,646 |
| Minnesota | $12,167 |
| Mississippi | $9,642 |
| Missouri | $6,357 |
| Montana | $9,064 |
| Nebraska | $8,380 |
| Nevada | $11,209 |
| New Hampshire | $12,741 |
| New Jersey | $12,380 |
| New Mexico | $9,764 |
| New York | $14,722 |
| North Carolina | $8,821 |
| North Dakota | $8,882 |
| Ohio | $9,034 |
| Oklahoma | $6,448 |
| Oregon | $15,817 |
| Pennsylvania | $11,832 |
| Rhode Island | $11,406 |
| South Carolina | $8,958 |
| South Dakota | $8,821 |
| Tennessee | $9,125 |
| Texas | $5,475 |
| Utah | $8,365 |
| Vermont | $13,688 |
| Virginia | $8,669 |
| Washington | $12,714 |
| West Virginia | $12,471 |
| Wisconsin | $10,068 |
| Wyoming | $9,916 |
Nursing homes in states with a higher cost of living, such as Alaska and New York, typically cost more than nursing homes in states with a lower cost of living, such as Texas and Louisiana.[01]
Similarly, there’s often a cost difference between facilities in rural and urban areas. The demographic percentage of seniors in an area may also affect costs due to supply and demand.
In 2024, the five most expensive states for nursing home care by median monthly cost were:
The five least expensive states by median monthly cost were:
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Nursing home residents receive 24-hour care and medical supervision from licensed medical professionals. Nursing home services include skilled nursing care, such as wound care, injections, catheter care, and dialysis. These services aren’t commonly offered in other types of senior living communities such as independent living or assisted living.
Additional nursing home services include:
In addition to location, other factors affect the cost of their nursing home stay, including:
Most nursing home residents live in semi-private rooms, which are less expensive than private rooms. Shared rooms also offer companionship, so for seniors who would benefit from that, a semi-private room may be the better option. Additionally, Medicaid, which can cover the cost of nursing home care for those who qualify, will only pay for a private room if it’s considered medically necessary.[03]
Nursing homes are designed to provide the physical, cognitive, and medical care aging adults need. Most facilities offer daily activities and therapies, as well as social spaces and meals focused on senior nutrition.
Luxury senior living options, including nursing homes, are becoming more common. Some examples of luxury amenities found in high-end nursing homes include:
While some nursing homes charge a flat rate for all care services and supplies provided, others charge separately for medical supplies. Residents whose care needs require more medical supplies may pay more than residents with fewer care needs.
Also, nursing homes can have different fees or payment structures, such as:
When you and your family tour or research nursing homes, you can request a cost-per-service breakdown. This breakdown may outline the costs of room and board, on-site medical care and mental health counseling, transportation fees to off-site medical care, and fees for activities, recreation, and entertainment.
“To avoid being surprised, ask about a home’s pricing structure,” says Niki Gewirtz, who has more than 20 years of experience in managing residential care communities.
Read more:Assisted Living vs. Nursing Homes
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Nursing homes are the most expensive type of senior living. The monthly cost of a nursing home is about 45% higher than the cost of assisted living and about 30% more expensive than memory care.[01,02]
“It’s common for annual price increases to cover the costs of utilities, staffing, food costs, etc. Assisted living average annual increases are typically around 5%,” Gewirtz explains.
| Service | Home care | Independent living | Assisted living | Memory care | Nursing home |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Help with ADLs | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Medication management | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Dementia care | Yes | No | Maybe | Yes | Yes |
| Pets allowed | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| Emergency services on-site | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Median cost per month[01] | $2,600* | $3,145 | $5,190 | $6,450 | $9,277-$10,646 |
* — Based on national median cost of $33 per hour for 20 hours of care per week.
The number one reason that nursing homes are so expensive is because they require a lot of nurses and staff members to care for residents.
Most families use a variety of resources to pay for nursing home care costs, including:
If your loved one requires significant daily medical care, a nursing home is likely the best option. If they only need help with ADLs or some daily assistance, less costly assisted living or home care options may be a better financial choice for your family.
Gewirtz says that senior care options have increased and improved over the past 30 years, and there are many more options for families now to consider.
“As you consider the options, have a good understanding of what your loved one’s current care needs are — what they’re able to do for themselves and what they need assistance to complete,” she says.
For example, if your loved one needs help transferring from a bed to a wheelchair, can they do it with stand-by assistance, or do they need more hands-on help? Can that be done by one person, or are two people needed? Or do they need to use a Hoyer lift to get from the bed to a wheelchair?
Gewirtz explains, “Those answers will help determine what type of care would be best. Also, keep in mind that admission to a nursing home requires a doctor’s order, so there needs to be a medical need for that level of care, beyond just getting help with ADLs.”
Reach out to one of A Place for Mom’s Senior Living Advisors to discuss different types of senior living, budgetary needs, and local communities — all at no cost to you.
Article optimized by Susanna Guzman.
Yes, an irrevocable trust can help protect a senior’s money from nursing home costs. However, seniors’ beneficiaries can explore other options to help manage their finances, such as opening a joint bank account.
Yes, CHAMPVA , provides health insurance that covers the cost of skilled nursing in a nursing home. Veterans’ spouses or surviving spouses may be eligible for this program if the veteran has a service-related disability.
Seniors can protect their assets from nursing home costs by getting things in order before they move, such as purchasing long-term care insurance, creating a life estate or irrevocable trust, and involving their spouse and family members in financial and legal planning.
24-hour at-home skilled nursing care costs more than 24-hour nonmedical home care, which has a national median cost of $23, 389 per month. Because costs tend to be higher for at-home skilled nursing care, some families opt for nursing homes instead of home care.
Adult children aren’t usually responsible for their parents’ nursing home costs. However, filial laws in 29 states may require adult children to cover costs when their parents can’t. Speak with a financial expert and carefully review all nursing home contracts so you know what to expect.
Costs for any senior living community may be negotiable. A Place for Mom’s Senior Living Advisors can answer any questions you have about negotiating nursing home costs.
Key Takeaways
Genworth. (2023). Cost of care survey.
A Place for Mom. (2025). Cost of long-term care and senior living.
MedicaidLongTermCare.org. (2025, June 25). How to get Medicaid to pay for a private room at a nursing home.
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