CareCheckAssisted Living True Cost Calculator
Advertised prices rarely tell the whole story. Enter the numbers you have and see the real monthly cost, the move-in cost, and what three years could total.
Have the actual documents?
This is only an estimate from what you typed. Upload the residency agreement and fee schedule and CareCheck will pull out every fee with its source, flag the terms with no cap, check whether your documents agree, and give you the questions to ask before signing.
Check a contractWhat assisted living actually costs in 2026
The national median for assisted living was about $6,200 a month in 2025, according to CareScout's Cost of Care Survey — up about 5% in a year. The spread between states is wide: from about $4,369 a month in Mississippi to about $12,096 in Hawaii. See assisted living costs by state for more.
A median is a starting point, not a quote. The number a family actually pays is built from several parts, and the advertised rate usually covers only the first one.
What to enter, and where to find it
- Base monthly rent — room and board for the specific apartment, from the community's fee schedule.
- Care-level fee — set by the resident's assessment, usually as a tier or points level on top of rent. If no assessment has been done yet, ask for the fee at the level the community expects, and leave it blank until you have it in writing.
- Add-on services — medication management, incontinence care, escorts, special diets, laundry. See hidden and additional fees.
- Second-person fee — for a spouse or partner sharing the apartment.
- Move-in costs — the community fee and any application fee (often non-refundable), plus refundable deposits. See community fees and refunds.
- Annual increase — only if the agreement states one or a cap. How much notice a community must give before raising rates depends on your state; see contract rules by state.
Frequently asked questions
How much does assisted living cost per month?
The national median was about $6,200 a month in 2025, according to CareScout's Cost of Care Survey, up about 5% from the year before. State medians ranged from about $4,369 in Mississippi to about $12,096 in Hawaii. A specific community's price depends on location, apartment, and the resident's assessed care level.
How do I calculate the true monthly cost of assisted living?
Add the base monthly rent, the care-level fee from the resident's assessment, every recurring add-on such as medication management, and any second-person fee. That total is the real monthly cost. Keep one-time move-in fees and refundable deposits separate, and only apply an annual increase if the contract states one.
Why doesn't the calculator assume an annual increase?
Because an unknown isn't zero, and it isn't a guess either. If your documents state an increase or a cap, enter it. If they don't, the projection shows today's rate and says so — and a contract that lets rates rise with no cap is a reason to ask questions before signing.
Is in-home care cheaper than assisted living?
Often, at lower hours. CareScout's 2025 national median for non-medical home care was about $35 an hour, so roughly 40 hours a week costs about the same as the $6,200 assisted living median. Below that, home care usually costs less; above it, especially with overnight care, assisted living usually costs less.
Sources
- Cost of Care Survey — CareScout
- CareScout Releases 2025 Cost of Care Survey Results — Genworth Financial