A nursing home costs $9,000 to $15,000 per month in 2026
A nursing home costs $9,000 to $15,000 per month in 2026, and a common national median is $10,798 for a private room. CareScout lists $10,798 for a private room and $9,581 for a semi-private room in 2025. SeniorLiving.org lists $11,294 and $9,842 for June 2026. Your state matters a lot. Texas semi-private care is $5,808 a month, per SeniorLiving.org. Alaska is much higher. Room type and level of care change the rate too.
What price guides say
We checked 4 price guides and read every number on their pages on October 7, 2026. They do not all measure the same thing, so read each line for what it counts.
| Source | What it found |
|---|---|
| CareScout | CareScout lists a 2025 national median of $10,798 a month for a private room and $9,581 for a semi-private room. |
| SeniorLiving.org | SeniorLiving.org lists $11,294 a month for a private room and $9,842 for a semi-private room in June 2026. |
| Caring.com | Caring.com lists $10,646 a month for a private room and $9,277 for a semi-private room from the 2024 CareScout report. |
| Forbes Health | Forbes Health lists private rooms at $280 to $550 a day, or about $9,000 to $15,000 a month. |
Nursing home cost by room type and source
| Room and year | Price | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Private room, 2025 median | $10,798 a month | CareScout |
| Semi-private room, 2025 median | $9,581 a month | CareScout |
| Private room, 2024 report | $10,646 a month | Caring.com |
| Private room, June 2026 | $11,294 a month | SeniorLiving.org |
| Semi-private room, June 2026 | $9,842 a month | SeniorLiving.org |
| Private room, daily range | $280 to $550 a day | Forbes Health |
| Private room, monthly range | $9,000 to $15,000 a month | Forbes Health |
| Lowest state, semi-private (Texas) | $5,808 a month | SeniorLiving.org |
Every number in this table was read on one of the source pages listed at the bottom of this page.
What pushes the price up
| What | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Room type | A private room costs more than a shared one. CareScout lists $10,798 a month for private and $9,581 for semi-private. |
| State | Prices swing a lot by state. SeniorLiving.org lists semi-private care at $5,808 a month in Texas and $32,220 a month in Alaska. |
| Level of care | More nursing help raises the rate. Forbes Health says the price depends on the location and the care a person needs. |
| Facility | A newer building or extra services can raise the rate. Forbes Health lists private rooms at $280 to $550 a day. |
| Length of stay | Daily rates add up fast. SeniorLiving.org lists $376 a day for a private room, which is $135,528 a year. |
What the price includes
The monthly rate usually covers the room, meals, help with daily tasks, and nursing care at all hours. Caring.com says it also pays for rehab therapy and supervision. Drugs, hair care, phone service and some supplies can cost extra. Ask for a list of what is in the base rate and what is billed apart. It does not include tax or extras the provider adds on the day.
Does insurance cover it
Regular health insurance and Medicare do not pay for a long stay in a nursing home. Medicare may cover a short stay for rehab after a hospital stay, and only for a limited time. Long term care insurance may pay if you bought it before you needed care. Medicaid pays for many people once their money runs low, and the rules differ by state. Many families pay from savings at first. Ask the facility which payers it takes, and call your state Medicaid office early.
When a doctor orders it
A doctor may suggest a nursing home when a person needs care around the clock. This can be after a stroke, a bad fall, or surgery that needs weeks of rehab. It can also be when memory loss or a long illness makes home care unsafe. The doctor and a care team look at what the person can do alone. They write the care needs down, and that helps with insurance and Medicaid forms.
How to judge your quote
- Is the rate per day or per month, and is it a private or semi-private room?
- What is in the base rate, and what is billed apart?
- How much can the rate go up each year, and with how much notice?
- Is the facility certified for Medicare and Medicaid?
- Compare the total with the range above: $9,000 to $15,000 per month for most people in 2026.
Ways to pay less
- Ask for a semi-private room. SeniorLiving.org says it costs about 13% less than a private room.
- Compare several facilities in your area. Prices differ even inside one state, so ask each one for the full rate sheet.
- Check Medicaid early. Many people qualify once their savings run low, and the rules differ by state. A social worker can help with the forms.
- Ask the hospital social worker about Medicare for a short rehab stay. It may pay for a limited time after a hospital stay.
- Look at other care types if the need is lower. Assisted living costs less, and CareScout lists a median of $6,200 a month in 2025.
How we got these numbers
The range on this page comes from CareScout, SeniorLiving.org, Caring.com and Forbes Health. We opened each source page and read every number on it on October 7, 2026. Where the sources disagree, the table above shows each one so you can see the spread. These are planning ranges, not quotes. The written price you are given is the real price.
Common questions
How much does a nursing home cost per month?
CareScout lists a 2025 median of $10,798 for a private room and $9,581 for semi-private. Forbes Health lists $9,000 to $15,000 a month for a private room.
How much does a nursing home cost per day?
CareScout lists $355 a day for a private room and $315 for semi-private. Forbes Health lists $280 to $550 a day for a private room.
Which state has the cheapest nursing homes?
SeniorLiving.org lists Texas as the lowest, at $5,808 a month for a semi-private room. Alaska is the highest, at $32,220.
Is assisted living cheaper than a nursing home?
Yes. CareScout lists assisted living at a median of $6,200 a month in 2025. That is below the nursing home rates.
How much does a nursing home cost per year?
SeniorLiving.org lists $135,528 a year for a private room and $118,104 for semi-private. CareScout lists $129,575 and $114,975 for 2025.