Assisted Living Cost Calculator

Last updated July 2, 2026

Assisted living costs are among the most significant and least anticipated financial obligations families encounter, and the variation across the country is substantial enough to make national averages misleading. The national median monthly cost of assisted living reached approximately $6,313 in mid-2026, according to SeniorLiving.org's research — roughly $75,756 per year. But that median obscures a range from around $3,500 per month in lower-cost Midwestern and Southern states to over $9,000 per month in Washington D.C., Massachusetts, and Alaska. A Place for Mom's 2026 Cost of Care report found that costs have risen roughly 5 percent per year in recent years, driven by staffing costs, real estate, and post-pandemic demand that outpaced new facility construction.

What the base monthly rate covers varies by facility and by pricing model. Most communities include room and board, meals, housekeeping, laundry, scheduled transportation, and basic personal care assistance in the base rate. What it typically doesn't include: medication management, specialized memory care, additional therapy services, and higher levels of personal care as needs increase — all of which can add $500 to $2,000 or more per month on top of the base. Medicare does not cover the room-and-board costs of assisted living. Medicaid covers it in some states through waiver programs, but with significant waitlists. The most common payment combination is personal savings, Social Security income, pension, long-term care insurance, and in some cases proceeds from selling the family home.

Budgeting for more than the published base rate — the true all-in monthly cost typically runs 20 to 40 percent higher once care fees, medication management, and ancillary services are included. Research the specific cost structure of any community you're considering, and project costs forward at 5 percent annual inflation to understand the multiyear financial commitment.