An in-home caregiver costs $4,000 to $7,000 a month in 2026
An in-home caregiver costs $25 to $35 per hour through an agency in 2026. An independent (private-hire) caregiver runs $15 to $25 per hour. A live-in caregiver averages $200 to $350 per day. Full-time in-home care through an agency costs $4,000 to $7,000 per month. CareScout says the national median for a non-medical caregiver is $35 an hour in 2025.
What price guides say
We checked 2 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 says the national median for a non-medical caregiver is $35 an hour in 2025. |
| ConsumerAffairs | ConsumerAffairs cites 2020 Genworth data of about $24 an hour, or roughly $4,500 a month for 44 hours a week. |
What pushes the price up
| What | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Hire type: agency (vetted, insured, trained) vs independent (private hire), agency costs 30 to 50 percent more | Hire type: agency (vetted, insured, trained) vs independent (private hire), agency costs 30 to 50 percent more |
| Care level: companion/housekeeping vs personal care (bathing, dressing) vs skilled nursing | Care level: companion/housekeeping vs personal care (bathing, dressing) vs skilled nursing |
| Hours: part-time (4 to 8 hours/day) vs full-time (12 hours/day) vs 24-hour live-in | Hours: part-time (4 to 8 hours/day) vs full-time (12 hours/day) vs 24-hour live-in |
| Certification: home health aide (HHA) vs certified nursing assistant (CNA) vs registered nurse | Certification: home health aide (HHA) vs certified nursing assistant (CNA) vs registered nurse |
| Location: urban markets cost significantly more than rural, metropolitan care runs 20 to 40 percent higher | Location: urban markets cost significantly more than rural, metropolitan care runs 20 to 40 percent higher |
What the price includes
Caregiver time for agreed-upon duties. Medical equipment, medications, and skilled nursing extra. It does not include tax or extras the provider adds on the day.
Who charges this and how it is billed
In-home care is sold by home care agencies or by private caregivers you hire yourself. An agency bills you by the hour, and some bill by the day for live-in care. The agency pays the caregiver, handles taxes and finds a backup if the caregiver is out. With a private hire, you pay the caregiver directly and may owe payroll taxes. Many agencies set a minimum, such as three or four hours a visit. Nights, weekends and holidays can cost more. Ask for the hourly rate, the weekly hours and the monthly total in writing before care starts.
How to judge your quote
- Ask if the rate is per hour or per day, and if there is a minimum number of hours per visit.
- Ask if the agency checks backgrounds, carries insurance and pays payroll taxes.
- Write down the duties in the quote, such as bathing, meals, rides and light cleaning.
- A fair quote lists the rate, the weekly hours and what happens when the caregiver is sick.
- Compare the total with the range above: $4,000 to $7,000 per month, full time agency care for most people in 2026.
Ways to pay less
- Medicare covers skilled home health care (nursing, PT) when medically necessary and ordered by a doctor, not custodial care
- Medicaid home and community-based waiver programs cover custodial home care for qualifying low-income seniors
- An independent caregiver hired through Care.com or local referrals costs 30 to 50 percent less than an agency
- Hiring through an agency provides liability coverage and backup if the caregiver is sick, worth the premium for full-time care
How we got these numbers
The range on this page comes from CareScout and ConsumerAffairs. 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 an in-home caregiver cost?
CareScout says the national median is $35 an hour for a non-medical caregiver in 2025. Full-time agency care runs about $4,000 to $7,000 a month.
Is an agency worth the extra cost?
An agency handles background checks, insurance and a backup caregiver. A private hire costs less but you handle those tasks yourself.
What are cheaper options?
You can use fewer hours, adult day programs or help from family for part of the week. Some people hire privately to save money.
Does insurance pay for it?
Regular health insurance and Medicare usually do not pay for long-term personal care. Long-term care insurance and Medicaid may help.